36th anniversary of the death of Wacław Kowalski, Kazimierz Pawlak in "Sami swoi"

On 27 October 2026 it will be the 36th anniversary of the death of Wacław Kowalski. Audiences remember him as Kazimierz Pawlak from the films "Sami swoi", "Nie ma mocnych" and "Kochaj albo rzuć". After his death he was honoured with monuments and a museum, and a roundabout and a street were named after him. The tribute was published on 25 October 2026 by the website WP Film.

A hard childhood and the road to acting

According to WP Film, Kowalski's childhood was marked by tragedy. When he was 14, his father, who worked in a forge, had an accident and later died of meningitis after complications. Supporting the family then fell to the teenager. Soon afterwards his sister drowned.

He dreamed of singing opera, but chose a safer career and began studying at a teacher training seminary. Then the war broke out. Kowalski joined the resistance and the Home Army (Armia Krajowa), and during this time he met Stanisława Osikowska, his future wife. He became an actor after the war. He started as a theatre extra, gradually got small roles and then supporting parts. His breakthrough came in the late 1960s.

The role that brought fame

According to the article, casting Kowalski as Pawlak was key to the success of "Sami swoi". He was not the director's first choice, though. Jacek Woszczerowicz withdrew from the role for health reasons, and Wojciech Siemion was also considered. Screenwriter Andrzej Mularczyk reportedly thought at first that the film would flop. Years later he changed his mind, repeating that nobody in Poland could have played Pawlak better.

According to Dariusz Koźlenko's book "Sami swoi. Za kulisami komedii wszech czasów" (Sami swoi: Behind the Scenes of the Greatest Comedy of All Time), Kowalski had enormous energy on set. He offered ideas, invented dialogue and asked for more takes. At first he felt intimidated by the presence of the esteemed Władysław Hańcza. According to the text, this need to prove himself gave him strength. Jerzy Janeczek recalled that on set he was like dynamite and that nobody else could have created such a character.

Apart from Chęciński's trilogy, Kowalski mostly played supporting roles. Audiences still waited for him to appear on screen, even in small parts, for example in the series "Dom".

A closed chapter

In 1982 the actor's younger son, Maciej, died. The author cites Koźlenko's book, which says Kowalski blamed himself for the death. He believed acting had taken time he should have given to his family. He gave up theatre rehearsals and did not return to the set of "Dom". The writers had to kill off his character, the caretaker Popiołek. According to the book, the actor never again went on stage or in front of a camera.

Films featuring Kazimierz Pawlak are still widely watched. For many Poles abroad, including in the UK, they are part of a shared culture and a chance to return to Polish comedy.