POLISH FILM ACADEMY

A true prince among Polish amateur actors. Writer, screenwriter, character actor. Born on May 1, 1931 in Minsk Mazowiecki (the date is not certain), died on November 11, 1988 in Warsaw. Tombstone carver by profession. He made his debut in Rejs/Cruise by Marek Piwowski, where he was part of the memorable duo with Zbigniew Maklakiewicz. They reprised their roles of frustrated malcontents in several other films.
Himilsbach’s character was a silent observer, a plebeian-looking man in the crowd, representing the viewer in the film world. He was not always cast as “comic relief.” For example, his character’s actions in Trzeba zabić tę miłość/This Love Must Be Killed by Janusz Morgenstern were a metaphor for the fall of values.
He played labourers, drunks, simpletons, but also uncompromising peasants. His acting was based on his characteristic appearance of a commoner: thin lips, hair slicked back, and a unique, rasping voice. His whole being communicated his reserve to the world, and filmmakers used it, casting him in small, yet significant roles.
As a writer, he published three collections of short stories. Some of them were made into films: Monidło by Antoni Krauze or Fucha/Side Job by Michał Dudziewicz. He wrote several film scripts, for Wniebowzięci by Andrzej Kondratiuk, Party przy świecach [Candlelight Party] by Antoni Krauze, and Przyjęcie na dziesięć osób plus trzy [A party for ten and three] by Jerzy Gruza.
He was the subject of several documentaries, including Bez pieniędzy, czyli 24 godziny z życia Jana Himilsbacha “Without money, or 24 hours in the life of Jan Himilsbach] by Krzysztof Gradowski (1984), Himilsbach. Prawdy, bujdy, czarne dziury [Himilsbach. Truth, made-up stories, black holes] by Stanisław Manturzewski (2002) and Jan według Himilsbacha [Jan according to Himilsbach] by Andrzej Wąsik (2011).

Artur Majer