Lajos Mezey(1918-2006)

On his father's side, he comes from a Calvinist noble family. His father was a high officer in the army. His mother was born in Austria, in a catholic citizen family. He studied at military schools. After graduation he went to the military air force academy. Two years later he left the institute, and began to work at the Hungarian commercial airlines "MALÉRT", as a steward. During a flight he met with the director of the Hungarian National Theater, who advised him, to be an actor. He began his studies at Kálmán Rózsahegyi Official Actor Scool, and he got his diploma in 1939. He began to act in "Víg" Theater in Budapest, than played in the Stagione Theater Eger. He got roles in a couple of films. ("Katyi", "Too Late", "Yellow Casino", "A plane didn't come back" In 1944 he was ordered to serve by the air force in the war against the Sowietunion. Later he fought against the Russians in the castle of Buda. In 13. February 1945 he was captured, and transported to Astrachan, as a war prisoner. He created with other artists in the lager a theater. In the autumn of 1945 he got back his freedom, and could come back to Budapest. From 1946 he worked for the "Csokonai" Theater in Debrecen, than from 1949 for the "Kisfaludy" Színház Györ, from 1951 in the Hungarian Army Theater, from 1955 for the National Theater in Szeged, from 1957 for the "Déryné" Theater, from 1961 the "Katona József" Színház, Kecskemét, from 1978 "József Attila Színház" in Budapest, and from 1981 in the National Theater in Budapest. In his last years he played in a couple of roles in the Studió K. Színház. In the Hungarian Theater Archive he is recorded in 123 plays. His main roles are: Romeo, Peer Gynt, Petruchio, Alonso, Courvoisier, Wurm, Oberon, Ádám, Konstantin, Peacock, Krell, Mátyás Király, Varrius, Preaster Hele, Karfunkerl, and many others. He won in 1978 a Honour prize from the city of Kecskemét. He played in more than 70 films.