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Czeslaw Niemen was born on 16 February 1939 in Stare Wasiliszki, Nowogródzkie, Poland [now Staryya Vasilishki, Belarus]. He was a composer and actor, known for Television Theater (1953), Przekleta ziemia (1983) and Gra (1969). He was married to Malgorzata Niemen. He died on 17 January 2004 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Music Department
- Actress
- Composer
Anna-Maria Jopek was born on 14 December 1970 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. She is an actress and composer, known for Vikings (2013), Myszka Walewska (2001) and Szabla od komendanta (1996). She has been married to Marcin Kydrynski since 31 January 1998. They have two children.- Actor
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Andrzej Zaucha was born on 12 January 1949 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland. He was an actor, known for How to Live? (2008), The Mire (2018) and Dariusz (2019). He died on 10 October 1991 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland.- Actress
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Edyta Geppert was born on 27 November 1953 in Nowa Ruda, Dolnoslaskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for Mister Blot's Academy (1984), Osiecka (2020) and Travels of Mr. Kleks (1986). She has been married to Piotra Loretza since 1985. They have one child.- Actress
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Ewa Demarczyk was born on 16 January 1941 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland. She was an actress, known for Television Theater (1953), Barrier (1966) and Eva den sorte (1972). She died on 14 August 2020 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland.- Actress
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Maria Peszek was born on 9 September 1973 in Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie, Poland. She is an actress and composer, known for The Hexer (2001), The Hexer (2002) and Nocne graffiti (1997).- Actor
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Born in Warsaw, Poland as Kazimierz Piotr Staszewski and known simply as Kazik, he is a Polish singer, saxophone player, composer, lyricist, and columnist, best known as the lead singer of Kult. His father Stanislaw Staszewski was an architect by trade while writing poetry and singing as a hobby, and his mother Krystyna Staszewska (nee Mojkowska) was a construction technician. His parents split before Staszewski was born and he grew up in Warsaw raised by his mother and grandmother while regularly visiting his father who emigrated to France. He studied sociology at the University of Warsaw but didn't finish his degree. His first live performance was in 1979 with the band Poland (later renamed Novelty Poland). In 1982 he co-founded Kult, in which he's been a lead singer ever since with a short break in the mid-80s when he worked in the UK. A prolific musician, he's also been involved with bands such Kazik Na Zywo, Buldog, El Dupa, Yugoton, Zuch Kazik, and Kazik + Zdunek Ensemble as well as pursuing a solo career. In addition to his music career, Staszewski is a columnist, having published in outlets such as "Gazeta Wyborcza" and Wirtualna Polska. He's been married to Anna Staszewska (nee Kaminska) since 1984, they have two sons, Kazimierz and Jan.- Actress
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Olga Jackowska was born on 8 June 1951 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland. She was an actress, known for The Man with the Magic Box (2017), 80 Millions (2011) and Spoor (2017). She was married to Kamil Sipowicz and Marek Jackowski. She died on 28 July 2018 in Blizów, Lubelskie, Poland.- Composer
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Seweryn Krajewski was born on 3 January 1947 in Nowa Sól, Lubuskie, Poland. He is a composer, known for Hello, Fred the Beard (1978), Break Point (2004) and Television Theater (1953). He is married to Elzbieta. They have two children.- Actress
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Monika Brodka was born on 7 February 1987 in Zywiec, Slaskie, Poland. She is an actress and director, known for The Mire (2018), Milosc na wybiegu (2009) and Dlaczego nie! (2007).- Anna Szalapak was born in 1952 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland. She was an actress, known for Zwyczajna dobroc (1998). She died on 14 October 2017 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland.
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Hanna Banaszak was born on 24 April 1957 in Poznan, Wielkopolskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for Przekleta ziemia (1983), Television Theater (1953) and Slona róza (1983).- Music Department
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Katarzyna Nosowska was born on 30 August 1971 in Szczecin, Zachodniopomorskie, Poland. She is an actress and writer, known for Nosowska: Ja pas! (2018), Nosowska, Igo, Organek & Zalewski: Sobie i Wam (2019) and Bóg internetów (2020).- Actor
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Maciej Malenczuk was born on 14 August 1961 in Wojcieszów, Dolnoslaskie, Poland. He is an actor, known for Bez skrupulów (2020), Solid Gold (2019) and Mamuski (2007).- Actress
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Maryla Rodowicz was born on 8 December 1945 in Zielona Góra, Lubuskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for Roblox: The Movie (2014), Pan Kleks w kosmosie (1988) and Television Theater (1953). She has been married to Andrzej Duzynski since 1986. They have one child. She was previously married to Krzysztof Jasinski.- Actor
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Zbigniew Wodecki was born on 6 May 1950 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland. He was an actor and composer, known for The Crown Witness (2007), Heart Parade (2022) and 1800 gramów (2019). He was married to Krystyna. He died on 22 May 2017 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Composer
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Grzegorz Turnau was born on 31 July 1967 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland. He is a composer and actor, known for Zakochany aniol (2005), Legendy Polskie Smok (2015) and Marcin Macuk feat. Krzysztof Zalewski: Cichosza (2017).- Music Department
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Anna Jurksztowicz was born on 5 August 1963 in Szczecin, Zachodniopomorskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for King Size (1988), Polish Roulette (2012) and Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was God (2003). She is married to Krzesimir Debski.- Actress
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Magda Umer was born on 9 October 1949 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. She is an actress, known for Weryfikacja (1986), The Palace (1980) and Sam na sam (1977).- Actress
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Ewa Bem was born on 23 February 1951 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. She is an actress, known for Teddy Bear (1981), Spotkanie z ballada (1972) and Dzien babci (2015). She has been married to Ryszard Sibilski since 1994. They have two children.- Music Department
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Dawid Podsiadlo was born on 23 May 1993 in Dabrowa Górnicza, Slaskie, Poland. He is an actor and composer, known for (Nie)znajomi (2019), Johnny (2022) and Dawid Podsiadlo: Trofea (2019).- Actress
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Slawa Przybylska was born on 2 November 1932 in Miedzyrzec Podlaski, Lubelskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for Ida (2013), Lydia Ate the Apple (1958) and Rozstanie (1961).- Actress
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She belongs to the top rung of most frequently broadcast Polish rock artists. Kasia Kowalska is one of the best-known Polish vocalists. The estimated sale of all her albums is over one million copies, which puts her among the Polish artists with the largest number of music publishers sold in Poland.
Her musical experience began in the 1980s when she sang as a female vocalist for numerous Polish bands, including Human, Fatum and Talking Pictures. She began her musical career with the release of her debut album, titled "Gemini", back in 1994. The LP has turned Triple Platinum (around half million copies sold). The album is said to represent her complex personality with the name following her zodiac sign. It is one of the most outstanding albums of Polish rock. In the same year she performed as a support act for Bob Dylan during his two concerts in Poland.
A year later, Kasia went on a tour called "Koncert Inaczej" which consisted of live performances of songs from the "Gemini" album in slightly different versions and jazz recitals during which she performed her favourite jazz standards of Billy Joel, Barbara Streisand etc. The concerts were recorded and realised on an album which had the same title as the tour - "Koncert Inaczej" (which means a concert differently). In the same year, she took part in the Sopot Festival, where she won Grand Prix. One of the judges was Malcolm McLaren.
In 1996, she represented Poland in the Eurovision Song Contest with a song called Chce znac swoj grzech... and finished 15th out of 23 and received 31 points (including 7 from three countries (Turkey, Greece, and Bosnia and Herzegovina but very few from the other ones). Afterwards, she starred in a movie called Nocne Graffiti and recorded a song for soundtrack of the movie. She also recorded a song to the soundtrack of a Disney movie, The Hunchback Of Notre Dame - the prayer of Esmeralda.
Soon after that, she started working on some songs for a third album ( second studio album). With the many changes in her life, a touch of optimism appeared in the new material. The first song which promoted "Czekajac na..." ( Waiting for..) was called "Cos optymistycznego" ( Something optimistic) and it showed a side of Kasia that nobody ever knew existed. The song was very much on the pop-funk side although the album itself was a combination of rock, funk and jazz and a touch of pop only in a few songs. This new style and an image that came with it made Kasia the most popular female polish singer in that year. The large tour for "Czekajac na..." gathered fans from around the country. It was so big, that some people compared it to the Beatles concerts because fans often fainted from exitment. By the end of the tour Kasia announced that she is pregnant ( the father is a composer of a lot of songs on "Czekajac na.." and a known musician- Kostek Yoriadis).
In 1997 premiere has movie "Nocne graffiti" (Night graffiti). Kasia played an 18-year-old drug addict.
On May 2, 1997, she gave birth to her daughter Aleksandra Julia Kowalska.
Summer of 1998 was a time for Kasia's big comeback. She was ready to come back on stage again with the new material. The album "Pelna obaw" ( Full of doubts) was a great surprise for Kasia's devoted fans. Finally after some experimenting with funk and jazz, she came back to her rock roots. The album is actually the most hard core in Kasia's discography. The lyrics are as usual, really personal. They themes : violence in the world and anger towards man. Kasia often said that "Jagged little pill" of Alanis Morissette really inspired her to record an album filled with feminist views. Kasia also produced this album by herself.
The next year and a half was spent on touring and coming up with material for a new album. In 2000 the album "5" came out. Once again Kasia showed a new side of her. This was one of the most important albums to be realised that year in Poland. And probably the most break through material. On "5" the sound is still based on rock music, except that it's enriched with loops and other electronic sounds. And for the first time in her career, Kasia simply sings without going to the extremes of showing all her vocal abilities in one song.
In 2001, she won the MTV Europe Music Award for "Best Polish Artist" and she was invited to sing on a Tribute album to a rase car driver - Ayrton Senna who died tragically in 1994. She wrote the song "Bezpowrotnie".
Kasia spent the summer on recording a new album which came out in November 2002. The title - "Antidotum" (Antidote). This time Kasia worked on it with some of her good friends, respected musicians like Michal Grymuza who was also the producer of the album and Wojtek Pilichowski amongst others. The album was a motley in the rock style with a touch of electronic music here and there. It was more dynamic then the previous album. The year 2004 marks 10 years on stage for Kasia Kowalska. Instead of putting out a "best of" package, she recorded an entirely new album called "Samotna w wielkim miescie" (Lonely in a big city).
On June 23, 2008, she gave birth to her second child, son Ignacy Ulanowski.
In November 2008 she released album "Antepenultimate" promoted by the single "A Ty Czego Chcesz" (And What Do You Want).
On November 7, 2010, together with an accompanying band, she played a concert in the studio of Agnieszka Osiecka, in which she presented her own interpretations of works by Grzegorz Ciechowski, leader of the Republika band, as well as the producer of her debut album and her musical mentor. Recordings recorded during the concert were released on the album "Ciechowski. My blood."
On June 12, 2010, she unveiled the star in the Avenue of Stars at the Polish Song Festival in Opole.
At the 20th Woodstock Festival in 2014, Kasia Kowalska celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut album. During a night concert at the Academy of Fine Arts (before the official start of the festival), she and the guests presented the most beautiful songs from the first two albums (primarily from the album "Gemini") and covers of artists who inspired her over the years. It was the first "own" concert of Kasia Kowalska at the Woodstock Festival. Earlier Kasia sang on the Woodstock stage as a guest: in 2009 (in a special project Woodstock '69), as a guest of Juliette Lewis at her concert, and a year later she took part in the project "Przystanek Republika".[4] On July 27, 2015 Kasia released album "Przystanek Woodstock 2014" (CD/DVD) which is a record of a concert from 2014.
On August 16, 2018, she performed as part of the Top of the Top Sopot Festival, performing a short recital on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of her artistic work. During the concert, she received the "Top of the Top" award for lifetime achievement.
Her fans had been waiting for 10 years for her last album "Aya". It includes a song "Somewhere Inside" written by Canadian singer Alannah Myles, known for her hit "Black Velvet".
On October 25, 2019 Kasia released album "MTV Unplugged", which is a record of a legendary series concert that took place on May 8, 2019 at the Shakespeare Theater in Gdansk.- Music Department
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Kayah was born on 5 November 1967 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. She is an actress, known for The Informer (2019), Pixels (2010) and Dublerzy (2006).- Actress
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Irena Santor was born on 9 December 1934 in Papowo Biskupie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for Przygoda z piosenka (1969), Adventure in Marienstadt (1954) and Gangsterzy i filantropi (1963).- Actress
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One of the most famous Polish singers. Most talented with extraordinary voice. Was playing a leading role in the most famous Polish musical Metro (dir. Janusz Jozefowicz), also staged in 1992 on Broadway ("Metro" was nominated to Tony Award). She sang and dubbed Pocahontas in the Polish language version of the famous Pocahontas animated Disney movie (1995). While she is a professional acclaimed singer with the international career she never was a professional actress except few "guest" episodes.- Actor
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Ryszard Rynkowski was born on 9 October 1951 in Elblag, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Poland. He is an actor and composer, known for The Lure (2015), Television Theater (1953) and The Mire (2018).- Composer
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Krzesimir Debski was born on 26 October 1953 in Walbrzych, Dolnoslaskie, Poland. He is a composer and actor, known for With Fire and Sword (1999), Ancient Tale: When the Sun Was God (2003) and The Dark Side of Venus (1998). He is married to Anna Jurksztowicz.- Actress
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Justyna Steczkowska was born on 2 August 1972 in Rzeszów, Podkarpackie, Poland. She is an actress and composer, known for Na koniec swiata (1999), How to Marry a Millionaire (2019) and Prawo ojca (1999).- Actor
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Liroy was born on 12 July 1971 in Kielce, Swietokrzyskie, Poland. He is an actor and composer, known for Boys Don't Cry (2000), The Mire (2018) and Television Theater (1953).- Soundtrack
Urszula Sipinska was born on 19 September 1947 in Poznan, Wielkopolskie, Poland.- Actress
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Natalia Kukulska was born on 3 March 1976 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. She is an actress, known for Jeszcze raz (2008), Zakochani (2000) and Pan Samochodzik i niesamowity dwór (1987). She has been married to Michal Dabrówka since 12 February 2000. They have two children.- Mietek Szczesniak was born on 9 July 1964 in Kalisz, Wielkopolskie, Poland.
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Zdzislawa Sosnicka was born on 29 August 1945 in Kalisz, Wielkopolskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for Television Theater (1953), Spotkanie z ballada (1972) and Mister Blot's Academy (1984).- Actress
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Malgorzata Ostrowska was born on 2 May 1958 in Szczecinek, Zachodniopomorskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for 6 dni strusia (2001), #WszystkoGra (2016) and Travels of Mr. Kleks (1986).- Actor
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Grzegorz Markowski was born on 23 September 1953 in Józefów, Mazowieckie, Poland. He is an actor, known for Falszerze. Powrót sfory (2007), Zostac miss (2001) and Poranek kojota (2001).- Actress
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Patrycja Markowska was born on 21 December 1979 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. She is an actress, known for Sluzby specjalne (2014), Fanciful (2014) and Jeszcze raz (2008).- Actress
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Anita Lipnicka was born on 13 June 1975 in Piotrków Trybunalski, Lódzkie, Poland. She is an actress, known for Pulapka (1997), Na dobre i na zle (1999) and Wojna zensko-meska (2011).- Actor
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Muniek Staszczyk was born on 5 November 1963 in Czestochowa, Slaskie, Poland. He is an actor, known for Television Theater (1953), #WszystkoGra (2016) and Balanga (1993).- Actress
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Katarzyna Groniec was born on 22 February 1972 in Zabrze, Slaskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for The Gateway of Europe (1999), Television Theater (1953) and Bar Atlantic (1996).- Composer
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Robert Janson was born on 7 June 1965 in Czeladz, Slaskie, Poland. He is a composer, known for Nocne graffiti (1997), Mlode wilki (1995) and Slaba plec? (2015).- Actress
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Maria Koterbska was born on 13 July 1924 in Bielsko-Biala, Slaskie, Poland. She was an actress, known for Ida (2013), Irena do domu! (1955) and The Man with the Magic Box (2017). She was married to Jan Frankl. She died on 18 January 2021 in Bielsko-Biala, Silesia, Poland.- Monika Kuszynska was born on 14 January 1980 in Lódz, Lódzkie, Poland.
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Karin Stanek was born on 18 August 1946 in Bytom, Slaskie, Poland. She was an actress, known for Dwa zebra Adama (1964), O rany, nic sie nie stalo (1987) and Disco (1971). She died on 15 February 2011 in Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany.- Music Department
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Alibabki is known for Hello, Fred the Beard (1978), One Way Ticket to the Moon (2013) and Raging Rose (2015).- Composer
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Kuba Sienkiewicz was born on 24 November 1961 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. He is a composer and actor, known for Television Theater (1953), Kiler (1997) and Emilia (2005).- Actor
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Jonasz Kofta was born on 28 November 1942 in Mizocz, Wolynskie, Poland [now Mizoch, Rivne Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor and writer, known for Wodzirej (1978), Television Theater (1953) and One Way Ticket to the Moon (2013). He died on 19 April 1988 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Actor
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Skaldowie is known for One Way Ticket to the Moon (2013), Legendy Polskie Twardowsky 2.0 (2016) and Osiecka (2020).- Composer
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Michal Urbaniak was born on 22 January 1943 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. He is a composer and actor, known for The Debt (1999), My Father's Bike (2012) and Eden (2002).- Actress
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Urszula Dudziak was born on 22 October 1943 in Straconka, Bielsko-Biala, Slaskie, Poland. She is an actress and composer, known for Frontline (1983), Eden (2002) and Fierce (2020).- Mika Urbaniak was born in 1980 in New York City, New York, USA.
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Marek Grechuta was born on 10 December 1945 in Zamosc, Lubelskie, Poland. He was a composer and actor, known for Planet Single (2016), Zakret (1977) and #WszystkoGra (2016). He was married to Danuta. He died on 9 October 2006 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland.- Music Department
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Tymon Tymanski is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and composer. He began his musical education at the age of eight with the guitar. In primary school, he was the lead singer of his first band, The Howling Dogs. He studied English Philology at the University of Gdansk but left in 1989 to focus on music and literary activities. Tymanski is known for his work in several bands. He was the founder and leader of "Milosc" (1988), a free jazz band that achieved great success and is considered one of the best Polish jazz bands of the 90s. He also founded "Kury" (1992), which released the album "P.O.L.O.V.I.R.U.S.", a commentary on Polish popular music of the time that received numerous awards. In 2002, he formed "Tymon & The Transistors" which debuted with music written for the movie Wesele (2004).- Actress
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Alicja Majewska was born on 30 May 1948 in Wroclaw, Dolnoslaskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for 07 zglos sie (1976), Spotkanie z ballada (1972) and Samo sie zagoi (2017). She was previously married to Janusz Budzynski.- Actress
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Halina Frackowiak was born on 10 April 1947 in Poznan, Wielkopolskie, Poland. She is an actress, known for One Way Ticket to the Moon (2013), Satan Said Dance (2017) and Waves (2016).- Actress
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Anna German was a Polish pop-singer of the German origin (her surname has nothing in common with her ethnic origin - this is a purely casual coincidence in English only; the Polish word for "German" is niemiecki (m), niemiecka (f), niemiec "a German man", niemka "a German lady", Niemcy "Germans", "Germany" etc.). She was born in the Soviet Union. Her parents as well as other Soviet Germans, were banished to Central Asia after the Nazi Germany had attacked the USSR. Her father was killed in the labor camp. During the war her mother married a Pole and moved to Poland after World War II had been over. Anna German's main profession is geologist. She became a pop singer in the early 1960s after winning a song competition at University of Wroclaw where she was studying. In August 1967 she was badly injured in the road accident (car crash) in Italy. The process of her rehabilitation lasted three years until in 1970 she started singing again. She was popular both in Poland and in the USSR. The cause of her death in the age of 46 is cancer, which is in no way bound with the road accident as many people mistakenly suppose.- Actor
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Stanislaw Sojka was born on 26 April 1959 in Zory, Slaskie, Poland. He is an actor and composer, known for Julie Walking Home (2002), Zakochany aniol (2005) and Tomorrow Will Be Better (2010).- Music Department
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Reni Jusis was born on 29 March 1974 in Konin, Wielkopolskie, Poland. She is an actress and composer, known for Reni Jusis: Delta (2016), Reni Jusis: Bejbi Siter (2016) and Reni Jusis: A moglo byc tak pieknie (2009). She has been married to Tomasz Makowiecki since 8 August 2008. They have two children.- Actor
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Michal Bajor was born on 13 June 1957 in Glucholazy, Opolskie, Poland. He is an actor, known for W bialy dzien (1981), Quo vadis (2001) and Psie serce (2002).- Irena Jarocka was born on 18 August 1946 in Srebrna Góra, Wielkopolskie, Poland. She was an actress, known for Motylem jestem, czyli romans czterdziestolatka (1976), Raging Rose (2015) and Twarze i maski (2001). She was married to Michal Sobolewski and Marian Zacharewicz. She died on 21 January 2012 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.
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Violetta Villas was born on 10 June 1938 in Heusy, Belgium. She was an actress, known for Dzieciol (1971), Television Theater (1953) and Klub profesora Tutki (1966). She was married to Ted Kowalczyk and Piotr Gospodarek. She died on 5 December 2011 in Lewin Klodzki, Dolnoslaskie, Poland.- Music Department
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Agnieszka Chylinska was born on 23 May 1976 in Gdansk, Pomorskie, Poland. She is an actress and writer, known for Agnieszka Chylinska: Królowa lez (2016), Television Theater (1953) and Agnieszka Chylinska: Mam zly dzien (2018).- Music Department
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Beata Kozidrak was born on 4 May 1960 in Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland. She is an actress and composer, known for Pan Kleks w kosmosie (1988), Beata Kozidrak: Gambit (2021) and Beata Kozidrak: Blizej (2020). She was previously married to Andrzej Pietras.- Composer
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Wojciech Kilar was born on 17 July 1932 in Lwów, Lwowskie, Poland [now Lviv, Ukraine]. He was a composer, known for Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), The Ninth Gate (1999) and The Pianist (2002). He was married to Barbara Pomianowska. He died on 29 December 2013 in Katowice, Slaskie, Poland.- Composer
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Born in Poland in 1955, Zbigniew Preisner studied philosophy and history in the university of Cracow. In his twenties he started to study music in a autodidactical way: buying records and learning to write by taking the music in parts. He started to write his own compositions. His style has always been very romantic, influenced by romantic polish composers from the XIX century and others like Paganini or Sibelius. He has always emphasized the importance of melody in music. He doesn't like experimental modern music.
In 1981 he began his collaboration with filmmakers. While he was working with Antoni Krauze's movie "Weather Report" he met director Krzystof Kieslowski who invited him to work in his new movie "No End" about Poland under the martial law at the beginning of the 80s.
With that movie he began a very close collaboration with Kieslowski and his screenwriter Krzystof Piesiewicz. He works while the script for the movie is still being written but he usually also takes part in the editing of the movie.
Their next collaboration became a success worldwide. "Decalogue" won the European film award for best film and also awards in Cannes and other festivals. Kieslowski became one of the most importants directors in Europe and Preisner the leading film music composer of his generation.
At the same time he continued his collaboration with Kieslowski in such films like "La double vie de Veronique" and the trilogy of colours ("Blue", "White" and "Red") he also wrote soundtracks for others important directors like Louis Malle, Agniezka Holland or Héctor Babenco.
His collaboration with Kieslowski ended with his death in 1996. In the last years Preisner not only has continued his collaboration in others movies but he also has been involved in others musical projects like the writing of an opera to be performed in London and features for the Varsovia Simphony orchestra.- Composer
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Jan Kanty Pawluskiewicz was born on 13 October 1942 in Nowy Targ, Malopolskie, Poland. He is a composer and actor, known for Papusza (2013), The Daughters of Fortune (1999) and Little Vilna: The Last Diary (2000).- Composer
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Andrzej Markowski was born on 22 August 1924 in Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland. He was a composer, known for Wild at Heart (1990), First Spaceship on Venus (1960) and The Hours of Hope (1955). He died on 30 October 1986 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Actress
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Wanda Warska was born on 28 April 1932 in Poznan, Wielkopolskie, Poland. She was an actress and composer, known for Night Train (1959), The Endless Night (1963) and Television Theater (1953). She was married to Andrzej Kurylewicz. She died on 6 July 2019 in Laski, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Composer
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Henryk Kuzniak was born on 17 March 1936 in Czeladz, Slaskie, Poland. He is a composer, known for Kobieta z prowincji (1985), Fotografia jest sztuka trudna (1998) and Vabank II, czyli riposta (1985).- Composer
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Krzysztof Penderecki was a Polish composer and conductor, whose music was often used in film. He seldom composed original film scores. Among the most notable films to use Penderecki's music are "The Exorcist" (1973), "The Shining" (1980), "Wild at Heart" (1990), "Fearless" (1993), "Inland Empire" (2006), "Children of Men" (2006), and "Shutter Island" (2010),
Penderecki was born in the town of Debica, in the historic province of Lesser Poland. His parents were the lawyer Tadeusz Penderecki and his wife Zofia. Tadeusz was an amateur violinist and pianist. Penderecki was a grandson of bank director Robert Berger, who had a side-career as a painter. Robert's father was Johann Berger, a German Protestant from Breslau (modern Wroclaw), who converted to Catholicism in order to marry a Catholic girl. Penderecki's grandmother Stefania was an Armenian from the town of Stanislau in Austria-Hungary (modern Ivano-Frankivsk in Western Ukraine).
Penderecki was 6-years-old when World War II begun. The Penderecki family had to move out of their apartment, as it was confiscated for use by the Ministry of Food. Penderecki's education was disrupted by the War. He started attending grammar school in 1946, at the age of 13. He graduated in 1951.
Penderecki started studying violin during his school years. His first teacher was military bandmaster Stanislaw Darlak, who also led a local orchestra in Debica. In 1951, Penderecki enrolled at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, where he continued his music studies. Stanislaw Tawroszewicz trained him as a violinist, while Franciszek Skolyszewski taught him music theory.
In 1954, Penderecki enrolled at the Academy of Music in Kraków. Having mostly completed his violin lessons, his education was focused entirely on the composition of new music. His original mentor was composer Artur Malawski, who was primarily known for choral and orchestral works. Malawski died in 1957, before Penderecki completed his lessons. His new mentor was composer Stanislaw Wiechowicz (1893-1963), who often drew inspiration from Polish folk music.
Penderecki graduated from the Academy of Music in 1958, and was immediately offered a teaching position there. He took the offer. He started publishing his original compositions, which were mostly influenced by the works of Pierre Boulez, Igor Stravinsky, and Anton Webern. His works "Strophen", "Psalms of David", and "Emanations" premiered in 1959, and were critically well-received.
His first work to actually receive international recognition was "Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima" (1960), written for 52 string instruments. His next notable work was the controversial "Fluorescences" (1962) written for the Donaueschingen Festival in Germany. He experimented with using percussion instruments which were unusual for classical music, such as "a Mexican güiro", typewriters, and gongs.
His experimental phase lasted through the 1960s, and he was seen as part of the avant-garde scene. By the early 1970s, Penderecki started incorporating more influences from the music of post-Romanticism, and his works were seen as more traditional. Meanwhile he had become one of Poland's most notable composers, He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta in 1964, and the Commander's Cross of the Order in 1974.
In the mid-1970s Penderecki became a professor at the Yale School of Music. His music became more melodic. His "Symphony No. 2, Christmas" (1980) was "harmonically and melodically quite straightforward", and made frequent uses of the tune used in an older Christmas carol, "Silent Night" (1818) by Franz Xaver Gruber (1787-1863). He explained his renunciation of the avant-garde, as he viewed the novelty of the music as "more destructive than constructive".
In 1980, the Polish trade union "Solidarity" commissioned to compose music commemorating those killed in anti-government riots at the Gdansk shipyards. Penderecki initially composed "Lacrimosa" for the occasion. He was inspired enough to expand the work to one of his most famous compositions, "Polish Requiem". He revised it several times between 1980 and 2005.
By the 2000s, Penderecki won many international awards and his fame was well-established. He started working on a number of compositions which were never finished, in part due to poor health. His plans included an opera version of the French tragedy play "Phèdre" (1677) by Jean Racine (1639-1699), and a composition commemorating the Armenian Genocide's centennial.
In March 2020, Penderecki died in his home in Kraków, Poland, following a long illness. He was 86-years-old, and several of his compositions were regarded among the famous film music of the 20th century.- Music Department
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Frédéric François Chopin was born Fryderyk Franciszek Chopin, on March 1, 1810, in Zelazowa Wola, Masovia region, Duchy of Warsaw, Poland. His father, named Mikolaj (Nicolas) Chopin, was a Frenchman who came to Poland from Lorraine, and eventually became professor at Warsaw Lyceum. His mother, named Tekla Justina Krzyzanovska, was a relative of Polish Countess Ludwika Skarbkowa, owner of the Zelazowa Wola estate.
From 1816-1822 Chopin studied piano under professional musician Wojcech Zywny. He wrote his first piano compositions at the age of 7. In 1820, then ten-year-old Chopin moved with his parents to Warsaw. There he gained a reputation as a "second Mozart" for his piano playing. From 1823-1826 Chopin studied at the Warsaw Lyceum. In 1824 he was influenced by the Jewish folklore and composed Mazurka in A minor, called "The Jewish" by Chopin himself. From 1826-1830 he studied at the Warsaw Conservatory under pianist Wilhelm Wurfel and composer Josef Elsner. In 1829 Chopin attended a performance of Niccolò Paganini in Warsaw. In the same year Chopin gave solo concerts in Vienna and premiered his Piano Concerto No.1 in F minor. In 1830 he premiered his Piano Concerto No.2 in E minor at the National Theatre in Warsaw. He visited Vienna again in November of same year and played his two piano concertos with great success. After Vienna he continued his concert tour to Munich and Stuttgart. There he learned of the invasion of the Russian Army in Poland, and composed the Etude in C minor, called Revolutionary. Chopin chose the status of a political exile and finally emigrated to Paris, France.
From 1830-1849 Chopin established himself as composer and piano player in Paris. There he changed his name into Frédéric François Chopin. In Paris he met Franz Liszt, who initiated a friendship, and they played together in several concerts, but later became rivals. Chopin formed personal friendship with composer and critic Hector Berlioz. His other personal friends were Felix Mendelssohn and Vincenzo Bellini. In 1835 he made a trip to Dresden and Karlsbad, where he visited with his relatives and accompanied them to Poland. He became seriously ill with bronchial asthma on his way back to Paris. In 1836 he proposed to a seventeen-year-old Polish girl, named Maria Wodzinska, and she accepted. Their engagement lasted for several months, but was called off in 1837 by her mother after a certain manipulative influence by George Sand.
In October of 1836, in Paris Chopin met George Sand at a party hosted by Marie d'Agoult, mistress of Franz Liszt. Initially Chopin commented on Sand: "What an antipathetic woman". In June of 1837 Sand wrote in a letter to her friend about her agenda to abandon another affair in order to start a relationship with Chopin. George Sand was strongly attracted to Chopin, she destroyed his engagement to Maria Wodzinska, and dominated his life for nine years. Chopin and Sand had a turbulent relationship. In 1839, during their first winter vacation together on Mallorca, Sand took along her children from her previous marriage. At Mallorca Chopin did not have a decent piano to practice, while he was composing his 'Raindrop' prelude. Sand witnessed the completion of Chopin's greatest masterpiece, the cycle of 24 Preludes. He had to struggle with a poor rental piano and became unhappy and fell ill, but received little help from local doctors. Later Chopin enjoyed a better environment at Sand's estate in Nohant. There his creativity flourished during the summers of 1839 until 1843. At that time Chopin composed many important works. However, Chopin and Sand were not a good match, and eventually their differences prevailed. Sand was a pipe smoker and a flamboyant party goer. Chopin suffered from bronchial asthma and tuberculosis and needed a quiet solitude for his music. In George Sand's violent quarrel with her daughter Solange, Chopin defended the daughter. Sand left Chopin.
In February of 1848 Chopin gave his last concerts in Paris. He went to England and Scotland in November of 1848, and fell ill there. He gave his last concerts in London while being severely ill. He returned to Paris, but was unable to teach or perform for several months during 1849. Shortly before he died, sensing the end was near, Chopin had requested that Requiem by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart be sung at his funeral service at the Church of the Madeleine. He also requested that his heart be removed and brought in an urn to Warsaw, Poland. Chopin died on October 17, 1849, but could not be buried for two weeks, because the church did not allow female singers for the Mozart's Requiem. At last, the church relented and the funeral was held on October 30, 1849. A crowd of four thousand attended the ceremony. Composer Berlioz, artist Delacroix, poet Adam Mickiewicz, singer Viardot, were present among many others from cultural circles - but notably absent was George Sand. Chopin's heart was dispatched in an urn to Warsaw, and his body was laid to rest in the Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris, France.- Composer
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Henryk Mikolaj Górecki was born on 6 December 1933 in Czernica, Slaskie, Poland. He was a composer, known for Suicide Squad (2016), Mr. Nobody (2009) and Beautiful Boy (2018). He was married to Jadwiga Górecki. He died on 12 November 2010 in Katowice, Slaskie, Poland.- Writer
- Music Department
- Director
Agnieszka Osiecka was born on 9 October 1936 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. She was a writer and director, known for Ida (2013), Osiecka (2020) and Zwierzeta futerkowe (1960). She was married to Voytek Frykowski and Wojciech Jesionka. She died on 7 March 1997 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Actor
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Wojciech Mlynarski was born on 26 March 1941 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. He was an actor and writer, known for Panna z mokra glowa (1995), Television Theater (1953) and Autumn Girl (2021). He was married to Adrianna Godlewska and Jadwiga. He died on 15 March 2017 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Music Department
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Jacek Cygan was born on 6 July 1950 in Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland. He is known for Intacto (2001), Into the Wind (2022) and Facet (nie)potrzebny od zaraz (2014). He is married to Ewa Labunska.- Writer
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Jeremi Przybora was born on 12 December 1915 in Warsaw, Poland, Russian Empire [now Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland]. He was a writer and actor, known for Zolnierz królowej Madagaskaru (1958), Eva Wants to Sleep (1958) and Television Theater (1953). He died on 4 March 2004 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Actor
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- Music Department
Jerzy Wasowski was born on 31 May 1913 in Warsaw, Poland, Russian Empire [now Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland]. He was an actor and composer, known for Autumn Girl (2021), Television Theater (1953) and E=mc2 (2002). He died on 29 September 1984 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Composer
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- Actor
Krzysztof Komeda was born on 27 April 1931 in Poznan, Wielkopolskie, Poland. He was a composer and actor, known for Rosemary's Baby (1968), The Fearless Vampire Killers (1967) and Knife in the Water (1962). He was married to Zofia von Tittenbrun. He died on 23 April 1969 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Soundtrack
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Andrzej Korzynski was born on 2 March 1940 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. He was a composer and actor, known for Possession (1981), Bird Talk (2019) and Big Shar (1983). He died on 18 April 2022 in Poland.- Actor
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Jan Kiepura, the son of a baker, was born in 1902 in the gloomy mining town of Sosnowiec, now in Poland, but situated in Russia at that time. He left his native town, that - although dirty and dark - would always remain dear to his heart, for Warsaw, where he started studying law. At the same time he took singing lessons with Waclaw Brzesinsky and Tadeusz Leliwa. He soon realized that singing was his real vocation and was lucky to benefit from the support of his parents, who understood how talented he was in this field. At age 23, Jan was hired for the first time, as a replacement in the choir of the Warsaw Opera, but he sang so loud that his voice covered all the other ones, which resulted in his being fired. However, three months later, he found himself on the same stage, but in the right place this time, as the lead singer of Gounod's "Faust". This outstanding performance marked the beginning of a rapid rise: from then on, Jan Kiepura was wanted everywhere in the world. In addition,it was not long before the cinema - now talking - required his beautiful voice and his good looks. As of the early thirties he starred in a series of filmed operettas. It was on the set of "Mein Herz ruft nach dir" that he met the woman of his life, Hungarian-born Marta Eggerth, another star singer, with whom he lived until his death in 1966 and who gave him two sons. In March '38, the couple fled Austria and took refuge in the South of France. The following year, he joined the French Polish Legion and shortly after the Phoney War, he was assigned the mission to defend the cause of invaded Poland in the States. He found Marta there and after the end of the War they teamed together on Broadway where they co-starred in "The Merry Widow" and "La Polonaise". In 1953, Jan and Marta settled down in the USA for good and Jan acquired American citizenship shortly afterwards. But his career quickly declined and, at the age of 64, he died of a heart attack in his New York State home.- Actress
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Katarzyna Sobczyk was born on 21 February 1945 in Tyczyn, Lwowskie [now Podkarpackie], Poland. She was an actress, known for Television Theater (1953), O rany, nic sie nie stalo (1987) and Pech to nie grzech (2018). She was married to Henryk Fabian. She died on 28 July 2010 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Music Department
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Leszek Mozdzer was born on 23 March 1971 in Gdansk, Pomorskie, Poland. He is a composer and actor, known for Unfaithful (2002), Icarus. The Legend of Mietek Kosz (2019) and Finding Neverland (2004).- Composer
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Andrzej Zielinski was born on 5 October 1944 in Gdów, Malopolskie, Poland. He is a composer, known for One Way Ticket to the Moon (2013), Jak to sie robi (1974) and Mocne uderzenie (1967).- Writer
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- Production Manager
Ludwik Starski was born on 1 March 1903 in Warsaw, Poland, Russian Empire [now Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland]. He was a writer and production manager, known for Zapomniana melodia (1938), Bedzie lepiej (1936) and Jadzia (1936). He died on 29 February 1984 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Actor
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Singer Krzysztof Cugowski was born in 30 May 1950. He is the father of three sons. In 1969 he created one of today's most popular Polish bands "Budka Suflera". He recorded many popular songs. With "Budka Suflera" Cugowski played in New York's Carnaggie Hall in November 1999. Also sang with such vocalists as Garou or Gary Brooker (Procol Harum). Song, "My Alabama", with his vocal, appears in Polish film "Alabama" (1984).- Actor
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Piotr Cugowski was born on 5 October 1979 in Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland. He is an actor, known for Kochaj i tancz (2009), Atrakcyjny pozna pania (2004) and Odwróceni. Ojcowie i córki (2019). He was previously married to Eliza Tokarczyk.- Wojciech Cugowski was born on 11 July 1976 in Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland. He is an actor, known for Atrakcyjny pozna pania (2004), Lesniczówka (2018) and Taniec z gwiazdami (2005).
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Halina Mlynkova was born on 22 June 1977 in Návsí, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She is an actress, known for Muzzikanti (2017), Zenská pomsta (2020) and Podejrzani zakochani (2013). She has been married to Lesek Wronka since 14 February 2015. She was previously married to Lukasz Nowicki.- Composer
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Wojciech Waglewski was born on 21 April 1953 in Nowy Sacz, Malopolskie, Poland. He is a composer and actor, known for Kroniki domowe (1997), Tanie pieniadze (1986) and Strefa ciszy (2001).- Actor
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Fisz was born on 28 March 1978 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. He is an actor, known for F 63.9 (2017), Fisz & Mela Koteluk: Armaty (2015) and Kim Nowak: Prosto w ogien (2012).- Actor
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Fisz Emade Tworzywo is known for Humble Servants (2016) and Fisz Emade Tworzywo feat. Justyna Swies: Pyl (2014).- Actress
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Majka Jezowska was born on 25 May 1960 in Nowy Sacz, Malopolskie, Poland. She is an actress and composer, known for The Magic Stone (2009), Pokolenie Ikea (2023) and United States of Love (2016).- Actor
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Piotr Szczepanik was born on 14 February 1942 in Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland. He was an actor, known for Television Theater (1953), Raging Rose (2015) and Cierpkie glogi (1966). He died on 20 August 2020.- Composer
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Andrzej Kurylewicz was born on 24 November 1932 in Lwów, Lwowskie, Poland [now Lviv, Ukraine]. He was a composer, known for Lesson of a Dead Language (1979), Night Train (1959) and Ostatni strzal (1959). He was married to Wanda Warska. He died on 13 April 2007 in Konstancin-Jeziorna, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Actress
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Halina Kunicka was born on 18 February 1938 in Lwów, Lwowskie, Poland [now Lviv, Ukraine]. She is an actress, known for Biale tango (1981), Dziewczyny do wziecia (1972) and Twoja twarz brzmi znajomo (2014).- Actor
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Krzysztof Krawczyk was born on 8 September 1946 in Katowice, Slaskie, Poland. He was an actor, known for Television Theater (1953), Taxing Love (2018) and Edi (2002). He was married to Ewa Trelko, Halina Zytkowiak and Grazyna Adamus. He died on 5 April 2021 in Lódz, Lódzkie, Poland.- Composer
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Bohdan Lazuka was born on 31 October 1938 in Lublin, Lubelskie, Poland. He is an actor, known for Hello, Fred the Beard (1978), Przygoda z piosenka (1969) and Zuzanna i chlopcy (1961).