Janusz Gajos (; born 23 September 1939) is a Polish film, television and theatre actor as well as pedagogue and photographer. Professor of Theatre Arts and an Honorary Doctor of the National Film School in Ã
ÂódÃ
º, he is considered one of the greatest Polish actors.
He is the recipient of numerous awards and honours including the Gold Cross of Merit (1974), Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture (2007), five Polish Film Awards (2001, 2007, 2016, 2016, 2019), Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2011), and Diamond Lions Award at the Gdynia Film Festival (2015).
Life and career
He was born in DÃÂ
browa Górnicza. At the age of 11, he moved to BÃÂdzin where in 1957, he graduated from the High School No 3. In 1965 he graduated from the National Film School in Ã
ÂódÃ
º as one of its best students despite having been rejected during entrance exams three times. He debuted while he was still in film school in children's film Panienka z okienka directed by Maria Kaniewska in 1964. Shortly afterwards he was cast in a role of Janek Kos in a widely popular TV World War II series Czterej pancerni i pies (Four Tank Men and a Dog). He starred in numerous other films and theatrical plays, notably in Krzysztof KieÃ
Âlowski's ', Ryszard Bugajski's Interrogation, Andrzej Wajda's Man of Marble, Wojciech Marczewski's Escape from the 'Liberty' Cinema, WÃ
ÂadysÃ
Âaw Pasikowski's Pigs, Andrzej Wajda's The Revenge, MaÃ
Âgorzata Szumowska's Body and Wojciech Smarzowski's Clergy.
He performed in numerous theatres throughout his acting career including Stefan Jaracz Theatre in Ã
ÂódÃ
º as well as the Komedia Theatre, Polish Theatre, Kwadrat, the Dramatic Theatre and the National Theatre in Warsaw. In 2003, he became an academic teacher at the National Film School in Ã
ÂódÃ
º. He is also known for performing in popular Olga LipiÃ
Âska's Cabaret.
In 2010, he officially endorsed the candidacy of BronisÃ
Âaw Komorowski in the 2010 Polish Presidential Elections as well as the 2015 Polish Presidential Elections.
In 2007, he received the Golden Medal for Merit to Culture â Gloria Artis. In 2011, he was awarded the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta. He is a five-time winner of the Polish Film Awards including the Polish Film Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2016.
Filmography
- Solid Gold (2019), as CBÃ
 officer Nowicki
- Clergy (2018), as archbishop Mordowicz
- Kamerdyner (2018), as Bazyli Miotke
- Breaking the Limits (2017)
- Blindness (2016)
- Body (2015)
- The Closed Circuit as Andrzej Kostrzewa
- Ekipa, as former Prime Minister Henryk Nowasz
- Jasminum (2006) as monk Zdrówko
- Pitbull (2005)
- Hamlet (2004/II) (TV), as Claudius
- Treasure Planet (2002), as John Silver (voice, Polish Dub)
- Zemsta (2002) The Revenge, as CzeÃ
Ânik Maciej Raptusiewicz
- ' (2002), as Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich Romanov:
- Tam i z powrotem (2002) There and Back, as Andrzej Hoffman
- PrzedwioÃ
Ânie (2001) The Spring to Come, as Seweryn Baryka, father of Cezary
- Weiser (2001), as Antiquarian
- Ã
»Ã³Ã
Âty szalik (2000) (TV)
- To ja, zÃ
Âodziej (2000) It's Me, the Thief, as Roman Wyskocz
- Ostatnia misja (2000) The Last Mission, as Police Inspector
- Egzekutor (1999), as Kowalik
- Fuks (1999), as Policeman
- SzczÃÂÃ
Âliwego Nowego Jorku (1997) Happy New York, as Professor
- Czas zdrady (1997), as Messer Niccolo
- PoznaÃ
 56 (1996), as Professor
- Revenge of the Musketeers (1994), as D'Artagnan (voice, Polish Dub)
- Akwarium (1996) as Nikolay Kravcov
- Ã
Âagodna (1995) A Gentle Woman, as He
- Ã
ÂmierÃÂ jak kromka chleba (1994) Death like a Slice of Bread, as Miodek
- ' (1994), as MikoÃ
Âaj
- Straszny sen Dzidziusia Górkiewicza (1993) The Terrible Dream of Babyface Gorkiewicz
- Szwadron (1993) Squadron
- Coupable d'innocence (1992) When Reason Sleeps
- Pigs (1992), as Major SB "Siwy" Gross
- Escape from the 'Liberty' Cinema (1991), as Cenzor
- Stan wewnÃÂtrzny (1990) Inner State
- Dekalog (1989) The Decalogue (mini) TV Series, as MichaÃ
Â
- PiÃ
Âkarski poker (1989) Soccer Poker, as Referee Jan Laguna
- Dekalog, cztery (1988) (TV) Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother, as MichaÃ
Â
- Big Bang (1986) (TV), as Janek
- Hamlet we wsi GÃ
Âucha Dolna (1985) (TV)
- Rok spokojnego sÃ
ÂoÃ
Âca (1984) The Year of the Quiet Sun, as Moonlighter
- ' (1984) After Your Decrees, as Driver
- Alternatywy 4 (1983) TV Series, as Jan Winnicki
- Gwiezdny pyÃ
 (1982)
- Limuzyna Daimler-Benz (1982) The Consul, as Kuschmerek
- Nieciekawa historia (1982) Uninteresting Story
- Interrogation (1982) Interrogation, as Major UB "KÃÂ
pielowy" Zawada
- From a Far Country (1981) Z dalekiego kraju
- Man of Iron (1981) Man of Iron, as Committee vice-chairman
- WahadeÃ
Âko (1981) Shilly-Shally
- ' (1981)
- The Orchestra Conductor (1980), as High Official
- Kontrakt (1980) The Contract, as BolesÃ
Âaw Bartoszuk
- Kung-Fu (1979), as Editor-in-Chief Maciek
- What Will You Do When You Catch Me? (1978), as Supermarket Manager
- ' (1978) Millionaire, as Józef MikuÃ
Âa
- MgÃ
Âa (1976) The Fog
- Wakacje z duchami (1970) TV Series, as Antoniusz
- Bicz boÃ
¼y (1967) God's Whip, as KleÃ
Â
- Stajnia na Salwatorze (1967) Stall on Salvador
- Barrier (1966) (uncredited), as Tram Driver with Letter "E"
- Czterej pancerni i pies (1966) TV Series, as Pvt./Cpl./Sgt./Lt. Jan Kos
- The Codes (1966), as White monk
- Panienka z okienka (1964)
See also
References
External links