Guido Lorraine

Guido Lorraine (2 September 1912 – 31 December 2009) was a Polish-born actor, musician and singer, known primarily for his roles in war films. He was also sometimes known by the stage name Guy Borucki. Lorraine appeared in twenty-eight films during his career, as well as many theatre productions.

Lorraine was born Gwidon Alfred Gottlieb in present-day Kraków, Poland in 1912. He studied at the School of Foreign Trade in Lwów (Lviv), where he sang in restaurants to earn money. He learned to play the accordion and piano as a child.

Lorraine founded a military theatre group during World War II. He is credited as the first singer to perform the song, "Red Poppy Flowers of Monte Cassino", in public.

He adopted the pseudonym Guy Borucki after World War II and moved to London. He appeared on BBC radio, television and film. His film credits during the era included Hotel Sahara in 1951, 1955's The Colditz Story and Blue Murder at St Trinian's in 1957. He also starred in a number of musical comedies and other British productions during the 1950s.

He arrived in Australia in 1959 with the performance of a musical operetta Grab Me a Gondola in which he had the main role, and made his home in Melbourne to pursue his acting career. Much of his career centred on entertainment for the Polish community living in Australia, including a series of theatre performances, revues and cabarets. He also starred in his own television show in 1960 called Tea for Two, a musical programme on Melbourne station HSV-7.

Guido Lorraine died in Melbourne, Australia, on 31 December 2009, at the age of 97.