The "Ski" surname in American Movies

Have you ever noticed that in American movies people with a "Ski" surname (Zalinski, Kowalski) they are always some sort of side character or comic relief. Like a clumsly scientist or mooseheaded strongman. I understand that "Bondski, James Bondski" just doesn't sound as cool and I'm not accusing Hollywood of some anit-Polish agenda, but isn't that interesting? I know, in "The Break Up" Vince Vaughn is constantly wearing Polish stuff and has the last name Grobowski but that may be the sole exception, and that's a comedy, he's not an action hero or a spy or anything. Maybe Anglo-Saxon names like Bruce Wayne and Indiana Jones are just more pleasing to American ears. Plus could you imagine this line of dialogue: "You know it's strange, Superman is never in the same room as Clark Kentowski?"

What about the Big Lebowski?
I've never seen it by the way.


Welsh, even though there is no J in Welsh.

Oh, yeah, I forgot about Lebowski. But that isn't a heroic character either. Thanks.

There was Stanley Kowalski in "A Streetcar Named Desire" played by young Marlon Brando. Stellaaaaaa!



PS. Big Lebowski rulz!

Another good point. I had forgotten about that as well. Thanks.

The 'ski' I remember most is 'Kowalski' in 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea'. (Not sure if he was in the movie version)

A name also used in Vanishing Point. I only know of this film from the Primal Scream song named after it.

No. What movie?

snow man is in town!!!!

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maybe the slowskis?

lol


Hey hey hey!!

Hurumph,James Bond...American Movie....Hurumph pish and piffle :)
Must admit though ,youve reminded me of the old BBC sketch show,"the fast show",they had a running skit,parodied hollywood crime movies of the 30s/40s, " The Unpronouncables" loads of cops,never getting to the end of each others or barkeep/newsboys/whatevers names because they were all long zcisziezyzchiekszowoskii type names :)

there was also Warszawski name unsed in a show but i can't recall what it was.. it was a chick's name. also the main characters in the deer hunter have polish last names.


you should.. it's good..

Starski & Hutch?
Okay, so if it ends in -y it doesn't count?

Not a 'ski',

Polish-American detective show - Banacek

has anybody ever seen "the bar fly"? it is about Bukowski

Russian names,hence the big onion domed churches and katusya being played at the wedding

oopsy.. damn, you're right.. it's been a while since i've seen it.

The dimwitted Rick Moranis character in "Honey I shrunk the kids" is named Wayne Szalinski.

"Hack" - tv series - main character named Mike Olshansky played by David Morse

my wife always points out that in some American sit-coms or movies the bad guys always seem to have Polish surnames, whats with that?