Gołas had built up a reputation performing in over 120 film, theater and television productions, and most notably thanks to the role of Tomek Czereśniak in the iconic Polish series Czterej pancerni i pies (Four Tank-Men and a Dog).
He also appeared in the Kabaret Starszych Panów show, the communist-era TV series Kapitan Sowa na tropie, and films such as Żona dla Australijczyka (Wife for an Australian), Rękopis znaleziony w Saragossie (The Saragossa Manuscript), Lalka (The Doll), Poszukiwany, poszukiwana (Man – Woman Wanted), and Brunet wieczorową porą (Brunet Will Call).
Although associated mainly with comedy roles and characters, he once admitted that his life, except in childhood, was dramatic.
“To tell you the truth, I have more tragedy in me than comedy, or rather tragic comedy,” he said in an interview with Polish daily Trybuna in 2005.
"I see the source of this during the German occupation, when, as a 13- to 14-year-old member of the Grey Regiments group, I spent three months in prison in Kielce at the Gestapo, where I was 'examined' three times and miraculously survived," he added.
Gołas had been struggling with serious health problems for a long time. He suffered a stroke last October, shortly after his 90th birthday.
On September 4 this year, he was hospitalized after a second stroke.
The Polish president’s office tweeted: “Wiesław Gołas has passed away. Great theater and film actor. A legend of the comedy scene. His performances moved and amused generations of viewers. It is a great loss and sadness.”
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP