| Marian Kociniak | |
| Birth Date: | 11 January 1937 |
| Birth Place: | Warsaw, Poland |
| Death Place: | Warsaw, Poland |
| Resting Place: | Evangelical Reformed Cemetery, Warsaw, Poland |
| Education: | Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Years Active: | 1959–2013 |
| Spouse: | Grażyna Kociniak |
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 was born on 11 January 1936 in Warsaw, Poland. 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.[1]
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.[2] [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).[2] [4]
Additionally Kociniak acted in numerous plays of Polish Television.[2] 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 unvailed 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. On 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 wupport committee of Bronisław Komorowski during the 2010 and 2010 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]
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]
| 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 |
| 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 |