Marian Mikołaj Łącz (5 December 1921 – 2 August 1984) was a Polish international footballer who played as a forward, and later a theater and film actor.

Football

Born in Rzeszów, Łącz started his footballing career with his local team Resovia Rzeszów. The outbreak of World War II put his footballing career on hold until 1944, when he started playing for Sokół Rzeszów with his brother, Tadeusz. In 1946 he moved to Gdańsk to play for Lechia Gdańsk. He made his Lechia debut on 9 September 1945 against WKS 16 Dyw. Gdańsk in a 9–1 win. While being Łącz's first game for the club, it was also the club's first ever competitive game. He spent 6 months with Lechia, during which time he made 10 appearances and scored 25 goals, scoring six hat-trick in his 10 games and finishing as the club's top scorer for the season. After his time with Lechia he joined ŁKS Łódź. He had a successful time with ŁKS putting in good performances which got him the attention of the Polish media at the time. He helped ŁKS Łódź achieve promotion to the top division in 1948, playing in the I liga for ŁKS in 1949. During his time at ŁKS he proved himself to be a valuable forward finishing as the top scorer in 1948 with 17 goals and 1949 with 18 goals. In 1950 Łącz moved to Warsaw to join Polonia Warsaw, a decision partly made due to Warsaw having the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy. While with Polonia he again showed his goal-scoring prowess, finishing as the club's top scorer in 1951 and 1952. In 1952 Polonia were both relegated from the I liga and won the Polish Cup, beating rivals Legia Warsaw in the final 1–0. It is documented that at times while playing for Polonia he was substituted before half-time so he was able to meet his acting commitments at the theater. He continued to play for Polonia in the II liga until he retired to focus on his acting career in 1956.

Łącz made three international appearances for Poland, making his debut on 8 May 1949 against Romania. The other two games came in 1950, against Hungary and Czechoslovakia, with all three of his international caps coming in defeats for Poland.

Acting

He started acting in 1945, performing in the Rzeszów theater. He moved to Łódź and studied at the National Film School in Łódź, eventually moving to Warsaw to perform and study at the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy. After retiring from football his acting roles became more prevalent. He mainly retired from acting in 1981, but held small roles until his death in 1984.

Personal life

His father was an officer in the army and his mother worked in theater. He had a brother, Tadeusz, who was a footballer, and had two sisters. His daughter, Laura Łącz, is an actress.

Honours Polonia Warsaw Polish Cup: 1952

Filmography

A list of TV shows and films Łącz has had a role in.

Year English Title Role Notes1949Black GlazingWOP patrol commanderFilm1955Podhale in FireWawrzekFilm1956Revengeservant of RejentFilm1956ShadowStefanFilm1958Eighth Day of the WeekBanditFilm1958Fatal MistakeJeanTV1958What Rekna ZenaFlorczakFilm1959Thousand Talarstsarist gendarme &paramedic in helicopterFilm1959VolatileCorporalFilm1960Returndrunk manFilm1960Colourful Stockingsgymnastics teacherFilm1961Difficult Marriageinstructor officerFilm (short)1961Against Godsdriver of Karol DorońFilm1962The Two Who Stole the MoonpeasantFilm1962My OldPE teacherFilm1962Gangsters and Philanthropistspolice officer &professorFilm1963Too Bad MoustacheŁukaszTV1963Youngsterpolice officerFilm1963Bathed in FirePlatoon TomalaFilm1963"Yokmok"partner of the metastasis organizerFilm1964Meeting with a SpyPKS driver &ZygmuntFilm1964Conscience AccountdriverFilm1964Please Enter, the Door is OpenOleśTV1964CandidesoldierTV1964Combat Colours"Whip"Film1965Three Steps on Earthambulance driveFilm1965JihadZakrzewskiFilm1965Sixth of JulysentryTV1965A Stake Larger than LifeWacekTV1965Underground Frontcasino bartenderTV1965Last Day, First DaydriverTV1966Civil Warsinging policemanTV1966Christmas EveningveteranFilm1966We Love MirrorsdriverFilm1966Boxercelebrating manFilm1967Death to PearssoldierTV1967A Stake Larger than Lifeundercover guardTV1967Paris to Warsaw without a VisaLieutenant Henryk LipińskiFilm1967A Month in the CountrysideMatwiaTV1967When Love was a CrimeprisonerFilm1968Evening Outside the HomesalesmanTV1968Berlin DirectionPlatoon WalasekFilm1968Dancing at Hitlers Accommodationtourist at hotelFilm1969Last DaysPlatoon WalasekFilm1969KollokacjabutlerTV1970Holiday with SpiritspolicemanTV1970Adventure of a Dog, Civilofficer conducting dog trainingTV1970Brutus Actionporter in the hotelFilm1971Kill Black SheepsharpFilm1971Across Countryman in action for firefightersTV film1971Problem Guesttrunk driverTV1971Black NotessergeantTV1972I Want to get MarriedOrskiTV1973Your KingmechanicTV film1973Marian CapsMalvolioTV1973Janosikrobber SłowakTV1974VictoryPlatoon WalasekFilm1974The Most Important Day of LifeJan ChwalkoTV film1974Janosikrobber SłowakFilm1975LighterHeadTV1975A Great Man for Small InterestsbutlerTV1975Kazimierz the GreatStanisławFilm1975HorsztyńskicourtierTV1976Polish RoadsUłan IwaniukTV1976Brunet in the EveningAndrzejFilm1977DollsoldierTV1977Love or QuitJan PawlakFilm1977Girl and BoygamekeeperTV1978What Will You do to Me if you Catch Meworker at the stationFilm1978Green Love workerTV1978Footprint on EarthlaborerTV1980HomeMr. MisiekTV1980The Sinful Life of Franciszek BułaFicekFilm1981BearcollectorFilm1981White TangoTeresa's fatherTV1982CalcineKrzemieńTV1983Alternatives 4Władysław MatraczakTV1984Pan in ŻuławypeasantTV

A list of TV shows and films in which Łącz was part of the cast, but not as an acting role.

Year English Title Notes1957Guests at DuskFilm1960Fear has Big EyesTV1962Broken BridgeFilm1962Uncle WaniaTV1963Closed TownTV1965Escape and ReturnTV1965Captain from KöpenickTV1966Hard KnockTV1966Wild PalmTV1967Romeo with SamaraTV1967Four Friends from Silent StreetTV1969VolunteerTV1973Great Ballouse LoveTV1975Feel CombinedFilm1977Return of MembersTV1977Holiday MakersTV1984Love from the HitsFilm

References