Andrzej Bogucki | |
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 Bogucki on the screen. | |
| Born | (1904-11-11)11 November 1904 |
| Died | 29 July 1978(1978-07-29) (aged 73) Warsaw,Polish People's Republic |
| Resting place | Powązki Cemetery,Warsaw |
| Occupations | Actor, singer, songwriter |
| Known for | Own career and for helping pianistWładysław Szpilman |
| Spouse | Janina Bogucka |
| Righteous Among the Nations |
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| By country |
Andrzej Bogucki (11 November 1904 – 29 July 1978) was aPolish television, stage and film actor, as well asoperetta singer and songwriter, sometimes referred to as "The Polish Chevalier".[1]
Bogucki and his wife Janina née Godlewska (8 March 1908 – 19 June 1992)[2] are known for helping and hiding thePolish Jewish pianistWładysław Szpilman during theGerman occupation of Poland. Szpilman's life inspired the 2002 filmThe Pianist, and both Bogucki and his wife were portrayed in the film.[3]
Although he lived inWarsaw for most of his life, Bogucki also worked in several other cities. He lived in Warsaw'sMariensztat neighborhood from 1947 until the end of his life, and he is buried in thePowązki Cemetery in the western part of Warsaw.[4]
Bogucki was awarded theOrder of Polonia Restituta for his career and actions duringWorld War II. In 1978 theYad Vashem institute awarded him and his wife theRighteous Among the Nations award, an award given tonon-Jewish people who helped Jews during the German persecution.
Bogucki was born to a family with long-standing traditions in theatre and stage. His parents were the actorsStanisław Bogucki andRóża Bogucka-Rapacka. He was the grandson of the famous Polish actor and directorWincenty Rapacki.[4]
Bogucki attended and graduated as a cavalryofficer from the Officer's Cadet School inGrudziądz. While at school he participated inequestrian competitions and became an officer in thePolish Army. He served in the 7th Regiment Cavalry inMińsk Mazowiecki, but was discharged for health reasons in 1929. In the same year, he began appearing in stage plays for children. From then on, he focused on his acting career.[4]
DuringWorld War II, Bogucki and his wife were involved with the anti-GermanPolish resistance movement, theArmia Krajowa (Home Army). In February 1944 they were contacted through members of the Jewish underground by their friend, the pianistWładysław Szpilman, who was working as a slave laborer as one of the remaining Jews in theWarsaw Ghetto. Anticipating that the Germans were planning to liquidate even the slave workers (most other Jews had already been deported toTreblinka), Szpilman, with help from Bogucki, escaped the ghetto and hid on the non-Jewish side of Warsaw. With help from Bogucki, Janina and others, includingCzesław Lewicki, Szpilman survived the war. The story of his life was later the basis for the 2002 filmThe Pianist.[3][5] They were among thirty or so non-Jewish Poles involving in helping Szpilman during the war.[6]
After the war, in the 1950s Szpilman composed songs especially for Andrzej and Janina, including the popularCzerwony autobus (Red bus).[7]
Bogucki was awarded theOrder of Polonia Restituta for his career and actions duringWorld War II.[8] In 1978 theYad Vashem institute awarded him and his wife theRighteous Among the Nations award, an award given tonon-Jewish people who helped Jews during the German persecution.[9]
Bogucki began working onstage on 30 April 1930. He performed at thePolish Theatre in Warsaw for three years between 1930 and 1933 and later worked at the New Comedy Theater between 1933 and 1934. He also worked for theaters inŁódź andKraków.[4]
After the end ofWorld War II, he returned to the stage at the Polish Army Theatre inŁódź, where he performed between 1945 and 1947. He went on to work in several other theaters, including theNational Theater, Warsaw, where he played from 1969 until his death in 1978.[4]
Bogucki began his singing career in 1931 at the Banda Theater, where he remained for a year until 1932. It was his distinctive singing voice that brought him most of his popularity.[10]
After 1945, he continued to write songs and launched a number of hits in the radio.[11]
He was a longtime employee of thePolish Radio. He also worked with Radio Theatre of the Imagination as a presenter, singer and reciter, and as a popularizer of music and literature.[11][12][13]
Odznaczony Krzyżem Kawalerskim Orderu Odrodzenia Polski, Nagrodą Prezesa Rady Ministrów za twórczość rewiową.
Za występy w radiowych programach dla dzieci otrzymał nagrodę państwową.
Współpracował z radiowym Teatrem Wyobraźni (jako prezenter, piosenkarz i recytator, a także – popularyzator muzyki i literatury), a także z teatrzykiem Eterek.
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