Polish media remember cultural and public figures who died in late 2025 and 2026

Farewells on All Saints' Day

On 1 November, the day of All Saints, several Polish outlets published retrospectives of prominent people who died between late 2025 and August 2026. The lists combine Polish and international names from film, theatre, music, politics, science and sport. Most entries carry a day, a month and an age, while a few are given only as a month.

Film and theatre

Brigitte Bardot died on 28 December at 91. She appeared in about 50 films before leaving acting to devote herself to animal rights. Catherine O'Hara, the Canadian-American actress who played the mother in Home Alone, died on 30 January aged 71. Bożena Dykiel, who acted in Andrzej Wajda's Wesele, died on 12 February at 77. Edward Linde-Lubaszenko, who appeared in more than 70 films, died on 8 February at 86. Robert Duvall, the Oscar-winning actor who played Tom Hagen in The Godfather, died on 16 February, and Chuck Norris, the martial artist and action star, died on 19 March aged 86.

Politics, science and public life

Andrzej Olechowski, an economist who served as finance minister in 1992 and foreign minister from 1993 to 1995, died on 25 April aged 78. He co-founded Civic Platform and was a presidential candidate in 2000 and 2010. Krzysztof Piesiewicz, a lawyer and former senator who worked as a screenwriter with director Krzysztof Kieślowski, died on 14 May at 80. Andrzej Wielowieyski, a Home Army soldier who sat in the Senate in its first and fifth terms, died on 29 August aged 98. Łukasz Litewka, a member of the 10th-term Sejm, died on 23 April aged 36. Andrzej Paczkowski, a historian and anti-communist opposition activist who later sat on the IPN Collegium, died in early January 2026 at 87, and the lists give 3 January in one case and 7 January in another. Hungarian director Béla Tarr died on 6 January 2026 at 70. Dick Cheney, vice president under George W. Bush, is listed at 84 with a date of 3 November.

Music, sport and the Warsaw Uprising

Chris Rea, a musician known for Driving Home for Christmas, died on 22 December aged 74 and had sold more than 30 million albums, compilations and live records. Valentino Garavani, the fashion designer behind the Valentino house, died on 19 January at 93. Jacek Magiera, second coach of the Polish national football team and the main assistant to selector Jan Urban, died on 10 April aged 49. Marian Kasprzyk, a gold and bronze Olympic medallist in boxing and a European vice-champion, died on 2 February at 86. Michał Urbaniak, a jazz saxophonist and violinist, died on 20 December at 82. Wanda Traczyk-Stawska, a Home Army soldier who took part in the Warsaw Uprising, died on 18 August at 99. Janina Rożecka, known as Dora, a Warsaw Uprising medical orderly recognised as Righteous Among the Nations, died in February at 104.