After a mass in Kraków’s Church of Saints Peter and Paul, which is due to start at noon, Stuhr will be buried in his family tomb at the city's historic Rakowicki Cemetery.
A highly versatile artist, Stuhr was also a theatre, film and opera director, script writer and stand-up comedy star. He served for many years as rector of the Drama Academy in Kraków, his beloved hometown, and wrote several books.
In 2011, Stuhr was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and underwent wide-ranging treatment, including multiple surgeries, radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
In 2020, he suffered a stroke. He later managed to resume his work for theatre, his last project being Geniusz (Genius) by Polish playwright Tadeusz Słobodzianek. Premiered last February at Warsaw’s Polonia Theatre, the play was directed by Stuhr, who also appeared in one of the main roles, as Russian theatre reformer Konstantin Stanislavski.
Stuhr graduated from the Department of Polish Philology of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, before taking up acting. Having graduated from the city’s Drama Academy, he became a member of the Stary Theatre, instantly earning a reputation for his roles in productions such as Adam Mickiewicz’s Forefathers’ Eve, directed by Konrad Swinarski, as well as Dostoyevsky’s The Possessed and Shakespeare’s Hamlet, both directed by Andrzej Wajda.
Stuhr skyrocketed to stardom after appearing in films by directors such as Krzysztof Kieślowski (Camera-buff, Blind Chance, The Decalogue, Three Colours: White), Juliusz Machulski (Sexmission, Kingsize), Krzysztof Zanussi (Life for Life), Andrzej Wajda and Agnieszka Holland.
He appeared in a total of 60 feature films, including several which he himself directed.
Jerzy Stuhr, pictured in 1978. Photo: PAP/CAF/Maciej Sochor
In the 1980s, he started regular contacts with Italian cinema and theatre, portraying, among other characters, the Vatican’s spokesman in Nanni Moretti’s movie Habemus papam.
Fluent in Italian, he worked for many years, as both director and actor, with various Italian drama companies.
Stuhr’s honours included the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Reborn Poland, the Gold Gloria Artis Medal of Merit for Polish Culture and the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.
On the day of the actor’s death, Polish President Andrzej Duda described Stuhr as “an outstanding figure in the world of Polish theatre and cinema."
Duda wrote on social media that Stuhr's roles "will forever testify to his supreme talent and professionalism."
The president added: “In his acting career, Stuhr has set the highest standards in Polish theatre and film."
(mk/gs)
