A life like a show: Florin Piersic at 90 years old. From the Bucovina from Transylvania to the “sacred monster” of the Romanian scene

Florin Piersic has completed nine decades of life. With an impressive career both in the world of film and Romanian theater, Florin Piersic is already in the gallery of “sacred monsters” of Romanian cinema, an actor who, from the directors' perspective, could play any role.

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Florin Piersic, a living legend of Romanian cinema, turns 90 on January 27. Originally from Bucovina, from Cluj by adoption, Florin Piersic has an enviable acting record. He is also one of the Romanian artists who became known not only for his talent and inspiration but also for his special charisma, charm, humor and sensitivity.

The Bucovina, born in Transylvanian lands and a huge loss in childhood

Florin Piersic was born in Cluj, on January 27, 1936 – the son of veterinarian Ștefan Piersic and Vera Pașcanu. Although born in Transylvania, Florin Piersic has origins from Bukovina. More precisely, his father was originally from the village of Corlata, today's Suceava county. Ștefan Piersic arrived in the Cluj area, after graduating from the faculty, in 1925, being assigned as a military veterinarian to the Florești Artillery Regiment. It is interesting that Florin Piersic's father had literary concerns, writing poems. Later, he was transferred to Cernăuți, in 1941, where he was appointed chief veterinarian of the city, during the liberation of Northern Bucovina, by the Romanian troops. In 1944, with the advance of the Russian troops, the Piersic family retreated to Pitesti and then to Cluj, after the liberation of North-West Transylvania.

Back in his hometown, Florin Piersic attends and graduates the courses of Boys' High School number 3, in Cluj. Passionate about acting, the young man manages to enter the Theater and Cinematographic Art Institute in Bucharest (currently UNATC). As colleagues of his generation, he had, among others, Ioana Bulcă, Leopoldina Bălănuță or Anatolie Spânu. From his childhood spent sometimes in Cluj, sometimes in Cernăuți, Cajvana or Corlata, the actor's most shocking story is the one related to the death of his sister, Lucica, at the age of 15. She had jumped into the waters of the Prut to save a colleague from drowning, but she never managed to get out. “I remember the saddest day of my life, when my mother, tearing herself from my father's arm, rushed to the coffin in which our Lucica was, found after four days by some fishermen, floating on the merciless waters of the Prut. Her attempt to hug her was imprinted on my retina in a way I can't describe ”, testified Florin Piersic in his book “Life as a story”.

Debut with “The Kremlin Clock” and a brilliant career in the Romanian theater

Florin Piersic started his career at the Youth Theater in Piatra Neamț in 1958. He was assigned there after finishing the faculty, alongside Leopoldina Bălănuță, Gheorghe Popovici Poenaru, George Motoi, Nicoleta Sonea, Ica Matache and other young graduates. He debuted with the show “Kremlin Clock”.

“The theater season was opened with the play “Kremlin's Clock”. (…) The group of actors, mostly made up of young graduates of the “IL Caragiale” Theater and Cinematographic Art Institute from Bucharest, managed to present a quality show to the Piatra audience. The way the roles were interpreted demonstrated artistic sense and mastery”, headlined the “Flacăra” newspaper from Piatra Neamț, on April 29 1959, article cited by Valentin Andrei, from the “Carmen Saeculare” Center, in a post, “Remember Florin Piersic – TT actor”, on the day the actor turned 85.

At the same time, it was stated that, in particular, the young actor Florin Piersic had been noted for his special performance, becoming in a short time a favorite of the public in Piatra Neamț. He would stay only one season at Piatra Neamț, being then taken to the National Theater in Bucharest. He debuted on the Bucharest stage with the role of Richard in “The Disciple of the Devil” and with Alexei in “The Optimistic Tragedy”.

He followed a fulminant career in the theater world, on the Bucharest National stage and beyond, having numerous tours. Florin Piersic performed over 100 roles throughout his career.

Among the most memorable roles are those in the shows “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest”, “The Hens”, “Venetian Act”, “Strangers in the Night” or “Of Men and Mice”. “He was the actor from a non-human dough, from a demigod dough. He is the only actor who has always been able to fill a 2000-seat auditorium just because he is him. It doesn't matter that you can't hear it from up there, it doesn't matter that you can't see it if you're on the 3rd floor, it's something…”, said the actress Rodica Mandache on the show “The Round Table Question”

From “Ciulinii Bărăganului” to “Mărgelatu”, the macho vigilante of Romanian cinema

In addition to his theatrical career, Florin Piersic became one of the most beloved film actors. At the moment he is a true legend of Romanian cinema with memorable roles and characters that have fascinated entire generations. In cinematography, Florin Piersic debuted with the role of Tănase in the film “Ciulinii Bărăganului” (1958).

The role that established him, especially as a “Handsome” of the screen, a first June of Romanian cinema, was Harap Alb from the production “De-aș fi…..Harap Alb” from 1965 directed by Ion Popescu Gopo. He has followed an incredible path in his acting career with memorable characters and films. Florin Piersic impressed with his talent, a special charm and at the same time an extraordinary vitality. Among the most legendary roles of Florin Piersic are those in the series “Mărgelatu”, “Haiducii lui Şapte Cai” but also that of Pintea Viteazul.

“The cast included new names, which, in my opinion, immediately caught on with the public, among them Marga Barbu, Ion Dichiseanu, Ioana Pavelescu, George Moţoi, Ion Marinescu, Traian Stănescu, Constantin Codrescu and the famous stuntman Szabolcs Cseh(…) The film caught on with the public, but not only because of the exceptional cast. The idea of a western in the Pashoptist period was a very good one,” recalled Florin Piersic, about the films from the “Mărgelatu” series.

Piersic played in many historical films, becoming a symbol of masculinity, of the vigilante but at the same time of the charming rebel. There were also roles in detective films, such as George Martin's in “Black Sea Adventures”, but also roles in which he embodied fairy-tale characters.

“He was a handsome devil”

Florin Piersic was a conqueror off the set as well. He was coveted, loved and, some say, never missed an opportunity. He liked women a lot and they liked him.

He was married three times. The first wife was Tatiana Iekel, an actress at Teatrul Mic. He married her in the 60s and with her he had his first child, the actor Florin Piersic Jr. He divorced Tatiana Iekel and married the actress Anna Szeles, from Oradea. And with her he had a child, Daniel. In 1985, Anna Szeles filed for divorce and moved with their son to Hungary. The third wife is Anna Torok, from Cluj. Anna Torok is not an actress and married her in 1993. “I like Hungarian women, that's it,” specified Florin Piersic.

Florin Piersic had several loves. For example, in 1974, when she divorced, Tatiana Iakel testified that Florin Piersic was in love with all the partners he played with. One of his great loves was Otilia Barbath, but she also left him after he caught her cheating with a beautiful Acting student. At the same time, the relationship with Gabriela Werner was also known in the 70s. Gabriela Werner was 17 years younger than Florin Piersic. “He was a handsome devil. I was 26 years old, he was 43″, Gabriela Werner testified.