Jerzy Nowak

Jerzy Nowak (June 20, 1923 – March 26, 2013) was a Polish film and theatre actor and teacher.

During World War II, Novak fought with the Polish partisans. In 1948, he graduated from the Ludwik Solski Academy for the Dramatic Arts in Krakow.

From 1994 on, Nowak primarily and continuously played the role of Singer Hirsch, who is a historic character in the legacy of Polish theater.

In cinema, he mostly took on supporting roles as a Jew, often set during World War Two, such as in Schindler's List (directed by Steven Spielberg), or as a 'bumpkin farmer' in Three Colors: White, and as the great creative Zucker in the film The Promised Land ( directed by Andrzej Wajda).

In 2005, he made a film on the subject of death, after allegedly learning of his own illness. In his will, his corpse was to be processed in formalin by Jagiellonian University Medical College . In 2007 the documentary Existence, directed by Marcin Koszalka focuses on the problem of death. The film attracted considerable media interest, and the rumors about the actor's disease has been denied.

In autumn 2009, Austeria Publishing House released the biography of Jerzy Nowak, Book of Love, written in collaboration with his wife, who in February 2010 was awarded the prize Krakow Book of the Month

• The end of our world (1964) – Blockfiihrer
• Jowita (1967) – a participant dressed as a pirate prom
• The Promised Land (1974) – Zucker
• Amateur (1979) – John Osuch, the head of Philip
• The family Gąsieniców (1979) – Szymek Polowacz
• Mission (1980) – James Gutman
• Fog (1983) – grandfather
• There was no sun this spring (1983) – Josek
• Medium (1985) – Ernest Wagner
• And the Violins Stopped Playing (1988)- Prof. Epstein
• Schindler's List (1993) – investor
• Three Colors: White (1994) – the old farmer
• Love Stories (1997) – the interviewer
• Brother of Our God ( Our God's Brother) (1997) – Anthony
• The Hexer (2001) – the priest Vesemir
• Quo Vadis (2001) – Christian Crispus
• Julia returns home (2002) – Mietek
• The Revenge (2002) – mason Michael Kafar
• Existence (2007)
• Scratch (2008)
• Children of Irena Sendler (2009) – an old rabbi

• Partisan Cross (1964)
• Gold Cross of Merit (1979)
• Gold Medal Gloria Artis (2008)
• Gold Badge "for his contribution to Krakow" (1977)
• Award at the Fourth National Festival of One Actor in Wrocław and in the one-woman show The real defense of Socrates Kostas Varnalisa in Old Theatre in Krakow (1969)
• Emphasis on XXVI Festival of Polish Contemporary Art in Wroclaw for the role of the Father in the play Bruno Henry Dederko, dir. Andruckiego Jack (1987)
• Award for the eighteenth Theatre in Opole Konfronracjach Opole for his role in The Marriage of the Jew Wyspiański, dir. Andrzej Wajda in the Old Theatre. Helena Modjeska in Cracow (1993)
• Grand Prize at XXX National Review Teatrrów Small Form Hirsch for his role in the play Singer I am a Jew from "The Wedding" by the story Roman Brandstaetter directed. Tadeusz Malak in the Old Theatre. Helena Modjeska in Cracow (1995)
• "Louis" – Krakow theater community award for the title role in the play Mr. Paul Dorst in the Association of Theatre "Steam" (2001)
• Award for Comedy Festival Talia in Tarnow for his role in monodramie Womanish choice by The rock Podhale Casimir Break-Tetmajera from the Association "Moliere" in Cracow (2004)
• Krakow Book of the Month – the award for his book The Book of Love (2010)