He was born on 12th March 1934, in Kochłowice, which today is a south-east district of Ruda Śląska. He was a theatre, film and television actor. He was also an academic teacher, who taught as part of acting schools established at Wybrzeże Theatre in Gdańsk and the Music Theatre in Gdynia.
After had decided to discontinue studying architecture at the Warsaw University of Technology, he started acting studies at the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Dramatic Art in Warsaw, where he graduated in 1958. That same year, Henryk Bista has his acting début on stage of the Ateneum Theatre in Warsaw, playing the role of the Harlequin in the farce ‘Le Médecin malgré lui’ (‘The doctor in spite of himself’) written by Molière, and directed by Jerzy Rakowiecki. Through his long-time stage career, he worked for the Juliusz Osterwa Theatre in Lublin (in the years 1960-1962), Wybrzeże Theatre in Gdańsk (twice: in the years 1962-1977 and 1978-1992), and for the Wola Theatre (in the years 1977-1978), successively.
Henryk Bista worked like a true beaver. In his artistic portfolio, you will find as many as 180 roles in both film and television, 150 theatre roles and 125 appearances in plays produced for Teatr Telewizji. He was referred to as a ‘master of episodic roles’ and ‘a chameleon actor’. As far as his film roles are considered, he was an undisputed master of supporting roles, to the extent that it was commonly believed that a film would be a failure without Henryk Bista cast to appear in it.
His cinema début came in the war drama ‘Orzeł / Submarine Orzel’ (1958) directed by Leonard Buczkowski, in which he played the role of a seaman. He will always be remembered by cinema enthusiasts for his roles as the senator in ‘Lawa / Lava’ (1989) directed by Tadeusz Konwicki, the deceived customer Rożek in ‘Vabank / Va Banque’ (1981) directed by Juliusz Machulski, the owner of a shop for stamp collectors in the drama ‘Dekalog X / Ten Commandments 10’ (1988) directed by Krzysztof Kieślowski, or as Wielki Elektronik in the films for children ‘Podróże Pana Kleksa / Travels of Mr. Kleks’ (1985) and ‘Pan Kleks w kosmosie / Mr. Kleks in Space’ (1988) – both directed by Krzysztof Gradowski. He was an extremely versatile actor: you would see him portray both earls and servants, aristocrats and peasants, traitors and heroes. More than that, he was also an excellent comedian.
Among the many roles played by Henry Bista during his long career, you will also find those in which he partnered up with artists of both sexes, who come from the region of Kujawy and Pomorze. For example, he played alongside Jan Nowicki in such film productions as ‘Czerwone ciernie / Red Thorns’ (1976) directed by Julian Dziedzina, ‘Magnat / The Magnate’ (1986) directed by Filip Bajon, ‘Schodami w górę schodami w dół / Upstairs, Downstairs’ (1988) directed by Andrzej Domalik, ‘Młode wilki / Smugglers’ (1995) directed by Jarosław Żamojda or, in ‘Sztos’ (1997) directed by Olaf Lubaszenko, as well as in the already mentioned film ‘Lawa / Lava’ (1989) directed by Tadeusz Konwicki, in the latter of which you can also admire the acting talent of Grażyna Szapołowska. You can also see him play alongside Bogusław Linda in „Dagny” (1976) directed by Haakon Sandøy, ‘Matka Królów / The Mother of Kings’ (1982) directed by Janusz Zaorski, ‘Sauna’ (1992) directed by Filip Bajon, or in ‘Prowokator / Provocateur’ directed by Krzysztof Lang. In 1978, Henryk Bista played the role of Stefan Wańka in the detective story ‘Wśród nocnej ciszy / Quite is the Night’ directed by Tadeusz Chmielewski, which was shot on locations in Toruń and Bydgoszcz, among others.
Henryk Bista died on 10th October 1997. He was interred at Powązki Cemetery in Warsaw. Following the death of his wife Urszula Modzelewska-Bista in 2006, his body was exhumed and re-buried alongside his late wife in the family tomb at the Municipal Cemetery at ul. Chopina, in Włocławek.
Selected Filmography
- 1958 – ‘Orzeł / Submarine Orzel’, dir. by Leonard Buczkowski
- 1960 – ‘Rzeczywistość’, dir. by Antoni Bohdziewicz
- 1968 – ‘Ostatni po Bogu / Last After the God’, dir. by Paweł Komorowski
- 1970 – ‘Przystań / Shelter’, dir. by Paweł Komorowski
- 1971 – ‘Seksolatki / Sexteens’, dir. by Zygmunt Hubner
- 1975 – ‘ Czerwone i białe / The Red and the White’, dir. by Paweł Komorowski
- 1976 – ‘Ptaki, ptakom… / Birds to Birds’, dir. by Paweł Komorowski
- 1976 – ‘Ocalić miasto / To Save the City’, dir. by Jan Łomnicki
- 1976 – ‘Dagny’ dir. by Haakon Sandoy
- 1976 – ‘Czerwone ciernie / Red Thorns’, dir. by Julian Dziedzina
- 1976 – ‘07 zgłoś się’ (TV series)
- 1977 – ‘Śmierć prezydenta / Death of a President’, dir. by Jerzy Kawalerowicz
- 1977 – ‘Pasja / Passion’, dir. by Stanisław Różewicz
- 1978 – ‘Wśród nocnej ciszy / Quite is the Night’, dir. by Tadeusz Chmielewski
- 1978 – ‘Szpital Przemienienia / Hospital of the Transfiguration’, dir. by Edward Żebrowski
- 1978 – ‘Do krwi ostatniej… / To the Last Drop of Blood’, dir. by Jerzy Hoffman (film and television series)
- 1979 – ‘Zielone lata / Salad Days’, dir. by Stanisław Jędryka
- 1978 – ‘Tajemnica Enigmy / The Secret Of the Enigma’, dir. by Roman Wionczek
- 1979 – ‘Placówka’, dir. by Zygmunt Skonieczny
- 1979 – ‘Detektywi na wakacjach / Detectives on Holiday’, dir. by Leokadia Migielska (TV series)
- 1980 – ‘Polonia Restituta’, dir. by Bogdan Poręba
- 1980 – ‘Królowa Bona’, dir. by Janusz Majewski (TV series)
- 1980 – ‘Dom / The House’, dir. by Jan Łomnicki (TV series)
- 1981 – ‘Vabank / Va Banque’, dir. by Juliusz Machulski
- 1982 – ‘Matka Królów / The Mother of Kings’, dir. by Janusz Zaorski
- 1983 – ‘Wierna rzeka / The Faithful River’, dir. by Tadeusz Chmielewski
- 1983 – ‘Synteza’, dir. by Maciej Wojtyszko
- 1983 – ‘Kartka z podróży / Postcard from a Journey’, dir. by Waldemar Dziki
- 1983 – ‘Akademia pana Kleksa / Academy of Mr. Kleks’, dir. by Krzysztof Gradowski
- 1984 – ‘Yesterday’ dir. by Radosław Piwowarski
- 1984 – ‘Przeklęte oko proroka’, dir. by Paweł Komorowski
- 1985 – ‘Tanie pieniądze / Cheap Money’, dir. by Tomasz Lengren
- 1985 – ‘Sceny dziecięce z życia prowincji / Child’s Scenes of Provincial Life’, dir. by Tomasz Zygadło
- 1985 – ‘Podróże pana Kleksa / Travels of Mr. Kleks’, dir. by Krzysztof Gradowski
- 1985 – ‘Mokry szmal’, dir. by Gerard Zalewski
- 1985 – ‘Medium’, dir. by Jacek Koprowicz
- 1986 – ‘Życie wewnętrzne / Inner Life’, dir. by Marek Koterski
- 1986 – Magnat / The Magnate, dir. by Filip Bajon
- 1987 – ‘Śmierć Johna L. / The Death of John L.’, dir. by Tomasz Zygadło
- 1987 – ‘Na srebrnym globie / On the Silver Globe’, dir. by Andrzej Żuławski
- 1987 – ‘Między ustami a brzegiem pucharu/Between the Cup and the Lip’, dir. by Zbigniew Kuźmiński
- 1987 – ‘Łuk Erosa / Cupid’s Bow’, dir. by Jerzy Domaradzki
- 1987 – ‘Koniec sezonu na lody / The End of the Ice Cream Season’, dir. by Sylwester Szyszko
- 1987 – ‘Komediantka / Comedienne’, dir. by Jerzy Sztwiertnia
- 1987 – ‘Kocham kino’, dir. by Piotr Łazarkiewicz
- 1987 – ‘Klątwa Doliny Węży / Curse of Snakes Valley’, dir. by Marek Piestrak
- 1988 – ‘Schodami w górę schodami w dół / Upstairs, Downstairs’, dir. by Andrzej Domalik
- 1988 – ‘Piłkarski poker / The Soccer Poker’, dir. by Andrzej Zaorski
- 1988 – ‘Pan Kleksa w kosmosie / Mr. Kleks in Space’, dir. by Krzysztof Gradowski
- 1988 – ‘Nowy Jork, czwarta rano / New York, 4 A.M.’, dir. by Krzysztof Krauze
- 1988 – ‘Męskie Sprawy / Men’s Business’, dir. by Jan Kidawa Błoński
- 1988 – ‘Dekalog / Ten Commandments’, dir. by Krzysztof Kieślowski
- 1989 – ‘Porno’, dir. by Marek Koterski
- 1989 – ‘Ostatni dzwonek / The Last Schoolbell’, dir. by Magdalena Łazarkiewicz
- 1989 – ‘Lawa / Lava’, dir. by Tadeusz Konwicki
- 1989 – ‘Konsul’, dir. by Mirosław Bork
- 1989 – ‘Bal na dworcu w Koluszkach / The Ball at the Koluszki Junction’, dir. by Filip Bajon
- 1990 – ‘Ucieczka z kina “Wolność” / Escape from the Liberty Cinema’, dir. by Wojciech Marczewski
- 1990 – ‘Śmierć dziecioroba / Death of a Childmaker’, dir. by Wojciech Nowak
- 1990 – ‘Pożegnanie jesieni / Farewell to Autumn’, dir. by Mariusz Treliński
- 1990 – ‘Historia niemoralna / An Immoral Story’, dir. by Barbara Sass
- 1991 – ‘Odjazd / Departure’, dir. by Magdalena Łazarkiewicz, Piotr Łazarkiewicz
- 1991 – ‘Odjazd / Departure’, dir. by Leszek Wosiewicz
- 1992 – ‘Żegnaj Rockefeller / Farewell Rockefeller’, dir. by Waldemar Szarek (TV series)
- 1992 – ‘Sauna’, dir. by Filip Bajon
- 1992 – ‘Białe małżeństw / White Marriage’, dir. by Magdalena Łazarkiewicz
- 1993 – ‘Pora na czarownice / A Time for Witches’, dir. by Piotr Łazarkiewicz
- 1993 – ‘Plecak pełen przygód / A Knapsack Full of Adventures’, dir. by Janusz Dymek (TV series)
- 1993 – ‘Kraj świata’, dir. by Maria Zmarz-Kocznowicz
- 1993 – ‘Dwa księżyce / Two Moons’, dir. by Andrzej Barański
- 1994 – ‘Zawrócony / Reverted’, dir. by Kazimierz Kutz
- 1994 – ‘Jest jak jest / It is at it is’ (TV series)
- 1994 – ‘Bank nie z tej ziemi’ (TV series)
- 1995 – ‘Sukces… / Success’ (TV series)
- 1995 – ‘Prowokator / Provocateur’, dir. by Krzysztof Lang
- 1995 – ‘Odjazd / Departure’, dir. by
- 1995 – ‘Nic śmiesznego / Nothing Funny about Life’, dir. by Marek Koterski
- 1995 – ‘Młode wilki / Smugglers’, dir. by Jarosław Żamojda
- 1995 – ‘Akwarium / Aquarium’, dir. by Antoni Krauze
- 1996 – ‘Ekstradycja 2’, dir. by Wojciech Wójcik (TV series)
- 1995 – ‘Dom / The House’, dir. by Jan Łomnicki (TV series)
- 1997 – ‘Sztos’, dir. by Olaf Lubaszenko
- 1997 – ‘Kochaj i rób co chcesz / Love Me and Do Whatever You Want’, dir. by Robert Gliński
- 1998 – ‘Ekstradycja 3’, dir. by Wojciech Wójcik (TV series)
- 2003 – ‘Ubu Król / King Ubu’, dir. by Piotr Szulkin
Selected Awards
1971 – Silver Cross of Merit; 1971 – Gold Cross of Merit; 1976 – the Gall Award; 1984 – The Order of Polonia Restituta Fifth Class; 1986 – A honorary badge: Meritorious Activist of Culture; 1990 – The President of Gdańsk Award.
