Joanna Kołaczkowska

"Kołaczkowska" redirects here. For the Polish fine artist, see Urszula Kołaczkowska.
Joanna Kołaczkowska
Kołaczkowska in 2021
Born
Joanna Dorota Chuda

(1966-06-22)22 June 1966
Polkowice, Poland
Died17 July 2025(2025-07-17) (aged 59)
Konstancin-Jeziorna, Poland
Resting placePowązki Military Cemetery
Alma materUniversity of Zielona Góra
Known forCabaret performance, theatre
Notable workHrabi Cabaret troupe
StyleComedy, satire
HonoursRibbon

Joanna Dorota Kołaczkowska (de domo Chuda, primo voto Matysik,[1] 22 June 1966 – 17 July 2025)[2] was a Polish cabaret performer, theatre actress, songwriter and radio presenter. She was widely recognized as one of the most prominent figures in Polish cabaret in the early 21st century,[3] particularly through her long-standing involvement with the Hrabi Cabaret troupe, with which she performed from 2002 until 2025.[4]

Life and career

Kołaczkowska was born Joanna Dorota Chuda on 22 June 1966 in Polkowice. Her mother was an accountant at the Mining Works Company in Lubin, while her father passed away when she was five.[5] She had an older sister, Agnieszka, who married Dariusz Kamys.[6] In her early years, she was part of a folk dance group and trained in both figure skating and speed skating.[5] She graduated in cultural and educational pedagogy from the Pedagogical University in Zielona Góra, now integrated into the University of Zielona Góra.[7]

While studying at university, she met Adam Nowak, who in 1987 encouraged her to audition for the cabaret troupe Drugi Garnitur. She remained with the ensemble until 1989, after which she joined Potem Cabaret as a performer and contributed as a writer to several of its sketches. Between 1991 and 1993, she appeared with Potem as a supporting act for Stanisław Tym’s productions at the Rampa Theatre.[8] The group formally disbanded in 1999.

Since 2002 she had been a standing member of the Hrabi Cabaret troupe. In 2005, she received an individual award at the 1st Cabaret Festival in Zielona Góra.[3][9]

Throughout her career, she acted in a number of films, including Robin Hood – The Fourth Arrow (1997), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by A'Yoy (1999), and was also the Polish dubbing actress for Donna Noble on Doctor Who in 2023.[10]

Between 2009 and 2010, she appeared on the stage of Teatr Polonia in Warsaw in theatrical productions directed by Stanisław Tym, including Dżdżownice wychodzą na asfalt (2009) and Kobieta z widokiem na taras (2010).[11][12] In 2011, she portrayed Mrs. Zerżniewska in Smuteczek, czyli ostatni naiwni, directed by Maciej Stuhr and staged at the Teatr Dramatyczny in Warsaw. In 2017, she joined the cast of Dzień świra, directed by Marcin Kołaczkowski and presented at Teatr Kamienica. On 30 July 2019, she gave the premiere performance of her solo recital entitled Pączek w Maśle.[11]

In April 2025 the Hrabi Cabaret troupe publicly disclosed that Kołaczkowska was undergoing cancer treatment and therefore placed her public appearances on hold.[10] During May, five benefit shows in Warsaw, Gdańsk and Zabrze—staged under the Potemowe piosenki tour—were expressly dedicated to her support. In June, Hrabi joined forces with Radio Nowy Świat and the Teatr Współczesny in Warsaw to mount a further charity performance, “I Could Do Anything for You,” likewise devoted to Kołaczkowska.[4]

Joanna Kołaczkowska's grave in the Avenue of the Meritorious at Powązki Military Cemetery, on the day of the funeral

She died during the night of 16–17 July 2025. The certified cause of death was a brain tumour.[13] She was buried on 28 July 2025 at the Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw.[2][14] The funeral drew large crowds, including fellow artists, friends, and fans. A Catholic mass was held at St. Charles Borromeo Church, followed by a secular ceremony in accordance with her wishes.[15]

Awards

References

  1. ^ Joanna Kołaczkowska at IMDb
  2. ^ a b "Joanna Kołaczkowska". Cemetery Finder – Warsaw Cemeteries. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b Czupryn, Anita. "Odeszła Joanna Kołaczkowska. Rozśmieszała, ale nie udawała, że życie ją rozpieszczało" [Joanna Kołaczkowska has passed away. She made people laugh, but never pretended that life had been kind to her]. Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Kabaret Hrabi, Radio Nowy Świat i Teatr Współczesny w akcji pomocy dla Joanny Kołaczkowskiej. Artyści wspierają artystkę" [Hrabi Cabaret, Radio Nowy Świat, and Teatr Współczesny join forces to support Joanna Kołaczkowska. Artists stand by the artist] (in Polish). Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  5. ^ a b Fabjanowska, Zofia. "Joanna Kołaczkowska: Rzeźbienie w szarym mydle" [Joanna Kołaczkowska: Carving in grey soap]. Zwierciadlo.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Kołaczkowska: Nie nadaję się do normalnej pracy [WYWIAD]". www.gazetaprawna.pl (in Polish). 4 May 2019. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Nie żyje Joanna Kołaczkowska, od lat była związana z Zieloną Górą" [Joanna Kołaczkowska has died, she had been associated with Zielona Góra for years]. Radio Zielona Góra (in Polish). 17 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  8. ^ Jabłonka, Jakub; Łęczuk, Paweł (2019). HRABI Duszkiem tak!. Znak. pp. 241, 243, 244.
  9. ^ "Festiwal Kabaretu na piątkę z plusem" [Cabaret festival with top marks]. Encyklopedia teatru polskiego (in Polish). Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  10. ^ a b "Joanna Kołaczkowska ma nowotwór. "Sprawa jest poważna"" [Joanna Kołaczkowska has cancer: "The situation is serious"]. tvn24.pl (in Polish). 24 April 2025. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Joanna Kołaczkowska". Encyklopedia teatru polskiego (in Polish). Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  12. ^ Teatralny, Instytut. "Kobieta z widokiem na taras - Teatr Polonia | e-teatr.pl". Teatr w Polsce - polski wortal teatralny (in Polish). Retrieved 20 July 2025.
  13. ^ Buczkowski, Paweł (16 July 2025). "Joanna Kołaczkowska nie żyje" [Joanna Kołaczkowska passes away]. WP Wiadomości (in Polish). Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  14. ^ "Podano datę i miejsce pogrzebu Joanny Kołaczkowskiej" [Date and place of Joanna Kołaczkowska’s funeral announced]. tvn24.pl (in Polish). 18 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Pogrzeb Joanny Kołaczkowskiej. Artystkę pożegnały tłumy" [Funeral of Joanna Kołaczkowska. Crowds gathered to say goodbye to the artist]. PolsatNews.pl (in Polish). 28 July 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  16. ^ "Cabaret star Joanna Kołaczkowska posthumously awarded one of Poland's highest state honours". www.polskieradio.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 19 August 2025.
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