Pjetër Gjoka, (1912-1982), actor, People’s Artist, passed away in Tirana. He was born in Ulcinj. He debuted in the amateur theater of Shkodra in 1936. In 1945 he joined the troupe of the People’s Theater. Among his first roles is that of Shpend Gjeto Plaku in the drama “Halili and Hajrija” by Kolë Jakovo (1950). His most successful roles are: engineer Zabelini (“Orët e Kremlinit” (Kremlin Hours) by N. Pogodin, 1957), Claudius (“Hamlet” by Shakespeare, 1960), Dogsboruja (“Arturo Ui” by B. Brecht, 1971), Piloja (“Shënomëni dhe mua ” by H. Minarolli, 1976). His most accomplished artistic role remains the character of the priest in “Gjenerali i ushtrisë së vdekur ” (The general of the dead army) (1972), a dramatization of Ismail Kadare’s novel. Pjetër Gjoka created figures on stage with a rich spiritual world, with psychological struggle, in an effort for identity and individuality. He also contrinuted in cinematography, performing in several films, such as “Tana”, “Në prag të lirisë” (On the verge of freedom). (In the photo: Pjeter Gjoka)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 1, Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 854.
Photo: © https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pjet%C3%ABr_Gjoka
Graphic processing: AHCF
