Sergiu Nicolaescu

• Name — Sergiu Nicolaescu • Born — 13 April 1930 • Birthplace — Târgu Jiu, Kingdom of Romania • Birth Name — Sergiu Florin Nicolaescu • Died — 3 January 2013 • Place of death — Bucharest, Romania • Education — Politehnica University of Bucharest • Occupation — * Film director • actor • politician • Years Active — 1962–2013

Sergiu Nicolaescu's father was Nicola Pantilimon, an Aromanian who emigrated from Macedonia to Oltenia. Sergiu was born in Târgu Jiu, Gorj County, but grew up in Timișoara, where his family moved when he was 5 years old. He graduated from the Politehnica University of Bucharest as a mechanical engineer. After graduation he started to work as a camera operator. He was hard-working, well-organized, curious, intelligent and keen of learning. During these years he acquired many of the skills that have proved so useful when making his later movies.

• Illustration — Sergiu Nicolaescu with Ion Iliescu Nicolaescu started his political career during the 1989 Romanian Revolution. At the time the Revolution took place he was very well known and respected for his films, in Romania. He participated actively at the Romanian Revolution and his appearance and speech during the Revolution brought about coherence and clarity to the people who listened. In December 1989 he was received with a standing ovation (his name) from the crowd of hundreds of thousands of Romanians gathered in the heart of Bucharest after Nicolae Ceaușescu left power on 22 December 1989. He called for calm, and asked the crowd to listen to and support Ion Iliescu. A protégé of Ion Iliescu, Nicolaescu went on to play an important political role during the Revolution and was elected to the Romanian Senate in 1992 as a member of the Romanian Social Democratic Party. He left the party in April 2011, and then rejoined it after only two days. In 2005 Nicolaescu declared in an interview that he was not happy with his decision of going into politics. He felt that the politics took too much from his precious time and because of that he was not able to do as many films as before the Revolution.

Nicolaescu said that as a young boy, he practiced many sports like athletics, equestrianism, boxing, shooting, and rugby. According to the public information available, Nicolaescu was a very active person and he had a very disciplined lifestyle. Every day, even when he was 80 years old, he spent at least one hour doing physical activity (gymnastics, etc.). Although he was never a very passionate football fan, Nicolaescu stated in a 2011 interview for the Romanian daily sports newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor that capital-based team Steaua București was the dearest to him throughout time, even though he played rugby at Dinamo București. He explained this by saying that he liked the former Steaua legends Gheorghe Hagi, László Bölöni and Dan Petrescu more than Dinamo's players. Nicolaescu declared in the same interview that he also liked Ripensia Timișoara and Universitatea Craiova in their glory days, but not as much as Steaua. Nicolaescu was married three times. He did not have children and this was his main regret.

Nicolaescu had been diagnosed since 2000 with diverticulitis, a benign and chronic digestive condition that was acting up every couple of years. In January 2008 he underwent brain surgery twice due to an accident. At that time, he was 78 years old. The doctors did not give him any chance for success because at the time of his first brain operation he was completely paralyzed. He had to learn how to walk, speak and write again, and he successfully managed to do it after 3 months of intense physiotherapy and neurological exercise. Nevertheless, after this brain surgeries he said he changed dramatically: he started feeling his age and he started changing his behaviour (more impatient and irritable). In his last years the health problems made his life difficult. Yet he continued directing, acting and planning new films. He maintained intact his huge passion for filmmaking until the end of his life. On 26 December 2012 he was admitted with atrial fibrillation and a traumatised thorax with pulmonary contusion to the Elias Hospital in Bucharest. He complained of pain in the lower abdomen and loss of appetite. After the clinical examination, the doctors concluded that he was suffering from an acute episode of diverticulitis, and he received treatment for this condition. During the treatment, Nicolaescu's condition improved, but the intestinal transit was not functional and the blood work was still unsatisfactory. The doctors opted for an exploratory laparoscopy, which led to the discovery of an acute perforated appendicitis complicated with peritonitis. After undergoing surgery, Nicolaescu developed respiratory complications, leading to acute respiratory failure within 48 hours. He entered into cardiac arrest on 3 January 2013, and could not be resuscitated by the hospital staff. He was pronounced dead at 8:20 AM GMT+2. His body was cremated on 5 January 2013, according to his wishes.

• Dacii (1966) • The Last Roman (1968, directed by Robert Siodmak, Second unit director) • Leatherstocking Tales (co-directors Pierre Gaspard-Huit and Jean Dréville, TV miniseries, 1968) • The Deerslayer • The Last of the Mohicans • Adventures in Ontario Lacul din Ontario Das Fort am Biberfluß • The Prairie • Michael the Brave (1971) • Then I Sentenced Them All to Death (1972) • Cu mâinile curate (1972) • Der Seewolf The Sea-Wolf (co-director Wolfgang Staudte, TV miniseries, 1972) • A Police Superintendent Accuses (1973) • Ultimul cartuș (1973) • Nemuritorii (1974) • Deux ans de vacances (1974) (co-directors Gilles Grangier and Claude Desailly, TV miniseries, 1975) • Zile fierbinți (1975) • Burning Daylight (miniseries) (co-director Wolfgang Staudte, TV miniseries, 1975) • The Punishment (1976) • Războiul independenței (Pentru patrie) (co-directors Doru Năstase, Gheorghe Vitanidis) (1977) • Accident (1977) • Revenge (1978) • Uncle Marin, the Billionaire (1979) • Mihail, câine de circ (1979) • The last night of love (film) (1980) • Capcana mercenarilor (1981) • Duelul (1981) • Întîlnirea (1982) • Cucerirea Angliei Guillaume le Conquérant William the Conqueror (co-director Gilles Grangier, TV miniseries, 1982) • Viraj periculos (1983) • The Ring (1984) • Căutătorii de aur (1984) • Ciuleandra (1985) • Ziua Z (1985) • The Last Assault (1985) • François Villon – Poetul vagabond (TV miniseries, 1987) • Mircea (1989) • Coroana de foc (1990) • Începutul adevărului (1994) • Punctul zero (1996) • Triunghiul morții (1999) • Orient Express (2004) • Cincisprezece (film) (2005) • Supraviețuitorul (2008 film) (2008) • Carol I (2009) • Poker (2010 film) (2010) • Ultimul corupt din România (2012)

• Dacii (1966) – Marcus – Roman Centurion • Michael the Brave (1971) – Ottoman Vizier Selim Pasha • Then I Sentenced Them All to Death (1972) – Colonel von Eck • Cu mâinile curate (1972) – Tudor Miclovan • Felix and Otilia (1972) – Pascalopol • A Police Superintendent Accuses (1973) – Tudor Moldovan • Ultimul cartuș (1973) – Comisarul Miclovan • Dragostea începe vineri (1974) • Nemuritorii (1974) – Captain Andrei • The Doom (1976) – Prosecutor Tudor Marian • Roșcovanul (1976) – Sentinel at Școala de Corecție • Zile fierbinți (1976) – Mihai Coman • Accident (1977) – Major Petria • Pentru patrie (1977) – King Carol of Romania • Revenge (1978) – Tudor Moldovan • Drumuri în cumpana (1978) – Dobre • Mihail, câine de circ (1979) • The last night of love (film) (1980) – Lawyer/Major Nicolau • Capcana mercenarilor (1981) – Major Tudor Andrei • Duelul (1981) – Comisarul Moldovan • Wilhelm Cuceritorul (1982) • Întîlnirea (1982) – Filip • Viraj periculos (1983) – Colonel Andrei Petria • The Ring (1984) – Tudor Andrei • Ziua Z (1985) • The Last Assault (1985) – General Marinescu • Mircea (1989) – King Mircea the Elder • Coroana de foc (1990) – Capt. Gorun • Începutul adevărului (1994) • Triunghiul morții (1999) – General Averescu • Orient Express (2004) – Andrei Morudzi • Poveste de cartier (2008) - Aristide • Supraviețuitorul (2008 film) (2008) – Comisarul • Carol I (2009) – Carol I • Lupu (2013) – The old man (final film role)

The authorities additionally record the headings Sergiu Nicolaiescu and Sergiu Florin Nicolaescu. His recorded language was Romanian. His recorded confession was Romanian Orthodox Church. He married Gabriela Nicolaescu.