Mariusz Komenda, best known for his appearance on “MasterChef Poland,” has died. He was 44 years old.
The chef, who reached the semi-finals of the show’s eighth season in 2019, died on Wednesday, months after being diagnosed with a brain tumor.
Polish media outlet roland-gazeta.pl, based in Komenda’s hometown of Środa Śląska, was the first to report the news.
TVN, the channel that broadcasts “MasterChef Poland,” confirmed Komenda’s death in a statement on social media, according to People, which cited Polish media.
“It is with great sadness that we learned of the news of the death of Mariusz Komenda,” we read in the press release. “Mariusz was part of the ‘MasterChef’ family. We will remember him as a man full of passion, energy and love of cooking.”
The “MasterChef” creators also paid tribute to Komenda in a similar statement, echoing TVN’s remarks that he was “part of the ‘MasterChef’ family” and would be remembered as a man full of “passion, energy and love for cooking,” according to People.
“It is difficult to find words to express our grief,” the statement continued. “We share his grief with his family, his loved ones and all those who had the opportunity to know him. Mariusz, we will miss you very much.”
Komenda shared details of his diagnosis in March on a fundraising page linked to his Instagram account, revealing that he had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in early January after being hospitalized for a “suspected stroke.”
“I thought this was just a temporary crisis. Unfortunately, the reality turned out to be much darker,” he wrote in a statement translated from Polish. “From that moment on, the hardest fight of my life began. »
Towards the end of January, Komenda was admitted to a Warsaw hospital, where he underwent several “urgent and life-saving” surgeries, including one to remove the tumor from his right thalamus and another to remove some of his skill in order to “relieve the pressure and give him a chance to continue fighting.”
Subsequent tests revealed other cancerous lesions in his body, and Komenda said he was “undergoing neurorehabilitation” in hopes of regaining his “physical function.”
He explained that he had set up the fundraising page to help cover the costs of his treatment and recovery, which he said were “huge and, unfortunately, beyond my means”.
Before his death, Komenda opened the Father & Son restaurant with his son in April 2025 in his hometown of Środa Śląska, according to People.
Gn entert
