In good company
He made his screen debut in 1953 in Wanda Jakubowska's film Soldier of Victory, and played his first major role – that of the impostor Kwasniewski – in People on a Train. Kazimierz Kutz. He gained a lot of sympathy for the character of Luśnia, the favorite soldier of the title character in the film adaptation of the third part of Sienkiewicz's trilogy – “Mr. Wołodyjowski” by Jerzy Hoffmann. 30 years later, he played Old Barabbas in the film adaptation of “With Fire and Sword.” He loved roles in costume films: in the horror film “Lokis” by Janusz Majewski, set in Samogitia, he played Dr. Froeber, the doctor of Countess Simontois; In “A Dead Language Lesson” by the same director – Forster Szwanda.
In the first Polish series
He also appeared as a bikini man in “Sprawa do doliński” by Jan Rybkowski and Jan Witke, a policeman in “Ewa Wants to Sleep” by Tadeusz Chmielewski, as well as a bishop in “Kopernik” by Ewa and Czesław Petelski, a gynecologist. In “Nadzor” by Wieslaw Saniewski, the warden in “Bismak” by Wojciech Jerzy Haas, as well as the director of the state agricultural farm in “Kuchnia Polska” by Jacek Bromski. He played the role of Prince Mikołaj Radziwiłł in the series “Chancellor” by Ryszard Ber, or in the successful stories of Stanisław Bareja “Alternative 4”, “Zmiennica” and the first Polish TV series – “W labiryncie” – the neighbor of the Racewicz family Henryk Ostoja-Ostojałowski. His last role on the small screen was the character of Zygmunt Karabasz, a shopkeeper in Złotopolice, in the popular TVP series “Złotopolscy”.
“If they offered me a job, I didn't avoid it.”
When asked about his most memorable film role, he replied with a disappointed smile: – The word “play” seems too strong in my case and would definitely be a great offense. It was more roles than roles, but when directors offered me work, I didn't turn it away.
“It was a horror show”
Lutkiewicz was born in Kaunas, but grew up in Okumerz, Lithuania, where his father got a job as a secretary at a Polish high school. Thanks to his father, he was exposed to theater from an early age – participating in small amateur performances. After the war and learning problems led to his expulsion from school, he entered the Faculty of Law, but soon transferred to PWST based in Łódź. —Mathematics and related things were a horror. I even had to repeat my sophomore year of high school. “But I loved literature, reading, and being on stage,” he recalls. -The law was wrong.
Debut early
He made his stage debut while still a student. He did not complain about the lack of offers. At first, he was involved in theaters in Łódź, including: Teatr Nowy, and then going to the capital. Here he played in Dramatyczny (1961-1963), Powszechny (1963-1968, 1974-2010) and National (1969-1974). He can also be seen at the Rozmaitości Theater (now TR Warszawa) in performances by Grzegorz Jarzyna and Olga Lipińska. He collaborated with legends of the Polish scene: Izabela Cywińska, Lidja Zamko, Leon Schiller, Kazimierz Degmic, Bohdan Korzyniewski, Konrad Świnarski, Adam Hanuszkiewicz, Zygmunt Hübner, Aleksander Bardini and Andrzej Wojda.
The disease gradually
Although he usually appeared in the second or third group, his distinctive personalities endeared him to audiences nationwide. After famous roles with leading Polish directors – Kazimierz Kötz, Jerzy Hoffmann, Wieslaw Saniewski and Jacek Bromski – Lutkiewicz had to give up his acting career. Seven years before his death, in 2010, the actor withdrew almost completely due to progressive illness and loss of vision. He was absent from work, and whenever the opportunity arose, he returned to the radio to play again, even for a moment, in the famous radio play “Wajziorani.” He knew the text by heart… by ear.
A sound that Poles know well
He frequently appeared in radio plays. In 1994, he received the “Golden Microphone” for his portrayal of Polycarp Lebescu in the radio novel “W Jeziorany”. He also appeared in television theater. He was a valuable performer of Bulat Okudzhava's songs (including the famous “Prayer” from the 1960s). For his achievements he was awarded, among others: the Gold Cross of Merit, the Officer's Cross of the Order of Bologna Restituta and the Silver Medal of Cultural Merit Gloria Artes.
“Her life was difficult”
Their marriage served as a model proving that two great actors and two charismatic personalities can create a happy union. During his third year of study, he met Wiesława Mazurkiewicz, whom he married in 1950 and raised his daughter Katarzyna shortly thereafter. – She was a kind, good and humble friend. She had a difficult life, as she fled the Germans during the war. She hid for a long time and worked hard for a certain family. “I think it shaped her for the rest of her life,” he said of his wife.
“My wife fell for it”
There were rumors that he had to compete for her support with the “playboy of the Polish People's Republic” – the actor Tadeusz Plosinski, famous for his roles as lovers. – I had to create an artistic aura around me. My wife says she fell in love with playing the guitar and singing beautifully. I fell in love with something I created, as they say today, picture – commented Lutkiewicz.
The relationship is put to a serious test
At first, their relationship was seriously tested. They had difficulty dealing with separation caused by professional obligations. Only after 13 years, they both decided to live in Warsaw, where they often met at work and played on the same stages. They also often took part in film sets – they starred, among others, in: in “The Dance Master”, “The Woman in the Hat”, “Confession of the Child of the Century” and in the 1988 drama “Zakol” they played a couple . They were together until the end. Gustau Lutkiewicz died on February 24, 2017 at the age of 93. Wiesława Mazurkiewicz five years later – April 20, 2021
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