# Marian 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).

## 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 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.
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 79. 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 | Notes |
| 1960 | Innocent Sorcerers | Concert attendant | Uncredited |
| 1960 | Mario i czarodziej | | Television play |
| 1961 | Warszawska ulica | | Television play |
| 1961 | Mistrz Pathelin | | Television play |
| 1961 | Decyzje | | Television play |
| 1961 | Bal manekinów | | Television play |
| 1962 | The Two Who Stole the Moon | Poor person | Uncredited |
| 1962 | Gangsters and Philanthropists | Restaurant client | |
| 1962 | Czerwone berety | Grzegorz Warecki | |
| 1962 | Tak miało być | Abel | Television play |
| 1963 | Wiano | Staszek's friend | |
| 1963 | Przy torze kolejowym | Man | Short film |
| 1963 | Węzeł rodzinny | Son #1 | Television play |
| 1963 | Stworzenie świata | Szymek | Television play |
| 1963 | Romans Teresy Hennert | | Television play |
| 1963 | Dzieje jednego pocisku | Bandit | Television play |
| 1964 | Five | Kazio | |
| 1964 | Wspólny pokój | Student | Television play |
| 1965 | Sobótki | Karol | |
| 1965 | Stara cegielni | | Television play |
| 1965 | Piękna Helena | Ajax | Television play |
| 1965 | Ballada wigilijna | | Television play |
| 1966 | Maria and Napoleon | Palace guard | |
| 1966 | Skinny and Others | Party member | |
| 1966 | The Barrier | Tram driver | |
| 1966 | Pożegnanie z Marią | Piotr | Television play |
| 1966 | Aszantka | Franek | Television play |
| 1966 | Godziny miłości | Feliks | Television play |
| 1967 | The Sun Rises Once Daily | Mały | |
| 1967 | Żołnierz Królowej Madagaskaru | Theatre stage manager | Television play |
| 1967 | Nominacja | Sasza | Television play |
| 1968 | Last After the God | Piotr Kwiatkowski | |
| 1969 | How I Unleashed World War II | Franciszek Dolas | Main role |
| 1969 | Bracia syjamscy | Sanor | Television play |
| 1970 | Obecność | | Television play |
| 1970 | Mała ankieta | Janiak | Television play |
| 1971 | The Woodpecker | Reporter | |
| 1971 | Action Brutus | Krysiak | |
| 1971 | Gwiazda Wytrwałości | Iwanowski |
| 1971 | Czekając na Godota | Lucky | Television play |
| 1972 | Wesele z generałem | Jać | Television play |
| 1972 | Lato w Nohant | Clesinger | Television play |
| 1973 | Blue as the Black Sea | Adam | |
| 1973 | Wszyscy moi synowe | George | Television play |
| 1973 | Samoobsługa | Ben | Television play |
| 1973 | Rewolwer na deszczu | Hugo | Television play |
| 1973 | Ktoś Nowy | Karol Kukuła | Television play |
| 1974 | Santa Claus Urgently Wanted | "Not hugged" person | |
| 1974 | Gra | Stefan Kozłowski | |
| 1974 | Janosik | Burgrave | |
| 1974 | Skamieniały las | Jason Maple | Television play |
| 1974 | Popiół i diament | Drewnowski | Television play |
| 1974 | Partia na instrument drewniany | Łaciak | Television play |
| 1974 | Niemcy | Jureś | Television play |
| 1974 | Dochodzenie | Mały | Television play |
| 1975 | Bajadera | Janusz | Television play |
| 1975 | Żywa maska | Physician | Television play |
| 1975 | Reportarz poetycki | | Television play |
| 1975 | Henryk IV | Poins | Television play |
| 1975 | Babbitt | Narrator | Television play |
| 1975 | Amfitriin 38 | Mercury | Television play |
| 1976 | Rzecz listopadowa | Wedding guest | Television play |
| 1976 | Opinia | | Television play |
| 1977 | Króliczek | Krystian | Television play |
| 1977 | Dla szczęścia | Jan | Television play |
| 1977 | Czy Pan nie rozumie? To pomyłka! | Quinn | Television play |
| 1978 | Włamanie o północy | Thief | Television play |
| 1978 | Pamela | Al Sherwood | Television play |
| 1978 | Ich głowy | Valorin | Television play |
| 1979 | Morning Stars | Piotr Łoboda | Main role |
| 1979 | Playing with the Devil | Marcin Kabat | Television play |
| 1979 | Pechowy dzień i zbrodnia i kara | Shop assistant | Television play |
| 1979 | Brzechwa – dzieciom | | Television play |
| 1979 | Bal Manekinów | Manekin 41 | Television play |
| 1979 | Bal Manekinów | Ribandel | Television play |
| 1980 | Schwarzes Gold | Paul Budach | |
| 1980 | Supeł | Gustaw | Television play |
| 1980 | Król w Kraju Rozkoszy | King | Television play |
| 1981 | Molier, czyli zmowa świętoszków | La Grange | Television play |
| 1981 | Dom na granicy | Husband | Television play |
| 1982 | O istnieniu cudownych miejsc | Narrator | Documentary film; voice |
| 1983 | Danton | Jean-Baptiste Robert Lindet | |
| 1983 | Fucha | Zgred | Main role |
| 1983 | O victorii wiedeńskiej | Narrator | Documentary film; voice |
| 1984 | Love of the Charts | Jul | |
| 1984 | Sposób na życie | Dr. Grzesiewicz | Television play |
| 1985 | Szewcy | Sajetan Tempe | Television play |
| 1985 | Odwet | David Ryder | Television play |
| 1985 | Anioł na dworcu | Stranger | Television play |
| 1987 | Bermuda Triangle | Jarek | Main role |
| 1987 | Circus is Leaving | Jan Kossakowski | Main role |
| 1988 | Kantata o łożu | Husband | Television play |
| 1989 | Rififi po sześćdziesiątce | Andrzej Nowisz | |
| 1989 | Kwartet | Lena's father | Television play |
| 1990 | Polonez | Iosif Igelström | Television play |
| 1992 | Bon Appétit, My Little TV | Grandfather | |
| 1992 | Moskwa – pietruszki | Czarnowąsy | Television play |
| 1993 | Yesterday Goodbye | Roman | Main role |
| 1993 | Śmierć Tarełkina | Raspluyev | Television play |
| 1993 | Poza miastem | Cosmo Saltana | Television play |
| 1993 | Manhattan Poker | Speed | Television play |
| 1993 | Łuk Triumfalny | Morozov | Television play |
| 1993 | Elegia dla jednej pani | Man | Television play |
| 1993 | Coś w rodzaju miłości | Tom O'Toole | Television play |
| 1994 | Sokół maltański | Casper Gutman | Television play |
| 1994 | Pusta kołyska | Frost | Television play |
| 1994 | O przemyślności kobiety niewiernej | Man | Television play |
| 1994 | Na dnie | Kleszcz | Television play |
| 1995 | Zdrapka | General | Television play |
| 1995 | Przeszłość jest nieśmiertelna | | Television play |
| 1995 | Grzeszki tatusia | Thomas Maddison | Television play |
| 1995 | Górski hotel | Vilem Pechar | Television play |
| 1996 | Tańczyłem | Priest | Television play |
| 1996 | Boso ale w ostrogach | Staszek's father | Television play |
| 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 |
| 2009 | Warszawa | Antique dealer | Television play |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1965 | Wyzywajem ogoń na siebja | Jan Tyma | |
| 1965 | 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)