Marian Kociniak (11 January 1936 – 17 March 2016) was a film, television, voice and radio actor and comedian. He was best known from portraying Franciszek Dolas, a main character in the 1969 film How I Unleashed World War II. Kociniak also had main and secondary roles in films such as Morning Stars (1979), Danton (1983), Fucha, Bermuda Triangle (1987), Circus is Leaving (1987), Yesterday Goodbye (1993), Sir Thaddeus (1999), Kalipso (2000), and The Last Action (2009), as well as in television series such as Janosik (1974), Jan Serce (1981), Sukces (1995), and The Deep End (2013).

Marian Kociniak
Marian Kociniak.
Born(1937-01-11)11 January 1937
Died17 March 2016(2016-03-17) (aged 79)
Warsaw, Poland
Resting placeEvangelical Reformed Cemetery, Warsaw, Poland
EducationAleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationActor
Years active1959–2013
SpouseGrażyna Kociniak

Biography

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Marian Kociniak was born on 11 January 1936 in Warsaw, Poland.[1] He grew up in the district of Mokotów. During the German occupation in World War II, his home was burned down, and his family took shelter in an abandoned brick factory.[2]

He has graduated from the engine manufacturing vocational school, and in 1958, from the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw. He was a student of Ludwik Sempoliński. From 1959 to 2010, he acted in the Ateneum Theatre, and from 2010 to 2013, in the Wola Theatre.[1][3]

His film debut was in 1960, when he had a small uncredited role in Innocent Sorcerers. Kociniak became best known from portraying Franciszek Dolas, a main character in the 1969 film How I Unleashed World War II. He also had main and secondary roles in films such as Morning Stars (1979), Danton (1983), Fucha, Bermuda Triangle (1987), Circus is Leaving (1987), Yesterday Goodbye (1993), Sir Thaddeus (1999), Kalipso (2000), and The Last Action (2009), as well as in television series such as Janosik (1974), Jan Serce (1981), Sukces (1995), and The Deep End (2013).[1][4]

Additionally Kociniak acted in numerous plays of Polish Television.[1] He also appeared in episodes the Kabaret Starszych Panów comedy troupe show, and worked in Polish Radio Three. there, he co-hosted together with Andrzej Zaorski sketch comedy segments titled Kulisy srebrnego ekranu, in the radio show 60 minut na godzinę, and performed the theme song of programme Powtórka z rozrywki.[5]

In 2003, during the 8th Festival of Stars in Międzyzdroje, Kociniak has unveiled his plaque at the Promenade of Stars walk of fame.[6]

Throughout his career, he completely refused giving interview. The exception was made for TVP Info in 2010, in light of the 50th anniversary of his work in the industry. In April 2010, was also published book Spełniony by Remigiusz Grzela, consisting of the interview with him.[7] Kociniak retired from acting in 2013.

He was an honorary member of the campaign support committee of Bronisław Komorowski during the 2010 and 2015 presidential elections in Poland.[8][9]

Kociniak died in a Warsaw hospital on 17 March 2016, at the age of 79. He was burried on 23 March 2016, next to his wife, at the Warsaw Evangelical Reformed Cemetery.[10]

Private life

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For over 50 years he was married to film editor Grażyna Kociniak (died 2016).[11] Together they had a daughter, Weronika, and he was also a stepfather to his wife's son, Piotr.[12]

He was also a cousin of actor Jan Kociniak.[13]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Notes
1960 Innocent Sorcerers Concert attendant Uncredited
Mario i czarodziej Television play
1961 Warszawska ulica
Mistrz Pathelin
Decyzje
Bal manekinów
1962 The Two Who Stole the Moon Poor person Uncredited
Gangsters and Philantropists Restaurant client
Czerwone berety Grzegorz Warecki
Tak miało być Abel Television play
1963 Wiano Staszek's friend
Przy torze kolejowym Man Short film
Węzeł rodzinny Son #1 Television play
Stworzenie świata Szymek
Romans Teresy Hennert
Dzieje jednego pocisku Bandit
1964 Five Kazio
Wspólny pokój Student Television play
1965 Sobótki Karol
Stara cegielni Television play
Piękna Helena Ajax
Ballada wigilijna
1966 Maria and Napoleon Palace guard
Skinny and Others Party member
The Barrier Tram driver
Pożegnanie z Marią Piotr Television play
Aszantka Franek
Godziny miłości Feliks
1967 The Sun Rises Once Daily Mały
Żołnierz Królowej Madagaskaru Theatre stage manager Television play
Nominacja Sasza
1968 Last After the God Piotr Kwiatkowski
1969 How I Unleashed World War II Franciszek Dolas Main role
Bracia syjamscy Sanor Television play
1970 Obecność
Mała ankieta Janiak
1971 The Woodpecker Reporter
Action Brutus Krysiak
Gwiazda Wytrwałości Iwanowski
Czekając na Godota Lucky Television play
1972 Wesele z generałem Jać Television play
Lato w Nohant Clesinger
1973 Blue as the Black Sea Adam
Wszyscy moi synowe George Television play
Samoobsługa Ben
Rewolwer na deszczu Hugo
Ktoś Nowy Karol Kukuła
1974 Santa Claus Urgently Wanted "Not hugged" person
Gra Stefan Kozłowski
Janosik Burgrave
Skamieniały las Jason Maple Television play
Popiół i diament Drewnowski
Partia na instrument drewniany Łaciak
Niemcy Jureś
Dochodzenie Mały
1975 Bajadera Janusz Television play
Żywa maska Physician
Reportarz poetycki
Henryk IV Poins
Babbitt Narrator
Amfitriin 38 Mercury
1976 Rzecz listopadowa Wedding guest
Opinia
1977 Króliczek Krystian
Dla szczęścia Jan
Czy Pan nie rozumie? To pomyłka! Quinn
1978 Włamanie o północy Thief
Pamela Al Sherwood
Ich głowy Valorin
1979 Morning Stars Piotr Łoboda Main role
Playing with the Devil Marcin Kabat Television play
Pechowy dzień i zbrodnia i kara Shop assistant
Brzechwa – dzieciom
Bal Manekinów Manekin 41
Ribandel
1980 Schwarzes Gold Paul Budach
Supeł Gustaw Television play
Król w Kraju Rozkoszy King
1981 Molier, czyli zmowa świętoszków La Grange Television play
Dom na granicy Husband
1982 O istnieniu cudownych miejsc Narrator Documentary film; voice
1983 Danton Jean-Baptiste Robert Lindet
Fucha Zgred Main role
O victorii wiedeńskiej Narrator Documentary film; voice
1984 Love of the Charts Jul
Sposób na życie Dr. Grzesiewicz Television play
1985 Szewcy Sajetan Tempe
Odwet David Ryder
Anioł na dworcu Stranger
1987 Bermuda Triangle Jarek Main role
Circus is Leaving Jan Kossakowski Main role
1988 Kantata o łożu Husband Television play
1989 Rififi po sześćdziesiątce Andrzej Nowisz
Kwartet Lena's father Television play
1990 Polonez Iosif Igelström
1992 Bon Appétit, My Little TV Grandfather
Moskwa – pietruszki Czarnowąsy Television play
1993 Yesterday Goodbye Roman Main role
Śmierć Tarełkina Raspluyev Television play
Poza miastem Cosmo Saltana
Manhattan Poker Speed
Łuk Triumfalny Morozov
Elegia dla jednej pani Man
Coś w rodzaju miłości Tom O'Toole
1994 Sokół maltański Casper Gutman
Pusta kołyska Frost
O przemyślności kobiety niewiernej Man
Na dnie Kleszcz
1995 Zdrapka General
Przeszłość jest nieśmiertelna
Grzeszki tatusia Thomas Maddison
Górski hotel Vilem Pechar
1996 Tańczyłem Priest
Boso ale w ostrogach Staszek's father
1999 Sir Thaddeus Protazy
2000 Kalipso Henryk Roszponka Main role
2002 Noc poślubna Narrator Short film; voice
2005 Król Edyp Servant Television play
2009 The Last Action Kazimierz Iwanowski "Kotek" Main role
Warszawa Antique dealer Television play

Television series

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Year Title Role Notes
1965 Wyzywajem ogoń na siebja Jan Tyma
Stawka większa niż życie Piotr Episode: "Wróg jest wszędzie" (no. 1)
1966 Wojna domowa Edek Episode: "Dzień matki" (no. 9)
1974 Janosik Burgrave 13 episodes
1981 Jan Serce Piotr Krukowski 8 episodes
1995 Sukces Dydak Main role; 9 episodes
2001 Myszka Walewska Ryszard Tomczyk Main role; 3 episodes
2012 Spadkobiercy Harriet and Harry Ferguson's father 1 episode
2013 The Deep End Professor 3 episodes

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Jak rozpętałem drugą wojnę światową Franciszek Dolas Voice

Awards and decorations

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Marian Kociniak". filmpolski.pl (in Polish).
  2. ^ "Marian Kociniak: Jego życiorys to gotowy scenariusz na film!". swiatseriali.interia.pl (in Polish). 26 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Kociniak drze koty o teatr". fakt.pl (in Polish). 15 January 2010.
  4. ^ "Marian Kociniak nie żyje". culture.pl (in Polish). 17 March 2016.
  5. ^ "Marian Kociniak. Murgrabia polskiego filmu". polskieradio.pl (in Polish). 11 January 2022.
  6. ^ "Festiwal Gwiazd w Międzyzdrojach". wyborcza.pl (in Polish). 27 June 2003.
  7. ^ Jacek Szczerba (20 April 2010). "Marian Kociniak. Spełniony, Grzela, Remigiusz". wyborcza.pl (in Polish).
  8. ^ "Komitet poparcia Bronisława Komorowskiego". wybory.onet.pl (in Polish). 16 May 2010. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014.
  9. ^ "Kto wszedł do komitetu poparcia Komorowskiego, a kto z niego wypadł? Cała lista". wiadomosci.dziennik.pl (in Polish). 16 May 2015.
  10. ^ "Pogrzeb Mariana Kociniaka. Bliscy pożegnali wybitnego aktora". gwiazdy.wp.pl (in Polish). 23 March 2016.
  11. ^ Agnieszja Święcicka (10 January 2022). "Nie potrafił żyć bez ukochanej żony. Zmarł miesiąc po jej śmierci". plejada.pl (in Polish).
  12. ^ Dorota Falkowska (12 January 2024). "Marian Kociniak był ojczymem dla syna ukochanej żony Grażyny, córka nazywała go księciem z bajki Jak wyglądały relacje aktora z dziećmi?". viva.pl (in Polish).
  13. ^ "Zmarł wybitny aktor Jan Kociniak". filmweb.pl (in Polish). 20 April 2007.
  14. ^ "Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 25 kwietnia 2000 r. o nadaniu orderów i odznaczeń". isap.sejm.gov.pl (in Polish).
  15. ^ "Glorie dla aktorów". mkidn.gov.pl (in Polish). 15 February 2010.
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