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).
Biography 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.
He 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.
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).
Additionally Kociniak acted in numerous plays of Polish Television. 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.
In 2003, during the 8th Festival of Stars in Międzyzdroje, Kociniak has unveiled his plaque at the Promenade of Stars walk of fame.
Throughout his career, he completely refused giving interviews. 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. 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.
Kociniak died in a Warsaw hospital on 17 March 2016, at the age of 80. He was buried on 23 March 2016, next to his wife, at the Warsaw Evangelical Reformed Cemetery.
Private life For over 50 years he was married to film editor Grażyna Kociniak (died 2016). Together they had a daughter, Weronika, and he was also a stepfather to his wife's son, Piotr.
He was also a cousin of actor Jan Kociniak.
Filmography Films Year Title Role Notes1960 Innocent Sorcerers Concert attendant Uncredited Mario i czarodziej Television play1961 Warszawska ulica Mistrz Pathelin Decyzje Bal manekinów 1962 The Two Who Stole the Moon Grzegorz Nieborak Uncredited Gangsters and Philanthropists 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 #1Television play Stworzenie świata Szymek Romans Teresy Hennert Dzieje jednego pocisku Bandit1964 Five Kazio Wspólny pokój Student Television play1965 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 PiotrTelevision play Aszantka Franek Godziny miłości Feliks1967 The Sun Rises Once Daily Mały Żołnierz Królowej Madagaskaru Theatre stage manager Television play Nominacja Sasza 1968 Last After the God Piotr Kwiatkowski1969 How I Unleashed World War II Franciszek Dolas Main role Bracia syjamscy SanorTelevision 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 AdamWszyscy 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 Mały1975 Bajadera JanuszTelevision 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! Quinn1978 Włamanie o północy Thief Pamela Al Sherwood Ich głowy Valorin1979 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 Ribandel1980 Schwarzes Gold Paul Budach Supeł Gustaw Television play Król w Kraju Rozkoszy King 1981 Molier, czyli zmowa świętoszków La GrangeTelevision play Dom na granicy Husband 1982 O istnieniu cudownych miejsc Narrator Documentary film; voice1983 Danton Jean-Baptiste Robert Lindet Fucha Zgred Main role O victorii wiedeńskiej Narrator Documentary film; voice1984 Love of the Charts Jul Sposób na życie Dr. Grzesiewicz Television play1985 Szewcy Sajetan Tempe Odwet David Ryder Anioł na dworcu Stranger1987 Bermuda Triangle Jarek Main role Circus is Leaving Jan Kossakowski Main role 1988 Kantata o łożu Husband Television play1989 Rififi po sześćdziesiątce Andrzej Nowisz Kwartet Lena's fatherTelevision play 1990 Polonez Iosif Igelström 1992 Bon Appétit, My Little TV Grandfather Moskwa – pietruszki Czarnowąsy Television play1993 Yesterday Goodbye Roman Main role Śmierć Tarełkina RaspluyevTelevision 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 Pechar1996 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 Year Title Role Notes1965 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 Year Title Role Notes 2003 Jak rozpętałem drugą wojnę światową Franciszek Dolas Voice
Awards and decorations
Officer's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2001) Knight's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1988) Gold Cross of Merit (1974) Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture (2010)
References
External links