Jerzy Nowak (20 June 1923 – 26 March 2013) was a Polish film and theatre actor and teacher.

Biography

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, Nowak fought with the Polish partisans. In 1948, he graduated from the Ludwik Solski Academy for the Dramatic Arts in

Kraków , officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...

. From 1994 on, Nowak primarily and continuously played the role of Singer Hirsch, who is a historic character in the legacy of Polish theater. In cinema, he mostly took on supporting roles as a Jew, often set during World War Two, such as in ''

Schindler's List ''Schindler's List'' is a 1993 American epic historical drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Zaillian. It is based on the historical novel '' Schindler's Ark'' (1982) by Thomas Keneally. The film follows ...

'' (directed by

Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg ( ; born December 18, 1946) is an American filmmaker. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, Spielberg is widely regarded as one of the greatest film directors of all time and is ...

), or as a 'bumpkin farmer' in '' Three Colors: White'', and as the great creative Zucker in the film'' The Promised Land'' ( directed by

Andrzej Wajda Andrzej Witold Wajda (; 6 March 1926 – 9 October 2016) was a Polish film and theatre director. Recipient of an Honorary Oscar, the Palme d'Or, as well as Honorary Golden Lion and Honorary Golden Bear Awards, he was a prominent member of the "P ...

). In 2005, he made a film on the subject of death, after allegedly learning of his own illness. In his will, his corpse was to be processed in formalin by

Jagiellonian University Medical College Jagiellonian University Medical College is the medical school of Jagiellonian University, a public research institute in Kraków, Poland. It was established by King Casimir III of Poland in 1364, making it the 12th oldest medical school in the ...

. In 2007 the documentary '' Existence'', directed by Marcin Koszalka focuses on the problem of death. The film attracted considerable media interest, and the rumors about the actor's disease has been denied. In autumn 2009, Austeria Publishing House released the biography of Jerzy Nowak,''Book of Love'', written in collaboration with his wife, who in February 2010 was awarded the prize Kraków Book of the Month He died on 26 March 2013, at the age of 89.

Filmography

*'' Podhale w ogniu'' (1956) *''Zagubione uczucia'' (1957) - Shop assistant (uncredited) *''Dezerter'' (1958) - Klein *'' The Eagle'' (1959) - Mate Sznuk *''Miejsce na ziemi'' (1960) - Doctor (uncredited) *''Spotkania w mroku'' (1960) - Worker *'' Rok pierwszy'' (1960) - Mlynarz *'' Kwiecień'' (1961) - Postman *''Koniec naszego świata'' (1964) - Blockfiihrer *'' Nieznany'' (1964) - Camp Postman *'' Pięciu'' (1964) - Alfred Buchta *''Lenin v Polshe'' (1966) *''Sobótki'' (1966) *''Kochankowie z Marony'' (1966) - Fisherman (uncredited) *''Jowita'' (1967) - participant dressed as a pirate prom *''Sciana czarownic'' (1967) - Bartender *''Cala naprzód'' (1967) - Chief of Boat *''Stajnia na Salvatorze'' (1968) *'' The Shield and the Sword'' (1968) *'' Kopernik'' (1973) - Uczestnik procesji mnicha Mateusza (uncredited) *''Opowiesc w czerwieni'' (1974) - Gamekeeper *'' The Promised Land'' (1975) - Zucker *''Czerwone i biale'' (1975) - Zyd *''Zofia'' (1976) - Kelner w mordowni *''Ptaki, ptakom...'' (1977) - Barcik *''

Amateur An amateur () is generally considered a person who pursues an avocation independent from their source of income. Amateurs and their pursuits are also described as popular, informal, autodidacticism, self-taught, user-generated, do it yourself, DI ...

'' (1979) - Stanislaw Osuch, the head of Philip *'' Sekret Enigmy'' (1979) - Alexander Cadogan *''Umarli rzucaja cien'' (1979) - Dziadek *''Szansa'' (1979) - Teacher Molda *'' Placówka'' (1979) - Innkeeper Josef Szatzman *''Elegia'' (1979) - Old German *'' The family Gąsieniców'' (1979, TV Series) - Szymek Polowacz *'' Mission'' (1980, TV Series) - James Gutman *''Wsciekly'' (1980) - St. Okrzesik *''Zielone lata'' (1980) *''Na wlasna prosbe'' (1980) - Tomkowski *''Sowizdrzal Swietokrzyski'' (1980) - Florianek *'' From a Far Country'' (1981) - Professor *''Krab i Joanna'' (1982) - Grzegorz Zaruba *''Do góry nogami'' (1983) *'' Oko proroka'' (1984) - Jost Fok *'' A Year of the Quiet Sun'' (1984) - English Doctor *''Nie bylo slonca tej wiosny'' (1984) - Josek *''Zánik samoty Berhof'' (1984) - Florian *''Mgla'' (1985) - Grandfather *''Przeklete oko proroka'' (1985) *''Medium'' (1985) - Ernest Wagner *''Wherever You Are...'' (1988) - Officer-Interpreter *''

La bottega dell'orefice ''The Jeweller's Shop'' () is a 1988 Italian-Austrian-Canadian-German drama (film and television), drama film based on ''The Jeweler's Shop'', a play written by Karol Józef Wojtyła (Pope John Paul II) and scripted by Jeff Andrus, starring Burt L ...

'' (1988) - Professor (uncredited) *'' And the Violins Stopped Playing'' (1988) - Prof. Epstein *'' A Tale of Adam Mickiewicz's 'Forefathers' Eve''' (1989) - Choir *''Alchemik'' (1989) - Prince Kiejstut *''Kapital, czyli jak zrobic pieniadze w Polsce'' (1990) - Serafin *''Szwadron'' (1992) - Lejba *''

'' (1993) - Investor #2 *'' Three Colors: White'' (1994) - the old farmer *''Legenda Tatr'' (1995) - Innkeeper *''Lagodna'' (1995) - Shopkeeper *''Gnoje'' (1995) - Old Man Hrycko *'' Our God's Brother'' (1997) - Anthony *'' Love Stories'' (1997) - Ankieter *''Egzekutor'' (1999) - Kozar *''Når nettene blir lange'' (2000) - Olek *'' Quo Vadis'' (2001) - Christian Crispus *'' Gebürtig'' (2002) - Zwei alte Juden *''Eukaliptus'' (2002) - Pancho *''Julia returns home'' (2002) - Mieczyslaw 'Mietek' Makowsky *'' The Hexer'' (2002, TV Mini-Series) - Vesemir *'' The Revenge'' (2002) - Michal Kafar (bricklayer #1) *''Csoda Krakkóban'' (2004) - Grzegorz mester *'' Scratch'' (2008) - Leon *''Children of Irena Sendler'' (2009, TV Movie) - Elderey Rabbi *''Mistyfikacja'' (2010) - Askenazy *''Legenda o Lietajúcom Cypriánovi'' (2010) - Bernard *'' Obława'' (2012) - Wiarus *''Sierpniowe niebo. 63 dni chwaly'' (2013) - Leonard (final film role)

Awards and prizes

* Partisan Cross (1964) * Gold Cross of Merit (1979) * Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis (2008) * Gold Badge "for his contribution to Kraków" (1977) * Award at the Fourth National Festival of One Actor in

Wrocław Wrocław is a city in southwestern Poland, and the capital of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It is the largest city and historical capital of the region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the Oder River in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Eu ...

and in the one-woman show'' The real defense of Socrates'' Kostas Varnalisa in Old Theatre in

(1969) * Emphasis on XXVI Festival of Polish Contemporary Art in Wroclaw for the role of the Father in the play'' Bruno'' Henry Dederko, dir. Andruckiego Jack (1987) * Award for the eighteenth Theatre in Opole Konfronracjach

Opole Opole (; ; ; ) is a city located in southern Poland on the Oder River and the historical capital of Upper Silesia. With a population of approximately 127,387 as of the 2021 census, it is the capital of Opole Voivodeship (province) and the seat of ...

for his role in'' The Marriage of the Jew'' Wyspiański, dir.

in the Old Theatre. Helena Modjeska in Cracow (1993) * Grand Prize at XXX National Review Teatrrów Small Form Hirsch for his role in the play'' Singer I am a Jew from "The Wedding" by the story'' Roman Brandstaetter directed. Tadeusz Malak in the Old Theatre. Helena Modjeska in Cracow (1995) * "Louis" – Kraków theatre community award for the title role in the play'' Mr. Paul'' Dorst in the Association of Theatre "Steam" (2001) * Award for Comedy Festival Talia in

Tarnów Tarnów () is a city in southeastern Poland with 105,922 inhabitants and a metropolitan area population of 269,000 inhabitants. The city is situated in the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. It is a major rail junction, located on the strategic east– ...

for his role in'' monodramie Womanish choice'' by'' The rock Podhale'' Casimir Break-Tetmajera from the Association "Moliere" in Cracow (2004) * Kraków Book of the Month – the award for his book'' The Book of Love'' (2010)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Nowak, Jerzy 1923 births 2013 deaths Male actors from Kraków Polish educators Polish male film actors Polish male stage actors Recipients of the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis Recipients of the Gold Cross of Merit (Poland) People from Brzesko Male actors from Lesser Poland Voivodeship Home Army members Burials at Rakowicki Cemetery