TIRANA, February 2 – Sulejman Pitarka, a renowned Albanian stage and screen actor, was born in Dibër on February 2, 1924.

His first stage experiences were occasional. During military service from 1945 to 1947, he joined Durrës’s amateur theatre movement, where his family had moved when he was three. After finishing high school, he worked in a bank. He joined the People’s Theatre in 1951 and stood out in the comedy “Prefekti” (The Prefect) and the drama “Halili dhe Hajrija” (Halili and Hajrija).

Pitarka performed in 70 theatre roles and 20 film roles. He also made his mark as the author of the drama “Familja e peshkatarit” (The Fisherman’s Family).

In the 1950s and 1960s, he appeared in three Shakespeare plays: “Otello” (Othello), “Gratë gazmore të Uindsorit” (The Merry Wives of Windsor), and “Hamleti” (Hamlet). He gained acclaim in Albanian dramas such as “Gjenerali i ushtrisë së vdekur” (The General of the Dead Army), “Epoka para gjyqit” (The Era Before the Trial), “Karavidhet” (The Crayfish), and “Zonja nga qyteti” (The Lady from the City). His last theatre role was in the 2005 drama “Pjata e drunjtë” (The Wooden Plate), a widely loved performance.

Pitarka is remembered for his film roles, including Zheleznov in “Ballë për ballë” (Face to Face, 1979), Xha Avdiu in “Gjeneral gramafoni” (General Gramophone, 1978), Xha Lipe in “Pas gjurmëve” (Following the Traces, 1978), and the general in “Gunat përmbi tela” (Guns Over Wires, 1977). Critics praised his original portrayals.

He received the honorary titles “Artist i Popullit” (People’s Artist) and “Mjeshtër i Madh” (Great Master) for his contributions.

Pitarka passed away on March 24, 2007.

/a.p./