Janusz Gajos

Janusz Gajos (born 23 September 1939) is a Polish film, television and theatre actor as well as pedagogue and photographer. Professor of Theatre Arts and an Honorary Doctor of the National Film School in Łódź, he is considered one of the greatest Polish actors.
Life and career
He was born in Dąbrowa Górnicza. At the age of 11, he moved to Będzin where in 1957, he graduated from the High School No 3. In 1965 he graduated from the National Film School in Łódź as one of its best students despite having been rejected during entrance exams three times. He debuted while he was still in film school in children's film Panienka z okienka directed by Maria Kaniewska in 1964. Shortly afterwards he was cast in a role of Janek Kos in a widely popular TV World War II series Czterej pancerni i pies (Four Tank Men and a Dog). He starred in numerous other films and theatrical plays, notably in Krzysztof Kieślowski's Three Colors: White, Ryszard Bugajski's Interrogation, Andrzej Wajda's Man of Marble, Wojciech Marczewski's Escape from the 'Liberty' Cinema, Władysław Pasikowski's Pigs, Andrzej Wajda's The Revenge, Małgorzata Szumowska's Body and Wojciech Smarzowski's Clergy.
He performed in numerous theatres throughout his acting career including Stefan Jaracz Theatre in Łódź as well as the Komedia Theatre, Polish Theatre, Kwadrat, the Dramatic Theatre and the National Theatre in Warsaw. In 2003, he became an academic teacher at the National Film School in Łódź. He is also known for performing in popular Olga Lipińska's Cabaret.
In 2010, he officially endorsed the candidacy of Bronisław Komorowski in the 2010 Polish Presidential Elections as well as the 2015 Polish Presidential Elections.
In 2007, he received the Golden Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis. In 2011, he was awarded the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta. He is a five-time winner of the Polish Film Awards including the Polish Film Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2016.
Filmography
Solid Gold (2019), as CBŚ officer Nowicki
Clergy (2018), as archbishop Mordowicz
Kamerdyner (2018), as Bazyli Miotke
Breaking the Limits (2017)
Blindness (2016)
Body (2015)
The Closed Circuit
Ekipa, as former Prime Minister Henryk Nowasz
Jasminum (2006) as monk Zdrówko
Pitbull (2005)
Hamlet (2004/II) (TV), as Claudius
Treasure Planet (2002), as John Silver (voice, Polish Dub)
Zemsta (2002) The Revenge, as Cześnik Raptusiewicz
Chopin: Desire for Love (2002), as Grand Duke Constantine Pavlovich Romanov:
Tam i z powrotem (2002) There and Back, as Andrzej Hoffman
Przedwiośnie (2001) The Spring to Come, as Seweryn Baryka
Weiser (2001), as Antiquarian
Żółty szalik (2000) (TV)
To ja, złodziej (2000) It's Me, the Thief, as Roman Wyskocz
Ostatnia misja (2000) The Last Mission, as Police Inspector
Egzekutor (1999), as Kowalik
Fuks (1999), as Policeman
Szczęśliwego Nowego Jorku (1997) Happy New York, as Professor
Czas zdrady (1997), as Messer Niccolo
Poznań 56 (1996), as Professor
Revenge of the Musketeers (1994), as D'Artagnan (voice, Polish Dub)
Akwarium (1996)
Łagodna (1995) A Gentle Woman, as He
Śmierć jak kromka chleba (1994) Death like a Slice of Bread, as Miodek
Three Colors: White (1994), as Mikołaj
Straszny sen Dzidziusia Górkiewicza (1993) The Terrible Dream of Babyface Gorkiewicz
Szwadron (1993) Squadron
Coupable d'innocence (1992) When Reason Sleeps
Pigs (1992), as Major SB "Siwy" Gross
Escape from the 'Liberty' Cinema (1991), as Cenzor
Stan wewnętrzny (1990) Inner State
Dekalog (1989) The Decalogue (mini) TV Series, as Michał
Piłkarski poker (1989) Soccer Poker, as Referee Jan Laguna
Dekalog, cztery (1988) (TV) Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother, as Michał
Big Bang (1986) (TV), as Janek
Hamlet we wsi Głucha Dolna (1985) (TV)
Rok spokojnego słońca (1984) The Year of the Quiet Sun, as Moonlighter
(1984) After Your Decrees, as Driver
Alternatywy 4 (1983) TV Series, as Jan Winnicki
Gwiezdny pył (1982)
Limuzyna Daimler-Benz (1982) The Consul, as Kuschmerek
Nieciekawa historia (1982) Uninteresting Story
Interrogation (1982) Interrogation, as Major UB "Kapielowy" Zawada
(1981) Z dalekiego kraju
Man of Iron (1981) Man of Iron, as Committee vice-chairman
Wahadełko (1981) Shilly-Shally
The War of the Worlds: Next Century (1981)
The Orchestra Conductor (1980), as High Official
(1980) The Contract, as Boleslaw Bartoszuk
Kung-Fu (1979), as Editor-in-Chief Maciek
What Will You Do When You Catch Me? (1978), as Supermarket Manager
(1978) Millionaire, as Józef Mikula
Mgła (1976) The Fog
Wakacje z duchami (1970) TV Series, as Antoniusz
Bicz boży (1967) God's Whip, as Klen
Stajnia na Salwatorze (1967) Stall on Salvador
Barrier (1966) (uncredited), as Tram Driver with Letter "E"
Czterej pancerni i pies (1966) TV Series, as Pvt./Cpl./Sgt./Lt. Jan Kos
The Codes (1966), as White monk
Panienka z okienka (1964)
See also
Polish cinema
Gdynia Film Festival
Polish Film Awards
References
External links
People from Dąbrowa Górnicza
1939 births
Living people
Gajos
Polish cabaret performers
Polish male stage actors
Polish male film actors
Polish male television actors
20th-century Polish male actors
Recipients of the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis
Recipients of the Gold Cross of Merit (Poland)
Commanders with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta