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The culinary community is mourning one of their own.
Mariusz Komenda—who appeared on MasterChef Poland season eight—has died following a brief battle with a brain tumor, the show’s broadcast company TVN confirmed. He was 44.
“It is with great sadness that we received the news of Mariusz Komenda’s death,” TVN wrote in a recent social media statement, which was translated from Polish. “Mariusz was part of the MasterChef family. We will remember him as a man full of passion, energy, and a love for cooking.”
Komenda competed on the eighth season of MasterChef Poland in 2019, later making several appearances in subsequent seasons.
“Over the years, he returned to us, sharing his knowledge, experience and passion for the kitchen,” the statement continued. “It is hard to find words that could express our sorrow. Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones and everyone who had the chance to know him. Mariusz, we will miss you very much.”
In January, Komenda was diagnosed with glioma, a malignant brain tumor, sharing in a March 25 Instagram post that he received his diagnosis after being admitted to the hospital with a “suspected stroke.”
“At the beginning of January 2026, my life came to a halt in an instant,” he wrote alongside the post. “I thought it was a temporary crisis. Unfortunately, the reality turned out to be much more difficult.”
In a separate post, he noted how “that moment completely changed my life and the lives of my loved ones. Since then, I have been fighting every day for my health and a return to normalcy.”
Instagram/Mariusz Komenda
Before his death, the TV star underwent two major head surgeries, Polish outlet Do Rzeczy reported, along with radiotherapy and intensive rehabilitation. The outlet also shared that months before he received his diagnosis, Komenda opened a restaurant with his son in Poland in April 2025.
Following his death, the creators of MasterChef spoke to Komenda’s impact on the culinary industry, as well as those who knew him.
“Mariusz was part of the MasterChef family,” they shared in a statement to Do Rzeczy. “We will remember him as a man full of passion, energy, and a love for cooking.”
“It’s difficult to find words to express our grief. We share in his grief with his family, loved ones, and everyone who had the opportunity to know him,” the statement continued. “Mariusz, we will miss you very much.”
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