Jerzy Oskar Stuhr (; 18 April 1947 – 9 July 2024) was a Polish film and theatre actor. Considered one of the most popular, influential and versatile Polish actors and an icon of Polish cinema, he also worked as a screenwriter, film director, voice actor and drama professor. He served as the rector of the Ludwik Solski Academy for the Dramatic Arts in Kraków for two terms: from 1990 to 1996 and again from 2002 to 2008.
Throughout his long and prolific professional career spanning over five decades, he appeared in 65 films including Camera Buff (1979), Sexmission (1984), A Year of the Quiet Sun (1984), Dekalog: Ten (1989), Three Colours: White (1994), Kiler (1997), Love Stories (1997) and The Big Animal (2000).
He received numerous awards and honours including the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2000), Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture (2005), Polish Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Persona non grata (2006), Złota Kaczka Award (2008), Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2011), and Polish Academy Life Achievement Award (2018).
Life and career
Early life and education
Stuhr was born in 1947 in Kraków to father Tadeusz Stuhr, a prosecutor, and mother Maria (née Chorąży) who worked as an accountant. His ancestors, Austrians Leopold Stuhr and Anna Thill, migrated within Austria-Hungary from Mistelbach to Kraków shortly after their wedding in 1879. Having obtained a degree in Polish literature from the Jagiellonian University in 1970,
Other important films include Kieślowski's The Scar (, 1976), Camera Buff (Amator, 1979) and Part 10 of The Decalogue series (1988), Machulski's Kingsize (1987), Kiler (1997) and Kiler 2 (1999), and Zanussi's Life for Life (1988). Stuhr also worked with Polish directors Agnieszka Holland, Andrzej Wajda and Krzysztof Zanussi.
In 1985, Stuhr made his own directorial debut staging the Polish version of Patrick Süskind's play The Double Bass, in which he also played the (only) role. In spite of the production's success, it was not until 1995 that Stuhr began directing films as well, with List of Adulteresses () based on a novel by Jerzy Pilch. Critics favourably compared his next effort Love Stories (, 1997) to Kieślowski's work. The film consists of four unconnected episodes with Stuhr playing the lead role in each. Further movies directed by Stuhr are Big Animal (, 2000 – based on a Kieślowski screenplay), and Tomorrow's Weather (, 2003). For these two, Stuhr employed the Polish alternative rock band Myslovitz who composed the title tracks and also had walk-on roles in the latter. In an interview with The Krakow Post Stuhr admitted that Italian cinéaste Nanni Moretti influenced his approach to filmmaking.
From 1990 to 1997, and again from 2002, Stuhr held the position of rector at the Kraków National Drama School, where he had learned his craft two decades before. He formally obtained the title of professor in Dramatic Arts in 1994. In 2007, he received an honorary degree from the University of Silesia in Katowice.
He was head of the jury of the 2nd Odesa International Film Festival which took place in Odesa from 15 to 23 July 2011.
He worked with RMF FM and also wrote books such as Escape forward! () and The Stuhrs: Family Stories ().
Death
Stuhr died in Kraków on 9 July 2024, at the age of 77. The funeral mass took place on 17 July 2024 at the Saints Peter and Paul Church in Kraków and was celebrated by Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś. He was buried at the Rakowicki Cemetery.
Personal life
In 1971, Stuhr married violinist Barbara (née Kóska). He had two children. His son Maciej (born 1975) is an actor in his own right, who has played alongside his father in Kieślowski's Decalogue X (1988), Tomorrow's Weather (2003), and Love Stories (1997). His daughter, Marianna (born 1982) is an artist and painter.
He was involved in supporting various charity organizations including the Józef Tischner Children's Hospice in Kraków (of which he was the chairman of the board of supervisors) and the Jan Kaczkowski Foundation helping people suffering from cancer.
He was an avid football fan and was known as a supporter of Polonia Bytom and Wisła Kraków. In 2012, he became an ambassador of the UEFA Euro 2012 hosted by Poland and Ukraine.
In Autumn 2011 Stuhr suffered what he thought was a severe throat infection, but eventually he was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer. He spent most of the following eight months in hospitals in Gliwice, Kraków and Zakopane, undergoing treatment including surgeries, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. His daughter, herself a cancer survivor, advised him to write a diary to keep himself mentally busy during that difficult time. In 2012 it was published by Wydawnictwo Literackie publishing house under the title Tak sobie myślę... (which roughly translates as So I am thinking...). His illness was widely covered by Polish media, and he received feedback from cancer patients around the country for whom his openness was comforting. Eventually he described his cancer as "the most important role of my life".
Awards and recognition
11 November 1997, by decision of President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, in recognition of his prominent addition to Polish national culture Jerzy Stuhr was awarded the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta.
On 12 November 2008, he received Złota Kaczka (Golden Duck) being chosen the "Best Comedy Actor of the Century".
Stuhr was appointed to the European Film Award for his fourfold role in Love stories. He was a laureate of the Venice Film Festival. He also received numerous other Polish and international awards in recognition of his work, including:
- Polish Academy Life Achievement Award (2018)
- Order of the Smile (2014)
- Special Award of the Gdynia Film Festival for his film Obywatel (2014)
- Honoris Gratia Award (2012)
- Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2011)
- Honorary degree of the University of Silesia in Katowice (2007)
- Best Script Award at the Gdynia Film Festival to the film Korowód (2007)
- Golden Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis (2005)
- Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2000)
- Laurel of Kraków of the 21st century (2006)
- Paszport Polityki (1997)
- Golden Lions Award at the Gdynia Film Festival for his role in the film Love stories (1997)
- Special Award of the Gdynia Film Festival for his role in the film Spis cudzołożnic ("List of Adulteresses") (1994)
- Golden Cross of Merit (1989)
- Witkacy Prize - Critics' Circle Award (1988)
Voice acting
thumb|right|GoEast Festival in [[Wiesbaden, 2015]]
Jerzy Stuhr became very popular with younger viewers after he provided the voice for Donkey in the Polish dubbed version of Shrek (as well as in Shrek 2, Shrek the Third and in video games, based on the Shrek movies). Stuhr also provided the voice of Mushu the dragon in Disney's Mulan and Mulan 2, and for the Larry Laffer character in Larry 7 game.
Filmography
Actor
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! style="background:#b0c4de;" | Polish title
! style="background:#b0c4de;" | English title
! style="background:#b0c4de;" | Year
! style="background:#b0c4de;" | Role
|-
|
| I Will Not Starve (Non morirò di fame)
| 2023
| Granata
|-
| —
| We Have a Pope
| 2011
| Marcin Rajski
|-
|
| Twists of Fate
| 2007
| The Rector
|-
| '
|
| 2006
| Jerzy Sturovsky
|-
| Persona Non Grata
|
|2005
|Counselor of the Polish Embassy
|-
| '
|
| 2004
| Israel Arie
|-
|
| Tomorrow's Weather
| 2003
| Józef Kozioł
|-
|
|
| 2003
| Boss
|-
|
| Big Animal
| 2000
| Zygmunt Sawicki
|-
|
| The Other's Life
| 2000
|Riccardo
|-
|
|
| 2000
| Gen. Ivolgin
|-
|
| A Week in the Life of a Man
| 1999
| Adam Borowski
|-
|
|
| 1999
| commissioner Jerzy Ryba
|-
|
|
| 1997
| commissioner Jerzy Ryba
|-
|
| Love Stories
| 1997
| The teacher/The priest/Col. Matałowski/Zdzisio
|-
|
| Mother of mother
| 1996
|Roman
|-
|
| List of Lovers
| 1995
| Gustaw
|-
|
| Three Colors: White
| 1994
| Jurek
|-
|
| Kidnapping of Agata
| 1993
| Agata's Father
|-
|
| Life for Life: Maximilian Kolbe
| 1991
| Prałat
|-
|
| Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbor's Goods
| 1989
| Jerzy
|-
|
| Citizen Piszczyk
| 1989
| Jan Piszczyk
|-
|
|
| 1990
| Johnny Pollack
|-
|
| King Size
| 1988
| nadszyszkownik Kilkujadek
|-
|
| Train to Hollywood
| 1987
| The Director
|-
|
| Hero of the Year
| 1987
| Ludwik Danielak
|-
|
| Cupid's Bow
| 1987
| Stanisław Cięglewicz
|-
|
| The Death of John L
| 1987
| Coalminer from Bytom
|-
|
| Ga-ga: Glory to the Heroes
| 1986
|clerk Chudy
|-
|
| Escape
| 1986
|Czesio
|-
| Medium
|
| 1985
| Georg Netz
|-
|
| O-Bi, O-Ba: The End of Civilization
| 1985
|Soft
|-
|
| A Year of the Quiet Sun
| 1984
| Adzio
|-
|
| Sexmission
| 1984
| Maksymilian 'Maks' Paradys
|-
| (TV)
|
| 1983
| Belzebub/Master of Ceremonies/Valet
|-
|
| Mother of Kings
| 1983
|member of UB
|-
| From a Far Country
| From a Far Country: Pope John Paul II
| 1981
| Engineer
|-
|
| The War of the Worlds: Next Century
| 1981
|lawyer
|-
|
| Blind Chance
| 1981
|activist of ZSMP
|-
|
| The Moth
| 1980
|"Elegant"
|-
| (TV)
| Peace
| 1980
| Antek Gralak
|-
|
| Chance
| 1980
| Zbyszek Ejmont, history teacher
|-
|
| Inspection of the Crime Scene 1901
| 1980
|councilman Wagner
|-
| Amator
| Camera Buff
| 1979
| Filip Mosz
|-
|
| Provincial Actors
| 1978
|reviewer
|-
|
| Without Anesthesia
| 1978
| Jerzy Porębowicz
|-
|
| Top Dog
| 1978
| Lutek Danielak
|-
|
| The Scar
| 1976
| Bednarz's assistant
|-
| (TV)
| Guest in front of Employment Agency
| 1973
|the guest in front of the intermediary
|-
|
| The Third Part of the Night
| 1971
| Laboratory assistant
|}
Director and screenplay writer
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! style="background:#b0c4de;" | Polish title
! style="background:#b0c4de;" | Year
! style="background:#b0c4de;" | English title
|-
|
| 1995
| List of Lovers
|-
|
| 1997
| Love Stories
|-
|
| 1999
| A Week in the Life of a Man
|-
|
| 2000
| Big Animal
|-
|
| 2003
| Tomorrow's Weather
|-
|
| 2007
| Twists of Fate
|}
Voice in Polish Dub
{|class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! style="background:#b0c4de;" | English title
! style="background:#b0c4de;" | Year
! style="background:#b0c4de;" | Role
|-
| Mulan
| 1998
| Mushu
|-
| Leisure Suit Larry: Love for Sail!
| 2000
| Larry Laffer
|-
| Shrek
| 2001
| Donkey
|-
| Shrek 2
| 2004
| Donkey
|-
| Mulan 2
| 2004
| Mushu
|-
| Shrek the Third
| 2007
| Donkey
|-
|Shrek the Halls
|2007
|Donkey
|-
|Copernicus' Star
|2009
|Paul Van De Volder
|-
| Shrek Forever After
| 2010
| Donkey
|-
|Christmas Story
|2010
|Santa Claus
|-
|Scared Shrekless
|2010
|Donkey
|-
|Shrek 4-D
|2010
|Donkey
|-
| The Smurfs
| 2011
| Gargamel
|-
|The Smurfs 2
|2013
|Gargamel
|-
|Gnome Alone
|2017
|Quicksilver
|-
|Loving Vincent
|2017
|Postman Joseph Roulin
|-
|Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle
|2018
|Akela
|-
|The Lion King
|2019
|Rafiki
|}
References
External links
- Giuseppe Sedia, An Interview with Jerzy Stuhr , in The Krakow Post, 26 March 2012.