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1-36 of 36
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Jan Rubes was born in Volyne, Czechoslovakia, to Ruzena (Kellnerová) and Jan Rubes. After graduating in 1945 from the Conservatory of Music in Prague, he went on to join the Prague Opera House as their youngest basso singer. He also performed at the Pilsen Opera House in leading roles in his early years. By 1948, he was chosen to represent Czechoslovakia at the International Music Festival held in Geneva and won first prize in his category. He emigrated to Canada on New Year's Eve 1948 with hopes of creating a greater musical career. As a member of the Canadian Opera Company, he achieved recognition for his roles, as Boris in "Boris Godunov", Schigolch in "Lulu" and as Mephisto in "Faust". He also served as the company's director of touring and program development. Branching out into radio and, eventually, TV, he wrote and hosted from 1975-83 TVOntario's "Guess What?" and acted in many TV dramas, later receiving the Earle Grey Award for lifetime work in Canadian television. Most moviegoers would recognize Jan Rubes in Witness (1985) (a Harrison Ford film), where he portrayed an Amish patriarch. He lived in Toronto with his wife, actor/director Susan Douglas Rubes. They had three children.- Additional Crew
- Director
- Cinematographer
Abraham Zapruder was born on 15 May 1905 in Kowel, Poland, Russian Empire [now Kovel, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was a director and cinematographer, known for Dispatches (1987). He was married to Lillian Zapruder. He died on 30 August 1970 in Dallas, Texas, USA.- Producer
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Director Ben Barenholtz has been a key presence in the independent film scene - as an exhibitor, distributor, and producer.
In 1968 he opened the Elgin Cinema. The theater became the world's most innovative specialty and revival house, relaunching the films of Buster Keaton among others and screening cult, underground, and experimental films for the emerging counter-cultural audience.
Barenholtz also developed new ways of screening movies. Most notably, he originated the Midnight Movie concept in 1970 with Jodorowsky's El Topo. and followed by John Waters' Pink Flamingos and Perry Henzell's The Harder They Come.
Barenholtz formed Libra Films in 1972. The first film Libra distributed was a revival of Jean-Pierre Melville's Les Enfants Terrible, followed by Tacchella's Cousin, Cousine, which became one of the largest grossing foreign films in the US and was nominated for 3 Academy Awards. Libra also launched and distributed, among others, George Romero's Martin, John Sayles' first feature Return of the Secaucus Seven, and David Lynch's first feature Eraserhead.
In 1984 he joined with Ted and Jim Pedas to form Circle Releasing. Among the films released by Circle were Yoshimitsu Morita's The Family Game, Guy Maddin's first feature Tales From the Gimli Hospital, Vincent Ward's The Navigator, John Woo's The Killer, Catherine Breillat's 36 Fillette, Alain Cavalier's Therese, and Blood Simple, the first film by Joel and Ethan Coen. He continued working with the Coens on the production of Raising Arizona, Miller's Crossing and Barton Fink, which won the Palme d'Or at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival, as well as awards for Best Director and Best Actor. This was the first and last time the three top honors have all gone to the same film at Cannes.
Barenholtz went on to produce George Romero's Bruiser, J Todd Anderson's The Naked Man, executive-produced the only film Gregory Hines ever directed, Bleeding Hearts, and Ulu Grossbard's Georgia. He served as co-executive producer of Darren Aronofsky's Requiem for a Dream. Barenholtz directed his first feature, Music Inn, a documentary about the famed fifties jazz venue. His second documentary, Wakaliwood, was shot entirely in the slums of Kampala, Uganda.
In 2016, he received the Berlinale Camera award from the Berlinale Film Festival to honor his contributions to the independent film scene.
He has directed his first fiction film, Alina, starring Darya Ekamasova, which will release in Fall 2017. He is developing an autobiographical film, Aaron, and the sequel to Alina.
But his real claim to fame is a five second appearance in George Romero's original Dawn of the Dead.- Director
- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michal Waszynski was born on 29 September 1904 in Kowel, Poland, Russian Empire [now Kovel, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was a director and producer, known for Bedzie lepiej (1936), District Attorney (1933) and Fiamme sul mare (1948). He died on 20 February 1965 in Madrid, Spain.- Irving Ludwig was born on 3 November 1910 in Luck, Poland, Russian Empire [now Lutsk, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was married to Helen Ludwig. He died on 26 November 2005 in Santa Monica, California, USA.
- Krzysztof Kursa was born on 20 May 1941 in Kowel, Wolynskie, Poland [now Kovel, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Killing Auntie (1985), Fort 13 (1984) and Klejnot wolnego sumienia (1983). He died on 29 October 1990 in Kraków, Malopolskie, Poland.
- Helena Mniszkówna was born on 24 May 1878 in Kurczyce, Poland, Russian Empire [now Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. She was a writer, known for Tredowata (1926), Tredowata (1936) and Gehenna (1938). She died on 18 March 1943 in Sabnie, Mazowieckie, Poland.
- Danuta Nagórna was born on 17 January 1932 in Luck, Wolynskie, Poland [now Lutsk, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. She was an actress, known for Historia jednego mysliwca (1958), Television Theater (1953) and The Last Family (2016). She died on 6 October 2021 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Szymon Szurmiej was born on 18 June 1923 in Luck, Wolynskie, Poland [now Lutsk, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor and writer, known for Television Theater (1953), Kamienica na Nalewkach, czyli szlagiery zydowskiej ulicy (2000) and Der Dibuk (1979). He was married to Golda Tencer. He died on 16 July 2014 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Leonid Kravchuk was born on 10 January 1934 in Zytyn Wielki, Volyn Voivodeship, Poland [now Velykyi Zhytyn, Rivne Oblast, Ukraine]. He was married to Antonina Mykhailivn. He died on 10 May 2022 in Ukraine.
- Additional Crew
- Writer
- Actor
Michal Friedman was born on 17 January 1913 in Kowel, Poland, Russian Empire [now Kovel, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was a writer and actor, known for Europa Europa (1990), Television Theater (1953) and Skrzypce Rotszylda (1988). He died on 24 May 2006 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Eugeniusz Robaczewski was born on 17 March 1931 in Luck, Wolynskie, Poland [now Lutsk, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Teddy Bear (1981), Urodziny Matyldy (1975) and Awans (1975). He died on 1 November 2003 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.
- Juliusz Berger was born on 15 November 1928 in Luck, Wolynskie, Poland [now Lutsk, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson (1980), War and Love (1985) and Lawa. Opowiesc o 'Dziadach' Adama Mickiewicza (1989). He died on 22 January 1999 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Additional Crew
Boguslaw Lambach was born on 25 March 1925 in Kowel, Wolynskie, Poland [now Kovel, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was a cinematographer, known for Dzis w nocy umrze miasto (1961), Ostatni strzal (1959) and Czarci zleb (1950). He died on 13 December 1988 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.- Anna Pourová was born on 28 April 1899 in Volyne, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Divá Bára (1949), Trhák (1981) and Slunce, seno, erotika (1991). She died on 16 February 1998 in Volyne, Czech Republic.
- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Yevgeni Khrinyuk was born on 20 November 1929 in Luck, Wolynskie, Poland [now Lutsk, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was a writer and director, known for Anna i komandor (1975), Adres vashego doma (1973) and Poisk (1967). He died on 22 May 1978 in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Ukraine].- Vladimír T. Gottwald was born on 8 September 1954 in Volyné, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He is an actor, known for The Fury (2016), Kamenák (2003) and Mordparta (2016).
- Ruzena Trosková was born on 24 November 1929 in Hostice u Volyne, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Slunce, seno a pár facek (1989). She was married to Václav Troska. She died on 2 October 2017 in Volyne, Czech Republic.
- Fyodor Radchuk was born on 2 January 1902 in village Okunin, Volhynian Governorate, Russian Empire [now Turiisk Raion, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Ispravlennomu verit (1959), Plamya gneva (1955) and Dolina sinikh skal (1957). He died on 2 October 1986 in Kharkov, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Kharkiv, Ukraine].
- Writer
- Producer
Perets Davidovich Markish was born on December 7, 1895, in Polonnoe shtetl, Volynsk province, Ukraine, Russian Empire. His father, named David Markish, was a melamed. His mother, named Khaya, was a daughter of a local tailor Shimshon-Behr. Young Perets Markish studied at cheder from the early age of three. Young Markish worked as a hard laborer, a trader, and a teacher in Berdichev, Odessa, and in Moldavia. Markish always kept the scroll of Torah that was given to him by his father.
At the beginning of the First World War he was drafted in the Tsar's Army and served in the front-lines against the German army. He was severely wounded in action and suffered from a contusion. He was decommissioned and settled in Yekaterinoslav. There Markish made his first publications of poetry in Yiddish, in 1917. In 1918 Markish moved to Kiev and joined the "Kiev group" of writers in Yiddish. There he published his poetry in the collection titled "Eingst" together with such poets as Osher Shvartsman, David Gofstein, and Lev Kvitko.
After the Russian Civil War Markish moved to Warsaw, then moved to Paris. He enjoyed a continuous friendship with artist Marc Chagall, whom he had known from his youth. In 1926 Markish returned to the USSR. In 1929 he married Ester Lasebnikova and their first son, named Simon, was born in 1931, their second son, named David, was born in 1938. Markish was elected the head of the Yiddish Writers group within the Union of Soviet Writers. He was a prominent poet and writer in Yiddish. His plays 'Nit Gedayget' (Don't give up 1931) and 'Semya Ovadis' (The Ovadis family 1938) had a successful run in Soviet theatres. His poetry was translated from Yiddish to Russian by such poets as Anna Akhmatova, Eduard Bagritsky, Boris Pasternak, and David Samoylov among others. In 1939 Markish was awarded the Order of Lenin for his work in literature.
In August of 1941, Perets Markish joined the Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee. It was formed by the group of leading intellectuals in the Soviet Union to campaign against the Nazis during the Second World War. The Committee was headed by actor Solomon Mikhoels. Along with Mikhoels other prominent members were Aleksandr Tairov, Emil Gilels, David Oistrakh, Samuil Marshak, Ilja Ehrenburg, and many other leading intellectuals in the Soviet Union. The main driving force of the Committee was represented by the group of Yiddish writers such as Lev Kvitko, David Gofstein, Itsik Fefer, David Bergelson, and others. The Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee provided over 45 million rubles for the Soviet Army. After the end of the Second World War the Committee was denounced by Joseph Stalin.
Markish was arrested on January 27, 1949, at his apartment in Moscow. He was taken by four officers to a Soviet secret service prison. The Jewish group within the Union of Soviet Writers was destroyed and many of its members were arrested and sentenced to 25 years of exile. Joseph Stalin personally intervened in the fate of Yiddish writers and changed their sentences from exile to execution. Thirteen Yiddish writers were executed by the Soviet secret service. Perets Markish was executed by the gunshot to his head on August 12, 1952, in Moscow, Soviet Union.
Posthumous publication of Markish's works revealed a collection of outstanding poetry and prose. His poem "Voina" (War 1948) was a sheloshim for the millions of Jews killed by the Nazis during the Second World War.- Jerzy Krasicki was born on 8 November 1927 in Luck, Wolynskie, Poland [now Lutsk, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Koniec naszego swiata (1964), Urodziny mlodego warszawiaka (1980) and Weekendy (1963). He died on 22 May 2004 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.
- Aleksey Omelchuk was born on 25 March 1911 in Ustilug, Volhynian Governorate, Russian Empire [now Ustyluh, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Zdravstvuy, Gnat (1963), Yunga so shkhuny Kolumb (1964) and Beztalanna (1966). He died on 22 January 1981 in Kiev, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Ukraine].
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Writer
Stanislaw Kokesz was born on 1 August 1927 in Luck, Wolynskie, Poland [now Lutsk, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was a director and assistant director, known for Gubernator (1965), Tandem (1966) and Przystan (1971). He died on 26 June 2015 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.- Waclaw Ulewicz was born on 12 June 1937 in Ostrówki, Wolynskie, Poland [now Ostrovki, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Zloty pociag (1986), Orzel i reszka (1975) and Spotkanie na Atlantyku (1980). He died on 7 December 1990 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.
- Jan Greber was born on 20 August 1939 in Luck, Wolynskie, Poland [now Lutsk, Volyn Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Pierwszy milion (2000), Na bialym szlaku (1963) and Lalka (1978). He was married to Marzena Trybala. He died on 16 August 2023 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.