Józef Kostecki

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Józef Kostecki (1922–1980) was a Polish actor best known for playing Grand Duke Vytautas in Aleksander Ford’s Knights of the Teutonic Order. He was born Józef Eugeniusz Kostuch on February 26, 1922, in Kraków. In 1948 he graduated from the Theatre Academy in Warsaw after studying at the Old Theatre’s actor school and the National Theatre School in Łódź. On stage he performed in Poznań, Łódź and Białystok before joining Warsaw’s Teatr Współczesny (1949–1954) and then the Ateneum Theatre (1954–1972). He often portrayed cold, cynical middle-aged gentlemen, but could also play lovers and some comic roles. Kostecki appeared in films such as Podhale w ogniu, Andrzej Munk’s Heroism, Knights of the Teutonic Order, Ogniomistrz Kaleń, and the Stawka większa niż życie TV series, as well as many TV Theatre productions. He retired in January 1973. He died on August 18, 1980, in Warsaw and was buried at the Wólka Węglowa cemetery.