A life dedicated to the stage/ Actor Koço Qëndro celebrates his 99th birthday

2026-05-15 15:15:00, Aktualitet CNA

A life dedicated to the stage/ Actor Koço Qëndro celebrates his 99th

The great Albanian actor, Koço Qëndro, celebrates his 99th birthday today. An artist of extraordinary proportions, whom Korça and Albania are lucky to have not only as an actor, but also as an honored citizen, who carries with him the history of Korça and Albanian art, and who remains one of the greatest icons of Albanian theater and humor.

A life dedicated to the stage/ Actor Koço Qëndro celebrates his 99th

Born in the village of Senicë, Delvinë, Koço Qëndro experienced a youth quite different from today's generations. During the war years, while still a teenager, he became a partisan and participated in the fighting in the Korça region. Although his dream was to become a teacher, life led him to another path, that of art, where he would leave an indelible mark.

A life dedicated to the stage/ Actor Koço Qëndro celebrates his 99th

Around the beginning of the 1960s, he stood out as an actor on the Maliqi Stage and then joined the Korça Theater troupe, never to leave the stage again. With dozens of roles in theater, stage and cinema, Koço Qëndro became one of the most beloved figures for the Albanian public.

A life dedicated to the stage/ Actor Koço Qëndro celebrates his 99th

Among the roles that remain unforgettable in the public's memory are Sir Andrew Eguichik in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" and Harpagon in Moliere's "Miserable Man", characters that he brought to the stage with unique mastery. Even at the age of 92, he brought "Miserable Man" back to the Korça stage, proving that art had no age for him.

In cinematography, he has left his mark with character interpretations that complete his portrait as a multifaceted actor. In the film "Përballimi" (1976), he stands out in the role of Sefedin (the mill owner), authentically bringing the typology of the merchant of the time. His joke in this film: "Oh, don't notice that we are uneducated fools, but I wanted to know, do you take us for fools?", is often cited as one of his most popular passages.

A life dedicated to the stage/ Actor Koço Qëndro celebrates his 99th

He also made a prominent contribution to the film "Vendimi" (1984) in the role of Aleks Xinxës, as well as to the films "I teti në bronz" (1970) and "Vitet e para" (1965). Each of his passages in the film is characterized by a rare naturalness and a plasticity that gave life to each character, whether dramatic or comic.

In his stories, Koço Qëndro recalled with great emotion his collaboration with great names in Albanian theater, such as Piro Mani, Dhimitër Orgocka, Pandi Raidhi and Sokrat Mio, artists who marked the history of the Albanian stage.

A life dedicated to the stage/ Actor Koço Qëndro celebrates his 99th

Even today, on his 99th birthday, Koçoja speaks fondly of the theater, the public, and the golden years of Albanian art. He remains a symbol of dedication, simplicity, and love for the stage.

A life dedicated to the stage/ Actor Koço Qëndro celebrates his 99th

On behalf of the Korça District Council, Koço Qëndro was awarded the title "Ambassador of the District", in recognition of his extraordinary contribution to theater and cinematography and for passing on artistic values ??between generations./CNA