Remembering Bruno O'Ya

Bruno Oja was born on February 12, 1933 in Tallinn, Estonia. Known by his stage name Bruno O’Ya the Estonian lived for many years in Poland and was an actor, writer, singer, jazz musician, athlete. Since the 1960s he lived in Wroclaw, where he, among others was a member of the Creative Union Club. In Poland he enjoyed great popularity for his role as Ensign in the Polish western “Słotwiny wolf echoes” (1968) and for the role of Józwy Butrym-legless in “The Deluge” (1974) directed by Jerzy Hoffman and nominated for an Academy Award. He also starred in such Polish films and TV series as “Kopernik” (1972), “Kazimierz Wielki” (1976), “Rycerze i rabusie” (1984), “Przyłbice i kaptury”(1985), “07 zgłoś się” (1976-1987), “Pan Kleks w kosmosie” (1989). His only Euro-western film was the DEFA western “Fatal Error” (1969) in the role of Hank Jackson. He also appeared in the TV series “Ucieczka z krainy złota” (1977) based on the Jack London story. Bruno died in Tartu, Estonia of cancer on October 9, 2002. Today we remember Bruno O’Ya on what would have been his 80^th birthday.