‘He had this warmth about him which hugged people’; ‘He was an amazing actor of a special humbleness, tact’; ‘Fortunately, your voice will stay with us, as long as we are’; ‘He was an intelligent and warm person on whom everybody could count’; ‘He was a prominent actor, extraordinary songs’ interpreter’; ‘He has just loved life, people, meetings, talks’ – this is how artists mention dead Piotr Machalica.
At the age of 65, on Monday at dawn (14 Dec 2020), actor Piotr Machalica died. He was known from, inter alia, performance in ‘Dekalog: Nine’ directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski, ‘Day of the wacko’ directed by Marek Koterski and ‘The Art of Loving’ directed by Jacek Bromski. He was bounded with, inter alia, Powszechny Theater in Warsaw, ‘Polonia’ Theater and ‘Och-Theater’.
‘We played a lot together in Powszechny Theater. This work has always looked like as it should, without disagreements. It has always been serious and with focus on a good effect’ – said Janusz Gajos, Polish actor.
‘It is so hard to let you go. None of your friends was sleeping tonight. Thank you for everything. For much of life and kindness. Fortunately, your voice will stay with us, as long as we are. I hug the loved ones to my heart’ – wrote on her Facebook account Magda Umer, the director and singer, one of the best friends of Piotr Machalica.
‘He was a prominent actor, extraordinary songs’ interpreter; he has created his own style. I called it like that – he did not even ‘touch a song’, it grew itself and answered him. (…) It was an extraordinary interpreter’s artistry’ – said Jacek Cygan, the songwriter, poet and screenwriter.
‘He sang with unbelievable precision, lightness, easiness of interpreting. It was mastery – acting art at the highest level’ – added Cygan.
Adam Woronowicz, the Polish actor, said that ‘sometimes I think that acting was somewhere next to his personality. He just loved life, people, meetings, talks.’
‘That great man was gifted with an incredible timbre of voice. He could take the audience somewhere else during singing. (…) He loved life. Stage and everything connected with it was just a pleasant addition. His death is an enormous loss. It is said that people are irreplaceable. It is exactly about Piotr’ – said Woronowicz.
Polish actress, Justyna Szafran emphasised that ‘he has always reassured me. He has this warmth about him’. Szafran also added that he was a person on whom everybody could count’.
‘He sang marvellously. I worked with him a few times. Every single time was a mutual joy. I am upset and shocked that it has happened’ – admitted director Maciej Wojtyszko. ‘He was an amazing actor of a special humbleness, tact’ – she added.
The information about the actor’s death provided on her Facebook’s profile Krystyna Janda. ‘We inform with great sorrow that at night, our great friend, mate, an amazing human and marvellous artist Piotr Machalica passed away. We all loved and admired him. He has been in our Foundation since the very beginning and he has played hundreds of plays on our stage for 15 years. He has also sung many concerts’ – wrote Janda.