Ndrek Luca

Ndrek Luca was an Albanian film and theatre actor and director, who was born in Xhan, Dukagjin, Shkodër, Albania in 1927. He started his theatre activity with the amateur groups in Shkodër in 1929. In 1947 he started to work as a full-time actor in the National Theatre of Albania after his debut in the Army Theatre. His first role was in Molière's Tartuffe. He acted in around 90 roles during his career and he was active for around 52 years, acting even when he was almost completely blind. Some of his most acclaimed roles were those of Kharitonov, Shpend Gjeta, The Old Man, MacDonald, Miller, Zabeliku, Klaudi, King Lear, Gjini and Ali Pasha of Gucia. He left indelible marks in Kosovar and Yugoslavian films as well: Uka i Bjeshkëve të nemuna, Buka, Etja, Trimi, Era e Lisi, Kur Pranvera vonohet, Të ngujuarit, E shtëna në ajër, Përroi vërshues, Migjeni, Gjurmët e bardha, Dorotej, and Lepuri me 5 këmbë, among others. He also directed some plays and translated some works from French and Russian. In 1961 he was one of the first four actors who was given the title of People's Artist of Albania. He died in Tirana on January 13, 1993.