Władysław Kowalski (24 February 1936 – 29 October 2017) was a Polish theater and film actor, one of the most respected figures of his generation. A graduate of the Warsaw Theatre Academy in 1959, his career was associated with major stages in the capital, including the Teatr Ateneum, the Teatr Powszechny, and the Teatr Dramatyczny. His film debut was in "Pokolenie" (1955) by Andrzej Wajda, a director with whom he would collaborate again on films such as "Kanał," "Pan Tadeusz," and "Katyn." His extensive filmography includes memorable roles in the television series "Kolumbowie" (1970), Wojciech Marczewski's "Ucieczka z kina 'Wolność'" (1990), and the more recent "Bogowie" (2014). For his performance in "Ucieczka z kina 'Wolność'," he received the Best Actor award at the Gdynia Polish Film Festival. Throughout his long career, he was awarded prestigious state honors, including the Gold Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis and the Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Polish culture.