POLISH FILM ACADEMY

For a time it seemed that in the eyes of the audience he would forever remain Janek Kos, the dashing young soldier in the classic TV series by Konrad Nałęcki Czterej pancerni i pies/Four Tank Men and a Dog (1966-1970). Later, he played an equally iconic role as the janitor Turecki in the TV comedy show Kabarecik by Olga Lipinska, but in fact he has given numerous performances in film, theatre, and television. He is an extremely versatile actor, just as believable in serious roles as in comedy.
He was born on September 23, 1939 in Dąbrowa Górnicza. A graduate from the Acting Department of the State Higher School of Theatre and Film in Łódź (1965, graduated in 1971). he worked at the Stefan Jaracz Theatre in Łódź (1965-1970) and several theatres in Warsaw: Komedia (1970-1971), Polski (1971-1974), Kwadrat (1974-1980), Dramatyczny (1980-1984), and Powszechny (since 1984).
He made his film debut in a supporting role in Panienka z okienka/A Maid in the Window (1964) by Maria Kaniewska, based on a popular children’s novel by Deotyma. His first main role – as a young member of the resistance movement who has carry out a death sentence on his friend – came three years later in Stajnia na Salvatorze/ Stables in Salvator (1967) by Paweł Komorowski. His subsequent major roles – Julek in Mały/The Little One (1970) by Julian Dziedzina and Józek in Milioner/Millionaire (1977) by Sylwester Szyszka (award for best actor in a leading role at the Polish Film Festival in Gdansk in 1977) – are contemporary characters, such as Michał in the TV film Wahadełko/Pendulum (1981), the moving story of a man whose body is devastated by disease and ideology. This performance earned him another award for best leading actor at the festival in Gdansk (1981). A subsequent major performance was in Przesłuchanie/Interrogation (1982; premiere in 1989) by Ryszard Bugajski – set in the 1950s, it is a poignant study of the relationship between a tormentor and his victim. His performance in the role of the ruthless and cruel Major “Kąpielowy” won him the award for best leading actor at the festival in Gdynia, but not until 1990.
Gajos is a versatile actor, perfectly suited to both contemporary and classical repertoire, comedy and drama, as well as main and supporting roles, something which is appreciated by audiences, critics and jurors at film and theatre festivals. So far, the actor has already won more than 80 awards and accolades. His flippant, but at times reflective Janek in Big Bang (1986) by Andrzej Kondratiuk earned him the Golden Screen award (1987), he played the censor in Ucieczka z kina “Wolność”/Escape From The “Liberty” Cinema (1990) by Wojciech Marczewski – awards in Gdynia (1990) and Burgos (1994), Captain Jan Dobrowolski from Szwadron/Squadron (1992) by Machulski and Cinqueda in Kiedy rozum śpi/When The Mind Is Asleep (1992) by Marcin Ziębiński – awards for best supporting actor in Gdynia (1992), and the husband in Łagodna/The Kind One (1995), directed by Mariusz Treliński – the ”Jańcio Wodnik” award. He was also honoured for his performances as investigator Mazur in Fuks (1999) by Maciej Dutkiewicz, the protagonist of Żółty szalik/Yellow Scarf (2000) by Janusz Morgenstern, the garage owner in To ja, złodziej/It's Me Thief (2000) by Jacek Bromski, Cześnik in Wajda’s adaptation of Zemsta/Revenge (2002) doctor Andrzej Hoffman in Tam i z powrotem/There and Back (2001) by Wojciech Wojcik, brother Zdrówko in Jasminum (2006) by Jan Jakub Kolski, and the father of the protagonist in Mniejsze zło/ Lesser Evil (2009) by Janusz Morgenstern – the Eagle statuette, this time for Best Supporting Actor.
The actor has been portrayed in Magdalena Kuydowicz’s documentary – Portret Janusza Gajosa/Janusz Gajos. A Portrait (1992) and a book by Elżbieta Baniewicz – Gajos (2003, 2013). “I was able to win with myself. I have not let myself be pushed into a corner – a risk I have faced quite often. I kept trying to deceive those who wanted to typecast me. It is crucial to keep them guessing and it is very intriguing for an actor,” he admits.

Jerzy Armata