Daniel Marcel Olbrychski (Polish pronunciation: [ˈdaɲɛl ˈmart͡sɛl ɔlˈbrɨxskʲi]; born 27 February 1945) is a Polish film and theatre actor who is widely considered one of the greatest Polish actors of his generation. He appeared in 180 films and TV productions and is best known for leading roles in several Andrzej Wajda movies including The Promised Land, playing Kmicic in Jerzy Hoffman's The Deluge and starring in multiple European and American movies.
Life and career
Olbrychski was born in 1945 in Łowicz, Poland to father Franciszek and mother Klementyna (née Sołonowicz). He had an older brother, Krzysztof (1939–2017), who was a physicist. He attended the Stefan Batory Gymnasium and Lyceum in Warsaw. He has been practicing boxing since his youth, he also trained fencing, badminton and judo.
In 1965, he played the character of Rafał Olbromski, his first major film role in Andrzej Wajda's film The Ashes.
In 1971 he won the award for Best Actor at the 7th Moscow International Film Festival for his role in The Birch Wood.
He played one of the leading roles in Volker Schlöndorff's film The Tin Drum based on Günter Grass's novel Die Blechtrommel. He also appeared in one of the ten short films in Krzysztof Kieślowski's Dekalog and played a role in the film adaptation of The Unbearable Lightness of Being.
In 1986, he played one of the main roles in Margarethe von Trotta's film Rosa Luxemburg. The same year, Olbrychski received the French Legion of Honor (L'Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur). In 2007 he received the Stanislavsky Award at the 29th Moscow International Film Festival for the outstanding achievement in the career of acting and devotion to the principles of Stanislavsky's school. In 1998, he starred in Nikita Mikhalkov's film the Barber of Siberia. In a 1998 survey published by Polityka magazine he was ranked 7th on the list of the greatest Polish actors of the 20th century.
In 2010, he received a diploma from the National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw. In addition to acting, Olbrychski has been well known for his abilities as an athlete. A keen horse-rider, a boxer and very able with the sabre, Olbrychski personally performed most of the stunt scenes in his movies.
He was selected to be on the jury for the Cinéfondation and short films sections of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. Throughout his career, he appeared in five Academy Award-nominated films, two of which won the award (The Tin Drum, 1979 and Dangerous Moves, 1984).
Personal life
In mid-1970s, he was in a relationship with singer Maryla Rodowicz. He has a son Victor from a relationship with German actress Barbara Sukowa. He has been married three times: to actress Monika Dziensiewicz, with whom he has a son Rafał; journalist Zuzanna Łapicka (daughter of Andrzej Łapicki), with whom he has a daughter Weronika, and since 2003 to theatrologist Krystyna Demska.
He lived for many years in France and speaks French fluently. He practices boxing as a hobby.
During the 2015 Polish presidential election, he endorsed the candidacy of Bronisław Komorowski. He supports the LGBT community.
Cars franchise as Doc Hudson
Arthur and the Invisibles series as Maltazard
2006: Heroes of Might and Magic V as Markal
2008: Fly Me to the Moon as Amos
2008: Asterix at the Olympic Games as Julius Caesar
2008: Assassin’s Creed as al-Mualim
2010: ModNation Racers as Chief
2011: Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad as Vasily Ivanovich Chuikov
2025: Zootopia 2 as Bûcheron and Chèvre
Modern art
2013: The dream Off Penderecki as the Polish lector together with Derek Jacobi, Józef Skrzek, Jaroslaw Pijarowski in the music show by Teatr Tworzenia Theater of Creation edited and published exclusively (limited edition) by Brain Active Records in celebration of the 80th birthday of the great contemporary composer – Krzysztof Penderecki
Awards and distinctions
The Zbigniew Cybulski Award, (1969), Poland
Golden Cross of Merit, (1974), Poland
Legion of Honour, (1986), France
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, (1991), France
Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, (1998), Poland
The Actor’s Mission Award at the International Film Festival Art Film in Trenčianske Teplice, (1999), Slovakia
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, (2003), Germany
Golden Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis, (2006), Poland
Medal of Pushkin, (2007), Russia
Krystian Award for Contribution to World Cinema at the Prague International Film Festival – Febiofest, (2007), Czech Republic
Stanislavsky Award at the 29th International Moscow Film Festival, (2007), Russia
Golden Duck Award, (2010), Poland
Best Actor Award for Outstanding Contribution to Cinematography at the 20th The International Film Festival of the Art of Cinematography Camerimage, (2012), Poland
Honorary Degree at the University of Opole, (2013), Poland
Honorary Citizen of the Capital City of Warsaw, (2017), Poland
Golden Unicorn Award for Best Actor, (2019), Russia
Daniel Olbrychski at culture.pl