We said goodbye to these people in 2026
On January 29, at the age of 78, prof. died. Dr. Wojciech Michniewski, charismatic conductor, composer and teacher. On January 30, Catherine O'Hara, a Canadian-American actress, passed away at the age of 71, and it is impossible not to associate her with the cult "Home Alone."
On February 8, we said goodbye to an outstanding Polish actor, known, among others, from roles in "Psy" directed by Władysław Pasikowski or "Róża" directed by Wojciech Smarzowski. Edward Linde-Lubaszenko passed away at the age of 86.
On February 12, at the age of 77, another great figure of Polish cinema died - Bożena Dykiel, who played, among others, in "The Wedding" by Andrzej Wajda, "The Promised Land" or the series "Alternative 4" by Stanisław Berea.
Also on February 12, Jerzy Słonka, a theater, film, television and dubbing actor, died. He played, among others: in Stanisław Bareja's comedy "Miś", "Borderland on Fire", "Pułkownik Kwiatkowski", "Ekstradycja 3", "Foster Family", "Quo Vadis". In February, at the age of 104, Janina Rożecka also died. Dora, a nurse from the Warsaw Uprising, Righteous Among the Nations.
On February 16, actor Robert Duvall died - an Oscar winner whose breakthrough role was Tom Hagen in "The Godfather" by Francis Ford Coppola. Also on February 21, at the age of 72, actor Mirosław Krawczyk, associated with the Wybrzeże Theater, and known to the sincere audience, died, among others. from the series "Tenderness and Lies" or the film "Black Thursday" directed by Antoni Krauze.
On March 19, at the age of 86, Chuck Norris, martial arts master, action movie star, legendary "Texas Ranger", whose real name was Carlos Ray Norris, passed away.
On March 29, one of the most outstanding Polish writers died in Warsaw, at the age of 94. Wiesław Myśliwski, author of such novels as "Treatise on Shelling Beans", "Stone on Stone", "Widnokrąg" and "Ostatnie rozdzie", two-time winner of the "Nike" Literary Award. On March 30, Jerzy Gebert, a radio sports journalist, commentator, but also a doctor, passed away.
On April 10, as a result of sudden cardiac arrest during a morning running training in Grabiszyński Park in Wrocław, Jacek Magiera, the second coach of the Polish national team, previously associated with, among others, died at the age of 49. with Legia Warszawa, a graduate of Raków Częstochowa, in whose colors he made his debut at the Ekstraklasa level.
On April 23, 36-year-old MP of the New Left, Łukasz Litewka, died in a tragic road accident in Dąbrowa Górnicze. While riding his bicycle properly, he was hit by a Mitsubishi Colt passenger car. Resuscitation was performed on site, and an air ambulance helicopter landed, but the deputy's life could not be saved. Litewka was known primarily for his numerous charity events and his overwhelming commitment to animal rights. In the 2023 parliamentary elections, he won the best result on the Left list in the Sosnowiec district, overtaking the list leader Włodzimierz Czarzasty.
On May 3, Archbishop Józef Michalik, one of the most important hierarchs of the Catholic Church in Poland, died at the age of 85.
In May, we also said goodbye to Stanisław Janicki, host of the cult program "In Stary Kino", writer, screenwriter and journalist. He passed away at the age of 93. Janicki was associated with RMF Classic. For 20 years, his ODEON on RMF Classic has hosted the greatest figures of not only old but also new cinema. You can listen to archived episodes of the program HERE.
Actress and singer Stanisława Celińska also passed away in May. The artist, who made her debut in Andrzej Wajda's film "Landscape after battle" in 1970, passed away at the age of 79. She also created many outstanding roles in films, including: Stanisław Bareja, Krzysztof Zanussi and Jerzy Stuhr.
On June 11, theater and film actor Janusz Michałowski, the second husband of director Izabella Cywińska, died at the age of 89. He created memorable roles in productions such as "Vabank" and "Seksmisja" directed by Juliusz Machulski, "A Week in the Life of a Man" directed by Jerzy Stuhr, as well as Maciej Wojtyszka's series "The Master and Margarita. He is also known for "Paths of Glory" by Jerzy Antczak or "Close Supervision" and "Darkness Hides the Earth" by Izabella Cywińska.
On July 8, we learned that the Warsaw insurgent Adam Borowski alias was dead. "Nikita", soldiers of the Protection Unit of the Military Publishing House. He was 100 years old. After the capitulation, he was taken prisoner by the Germans. He was a prisoner of Stalag X B Sandbostel
Also on July 8, Bonnie Tyler passed away. The Welsh singer known for hits such as "It's a Heartache", "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and "Holding Out for a Hero" died at the age of 75.
On July 30, actress, singer and screenwriter Iga Cembrzyńska passed away at the age of 87. We will remember her characteristic voice from the songs "I spoke with a joke" and "Intymny Świat". She gained recognition for her role as the Moorish princess Emina in the film adaptation of Jan Potocki's work "The Saragossa Manuscript", directed by Wojciech Jerzy Has, which became a milestone in the history of Polish cinema.
On August 4, Andrzej Morozowski, a radio and television journalist, professionally associated with, among others, died from TVN24. He was only 69 years old. He fought a long battle with cancer. He has won many prestigious awards - including: Grand Press, Prize named after Andrzej Woyciechowski, as well as TV Wiktor.
On August 15, the outstanding actor Jan Frycz passed away at the age of 72. For many years he was a pillar of the Stary Theater in Krakow. There he collaborated with the most outstanding directors: Andrzej Wajda, Jerzy Jarocki, Jerzy Grzegorzewski and Krystian Lupa. However, it was his roles with Lupa that brought him the most memorable roles - Ivan in "The Brothers Karamazov" based on Dostoyevsky, Esch in both parts of "The Sleepwalkers" based on Broch, Pontius Pilate in "The Master and Margarita" based on Bulgakov, and as an actor of the National Theater in "Cutting" based on Bernhard. His extensive achievements also include roles in films such as "Never in My Life", "Welts", and viewers of the series have fallen in love with him in recent years as the gangster Dario in "Blinded by the Lights".
On August 18, Wanda Traczyk-Stawska, alias died. "Pączek", "Atma", one of the heroines of the Warsaw Uprising, member of the Protection Unit of the Military Publishing House, scout of the Gray Ranks, teacher, patriot steadfastly talking about her war experiences to young people. During the Uprising, she and her unit fought main battles in Śródmieście North and South, Powiśle and nearby Wola. In 2020, on behalf of herself and other participants of the Warsaw Uprising, she publicly supported LGBT people struggling with exclusion. This was the result of a memorable statement by former president Andrzej Duda, who said in June in Brzeg about the LGBT community that "it's not people, it's ideology." She passed away at the age of 99.
On August 22, Ignacy Karpowicz died, one of the most valued contemporary Polish writers, winner of, among others, Passport of "Polityka", author of such books as "Niehalo", "Ości", "Sońka", "Balladyny iromane". The artist passed away at the age of only 50.
August 30 is the day on which Andrzej Wielowieyski, a soldier of the Home Army, an activist of the democratic opposition in the Polish People's Republic, a politician and co-founder of the Warsaw KIK, died.
Danuta Szlajmer alias also died in August. "Siódemka", liaison and nurse during the Warsaw Uprising. At the outbreak of the Warsaw Uprising, she was less than 17 years old. She participated, among others, in the fights for the PAST building.
On September 1, at the age of 94, another hero of the Warsaw Uprising died: Jerzy Łakomski alias. Kajtek. He fought in the uprising as a 12-year-old boy. He served as an auxiliary in the "Baszta" regiment. He was wounded in the head in the gardens of the Szustra palace. After dressing the wound, he returned to duty two days later.
On September 21, Stanisław Szelc passed away. Wrocław satirist known, among others, from Kabaret Elita or radio Studio 202, a legend of Polish cabaret, passed away at the age of 83.
On September 28, we lost another Warsaw insurgent. Ryszard Kniaź alias died at the age of 99. Janusz II, soldier of the Home Army. He fought in Mokotów in the "Baszta" regiment
On October 17, Polish cellist and teacher Bogumiła Reszke passed away.
