Acting
Jan Werich
Between 1916 and 1924, Werich attended "reálné gymnasium" (equivalent to high school) in Křemencova Street in Prague (where his future business partner, Jiří Voskovec, also studied). He studied law at the Charles University Law School from 1924 to 1927, from which he made an early departure to begin his artistic career and forge one of the most important partnerships of his life. For more than 10 years he worked in theatre Jiří Voskovec and Jaroslav Ježek. Their partnership was a platform for their numerous left-wing political satires, most notably in the Osvobozené divadlo (Liberated Theatre). The trio's work took inspiration from Dada, with its love of the absurd, a reaction against bourgeois values and the horrors of World War I. In 1955 he begun working in cinema, and 1960s were a peak in his actor career. From the creation of the ABC Theatre he moved to the City Theatres of Prague and then to the Musical Theatre of Karlin and Nusle. Werich was originally cast by producer Harry Saltzman to play Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice. Upon his arrival at the Pinewood set, both producer Albert R. Broccoli and director Lewis Gilbert felt that he was a poor choice, resembling a "poor, benevolent Santa Claus".
Filmography
Cecílie
Film · 2026
Jan Werich: Když už člověk jednou je…
Film · 2021
Voskovec & Werich, paralelní osudy
Series · 2012
Fimfarum - To the good of all
Film · 2011
Fimfarum 2
Film · 2006
Tři strážníci
Series · 2005
Jan Werich's Fimfarum
Film · 2002
When the Oak Leaves Fall
Film · 1991
Mean Barbara
Film · 1989
Pan Tau – der Film
Film · 1988
Jonáš a Melicharová
Film · 1986
Echoes of the Blue Room
Film · 1983
Královna Koloběžka první
Film · 1981
Herecké Vánoce
Film · 1970
Pan Tau
Series · 1970
Assignment K
Film · 1968
Czechoslovakia: Portrait of a Tragedy
Film · 1968
Co tomu říkáte, pane Werich?
Series · 1968
Přiložte životopis
Series · 1968
Klapzubova jedenáctka
Series · 1968
The 25th Hour
Film · 1967
King and Women
Film · 1967
Pražská strašidla
Film · 1966
Magnetické vlny léčí
Film · 1965
The Dear Departed
Film · 1964
The Cry
Film · 1964
When the Cat Comes
Film · 1963
Uspořená libra
Film · 1963
Kočár nejsvětější svátosti
Film · 1963
Tears the World Can't See
Film · 1963
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
Film · 1962
Medvěd
Film · 1961
Italienisches Capriccio
Film · 1961
Těžká Barbora
Film · 1960
Balada z hadrů
Film · 1960
The Creation of the World
Film · 1958
Silvestr 1957
Film · 1957
To jsou Bratři v triku
Film · 1957
The Good Soldier Svejk
Film · 1956
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Švejkova budějovická anabase
Film · 1956
Jaroslav Hasek's Exemplary Cinematograph
Film · 1956
Two Little Frosts
Film · 1955
Once Upon a Time, There Was a King...
Film · 1955
Hudba z Marsu
Film · 1955
Dog's Heads
Film · 1955
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Švejkovy nehody ve vlaku
Film · 1955
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Z Hatvanu na hranice Haliče
Film · 1954
Pouť noci silvestrovské
Film · 1953
Večer s Jaroslavem Haškem
Film · 1953
The Emperor and the Golem
Film · 1951
The Golden Fish
Film · 1951
Pekařův císař
Film · 1951
Císařův pekař
Film · 1951
The Fall of Berlin
Film · 1950
Crisis
Film · 1939
The World Belongs to Us
Film · 1937
Heave-Ho!
Film · 1934
Here in Kocourkov
Film · 1934
Your Money or Your Life
Film · 1932
Powder and Petrol
Film · 1932