Jacek Koman (born 15 August 1956) is a Polish actor and singer.

Early life

Koman was born in

Bielsko-Biała Bielsko-Biała (; cs, Bílsko-Bělá, german: Bielitz-Biala, szl, Bjylsko-Bjoło) is a city in southern Poland, with a population of approximately 168,319 as of December 2021, making it the 22nd largest city in Poland, and an area of . It is a ...

, Poland, to actors Halina Koman (née Dobrowolska; born 3 January 1923) and Adam Koman (24 December 1922 – 1 December 2005), and came to Australia in 1982 with his brother Tomek. They landed in

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

before heading over to

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

, where he began acting again. Koman attended the

National Film School in Łódź National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, ce ...

, where he studied acting alongside

Małgorzata Potocka Małgorzata () is a common Polish female given name derived through Latin ''Margarita'' from Ancient Greek μαργαρίτης (margarítēs), meaning "pearl". It is equivalent to the English " Margaret". Its diminutive forms include Małgośka, ...

Andrzej Szczytko Andrzej Szczytko (9 October 1955 – 11 June 2021) was a Polish actor and stage director. Szczytko is the recipient of multiple theatre awards and honours, including the 2016 Witkacy Prize - Critics' Circle Award. He was awarded the Decorati ...

and Piotr Skiba (1974-78). His first professional stage appearance was as Lysander in a production of ''

A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...

'' in Bielsko-Biała in 1978.

Career

In Melbourne, Koman met his partner, Australian actress

Catherine McClements Catherine McClements is an Australian stage, film and television actress and television presenter. She is known for her TV roles in '' Water Rats'' and ''Tangle'', for which she won Logie Awards, and has performed in stage productions for theat ...

, in the late 1980s at the Anthill Theatre. They now have two children together – Clementine Coco (born July 2001) and Quincy (born May 2007). The couple have worked together a number of times, including films ''Redheads'' and ''Floodhouse'', as well as an episode of ''

Rush Rush(es) may refer to: Places United States * Rush, Colorado * Rush, Kentucky * Rush, New York * Rush City, Minnesota * Rush Creek (Kishwaukee River tributary), Illinois * Rush Creek (Marin County, California), a stream * Rush Creek (Mono Cou ...

'' in 2009, and theatre productions ''Cruel and Tender'' (2005), ''

Macbeth ''Macbeth'' (, full title ''The Tragedie of Macbeth'') is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. It is thought to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the damaging physical and psychological effects of political ambition on those w ...

'' (2003), ''The Blind Giant is Dancing'' (1995) and ''

Angels in America ''Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes'' is a two-part play by American playwright Tony Kushner. The work won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Award for Best Play, and the Drama Desk Award for O ...

'' (1994). In 2011, he was nominated for an

AACTA award The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, known as the AACTA Awards, are presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). The awards recognise excellence in the film and television industry, ...

for his guest performance in ''

Spirited ''Spirited'' is an Australian television Supernatural fiction, supernatural comedy-drama series made for subscription television channel W that aired for two seasons, 2010 and 2011. The series stars Claudia Karvan as dentist Suzy Darling, wh ...

''. In 2012, he appeared as "The Great Hypno" in the Australian television series ''

Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries ''Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries'' is an Australian drama television series. It was first broadcast on ABC on 24 February 2012. It is based on author Kerry Greenwood's historical mystery novels, and it was created by Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger. ...

''. In 2013, he returned to the stage after an eight-year absence, in

Tom Holloway Tom Holloway is an Australian playwright, based in Melbourne . Holloway's plays have been performed across Australia and internationally, including ''Beyond the Neck'' at Belvoir St Theatre (2007), ''Red Sky Morning'' at Red Stitch Actors Theat ...

's translation of Durrenmatt's ''

Dance of Death The ''Danse Macabre'' (; ) (from the French language), also called the Dance of Death, is an artistic genre of allegory of the Late Middle Ages on the universality of death. The ''Danse Macabre'' consists of the dead, or a personification of ...

'' at the

Malthouse Theatre Malthouse Theatre is the resident theatre company of The Malthouse building in Southbank, part of the Melbourne Arts Precinct. In the 1980s it was known as the Playbox Theatre Company and was housed in the Playbox Theatre in Melbourne's CBD. ...

in Melbourne.

Music career

Koman is also the lead singer of VulgarGrad, a Melbourne band who play Russian-style music and who formed in 2004.

Filmography

* ''Bezposrednie polaczenie'' (TV, 1979) – Slawek Tietz * ''

Holidays on the River Yarra ''Holidays on the River Yarra'' is a 1991 Australian drama film directed by Leo Berkeley. It was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. Plot Disillusioned Melbourne teenage boys Mick and Eddie are looking ...

'' (1991) − Mercenary * ''Redheads'' (1992) – Lawyer * ''

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

'' (TV, 1993) – Steward (one episode) * ''Lucky Break'' (1994) – Detective Yuri Borodinoff * ''

Twisted Tales ''Twisted Tales'' was a horror comics anthology published by Pacific Comics and, later, Eclipse Comics, in the early 1980s. The title was edited by Bruce Jones and April Campbell. Publication history ''Twisted Tales'' was published on a bi-mo ...

'' (TV, 1995) * ''

What I Have Written ''What I Have Written'' is a 1996 Australian drama film directed by John Hughes and starring Martin Jacobs.

'' (1996) – Jeremy Fliszar * ''

Thank God He Met Lizzie ''Thank God He Met Lizzie'' is a 1997 Australian romantic comedy film directed by Cherie Nowlan and starring Frances O'Connor, Richard Roxburgh and Cate Blanchett. It was Nowlan's directorial debut. In the United States, the film was released as ...

'' (1997) – Raoul * '' Wildside'' (TV, 1998) – Barry Lipinski (one episode) * '' The Sound of One Hand Clapping'' (1998) – Picotti * ''

Moulin Rouge! ''Moulin Rouge!'' (, ) is a 2001 jukebox musical romantic drama film directed, co-produced, and co-written by Baz Luhrmann. It follows a young English poet, Christian, who falls in love with the star of the Moulin Rouge, cabaret actress and cour ...

'' (2001) – The Unconscious Argentinean * ''

The Secret Life of Us ''The Secret Life of Us'' is an Australian television drama series set in the beachside neighbourhood of St Kilda, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is primarily a drama with some comedic moments. The series was produced by Souther ...

'' (TV, 2001) – Dominic * ''Horseplay'' (2002) – Roman * ''Floodhouse'' (TV, 2003) – Anselm * '' Stingers'' (TV, 2003) – Daniel Tedesco (one episode) * ''

Mary Bryant Mary Bryant (1765 – after 1794) was a Cornish convict sent to Australia. She became one of the first successful escapees from the fledgling Australian penal colony. Early life Bryant was born Mary Broad (referred to as Mary Braund at the E ...

'' (TV, 2005) – Wanjon (part II) * ''

Children of Men ''Children of Men'' is a 2006 dystopian action thriller film co-written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón. The screenplay, based on P. D. James' 1992 novel '' The Children of Men'', was credited to five writers, with Clive Owen making uncredi ...

'' (2006) – Tomasz * ''

Tripping Over ''Tripping Over'' is a British/Australian six-part drama series. Its first episode aired on Network Ten in Australia on 25 October 2006, and in the United Kingdom on Five on 30 October 2006. In the UK ''Tripping Over'' is repeated on Five Lif ...

'' (TV, 2006) – Magnus * ''

Romulus, My Father ''Romulus, My Father'' is a biographical memoir, first published in 1998, written by the Australian philosopher Raimond Gaita. The memoir outlines the life of his father, Romulus Gaita (1922 – May 1996). Plot Romulus Gaita fled his hometown ...

'' (2007) – Vacek * ''

Defiance Defiance may refer to: Film, television and theatre * ''Defiance'' (1952 film), a Swedish drama film directed by Gustaf Molander * ''Defiance'' (1980 film), an American crime drama starring Jan-Michael Vincent * ''Defiance'' (2002 film), a ...

'' (2008) – Koscik * ''

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

'' (2008) – Ivan * ''Kochaj i tańcz'' (English title: Love and Dance) (2008) – Jan Kettler * ''

'' (TV, 2009) – Anton Buczek (one episode) * ''Lonesdale'' (2010) * ''Kolysanka'' (English title: Lullaby) (2010) – Postman Kaminski * ''

City Homicide ''City Homicide'' is an Australian television drama series that aired on the Seven Network between 27 August 2007 and 30 March 2011. The series was set on the Homicide floor of a metropolitan police headquarters in Melbourne. The main characte ...

'' – Andro Budjman (one episode, 2010) * ''Ratownicy'' (TV, 2010) – Piotr Rojek * ''

Usta usta ''Usta Usta'' is a Polish comedy-drama television series based on the British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependenci ...

'' (TV, 2010) – Pawel Sliwinski (one episode) * ''

East West 101 ''East West 101'' was a drama series airing on the SBS network. The series was produced and created by Steven Knapman and Kris Wyld, the team behind other drama series such as '' Wildside'' and ''White Collar Blue''. It ran from 2007–2011, ...

'' (TV, 2011) – Roman Wisniewski (two episodes) * '' The Hunter'' (2011) – Middleman * ''

Small Time Gangster Small Time Gangster is an Australian comedy series produced by Boilermaker-Burberry Entertainment for Movie Extra subscription television channel. It also screened on SBS One in 2013. The series follows the adventures of Tony Piccolo, a man who ...

'' (TV, 2011) – Artie (two episodes) * ''

'' (TV, 2011) – Potter the Man (four episodes) * '' Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance'' (2011) – Terrokov * ''

Jack Irish ''Jack Irish'' is an Australian television drama series first broadcast on ABC TV on 14 October 2012. The series stars Guy Pearce as the title character, a former criminal lawyer turned private investigator and debt collector. Much of the acti ...

'' (TV, 2016 - 2021) - Orton (13 episodes) * ''

'' (TV, 2012) – Mr Merton (one episode) * ''The Doctors'' (TV, 2012) – Leon Jasinski * ''

The Great Gatsby ''The Great Gatsby'' is a 1925 novel by American writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. Set in the Jazz Age on Long Island, near New York City, the novel depicts First-person narrative, first-person narrator Nick Carraway's interactions with mysterious mil ...

'' (2013) * ''

Top of the Lake ''Top of the Lake'' is a mystery drama television series created and written by Jane Campion and Gerard Lee, and directed by Campion and Garth Davis. It aired in 2013, and the sequel, entitled ''Top of the Lake: China Girl'', in 2017. It mark ...

'' (TV, 2013) – Wolfgang Zanic * ''

Shopping Shopping is an activity in which a customer browses the available goods or services presented by one or more retailers with the potential intent to purchase a suitable selection of them. A Retail#Shopper profiles, typology of shopper types ha ...

'' (2013) - Bennie * ''

Son of a Gun Son of a gun is an exclamation in American and British English. It can be used encouragingly or to compliment, as in "You son of a gun, you did it!" Definition The ''Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary'' and ''Webster's Dictionary'' both defin ...

'' (2014) - Sam * '' Mustangs FC'' (TV, 2017 - 2019) - Danny * ''

Jungle A jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past recent century. Etymology The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''jaṅ ...

'' (2017) * ''

Rake Rake may refer to: * Rake (stock character), a man habituated to immoral conduct * Rake (theatre), the artificial slope of a theatre stage Science and technology * Rake receiver, a radio receiver * Rake (geology), the angle between a feature on a ...

'' (TV, 2018) - Jakub (eight episodes) * ''

Tidelands Tidelands are the territory between the tide line of sea coasts, and lands lying under the sea beyond the low-water limit of the tide, considered within the territorial waters of a nation. The United States Constitution does not specify whether ...

'' (Netflix series, 2018) - Gregory Stolin * ''

The Hater ''The Hater'' ( pl, Sala samobójców. Hejter) is a 2020 Polish social thriller film directed by Jan Komasa and written by Mateusz Pacewicz. The plot centres around an expelled university student from Warsaw who attempts to steer the internet, ...

'' (2020) - Robert Krasucki * ''

The Woods (miniseries) ''The Woods'' ( pl, W głębi lasu, italic=yes) is a Polish mystery thriller television miniseries, based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Harlan Coben. The series premiered on Netflix on 12 June 2020. It is the second Polish-language seri ...

'' (TV, 2020) - Dawid Goldsztajn

Theatre work

* ''The Emigrants'' (1987, The New Dolphin Theatre, Perth) * ''The Hope'' (1987,

The Arts Centre Arts Centre Melbourne, originally known as the Victorian Arts Centre and briefly called the Arts Centre, is a performing arts centre consisting of a complex of theatres and concert halls in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, located in the central M ...

, Melbourne and The Playhouse, Perth) * '' Moliere'' aka ''The Cabal of Hypocrites'' (1988, Key Studios, Melbourne) – Brother Strength * ''

The Imaginary Invalid ''The Imaginary Invalid'', ''The Hypochondriac'', or ''The Would-Be Invalid'' ( French title ''Le Malade imaginaire'', ) is a three- act ''comédie-ballet'' by the French playwright Molière with dance sequences and musical interludes (H.495, H. ...

'' (1989, Anthill Theatre, Melbourne) – Cleante * ''

The Maids ''The Maids'' (french: Les Bonnes, links=no) is a 1947 play by the French dramatist Jean Genet. It was first performed at the Théâtre de l'Athénée in Paris in a production that opened on 17 April 1947, which Louis Jouvet directed. The pla ...

'' (1989, Anthill Theatre, Melbourne) – Solange * ''The Master and Margarita'' (1993, Five Dollar Theatre Company) - The Master * ''

'' (1994, The Playhouse, Melbourne) – Roy Cohn * '' Blue Murder'' (1994, Belvoir St Theatre Downstairs, Sydney) – Blue * ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

'' (1994, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney) – Claudius * ''The Blind Giant is Dancing'' (1995, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney) – Ramon Gris * ''

The Caucasian Chalk Circle ''The Caucasian Chalk Circle'' (german: Der kaukasische Kreidekreis) is a play by the German modernist playwright Bertolt Brecht. An example of Brecht's epic theatre, the play is a parable about a peasant girl who rescues a baby and becomes a b ...

'' (1998, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney) – Azdac * ''

As You Like It ''As You Like It'' is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has b ...

'' (1999, Belvoir St Theatre) – Jacques * ''

The Marriage of Figaro ''The Marriage of Figaro'' ( it, Le nozze di Figaro, links=no, ), K. 492, is a ''commedia per musica'' (opera buffa) in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It premie ...

'' (2000, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney) – Figaro * ''Emma's Nose'' (2001, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney) – Wilhelm Fliess * ''

Endgame Endgame, Endgames, End Game, End Games, or similar variations may refer to: Film * ''The End of the Game'' (1919 film) * ''The End of the Game'' (1975 film), short documentary U.S. film * ''Endgame'' (1983 film), 1983 Italian post-apocalyptic f ...

'' (2003, Sydney Theatre Company) – Hamm * ''

'' (2003, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney) – Macbeth * ''

'' (2004, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney) – Nick Bottom * ''Cruel and Tender'' (2005, Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney) – The General

References

Notes

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Koman, Jacek 1956 births Male actors from Melbourne Musicians from Melbourne Australian male singers Australian male film actors Australian male stage actors Australian male television actors Polish emigrants to Australia People from Bielsko-Biała Living people Łódź Film School alumni