Jan Werich
Biography
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".
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (44)
Jan Werich: Když už člověk jednou je…
as Self (archive footage)
2021
Fimfarum - To the good of all
as (voice)
2011
Fimfarum 2
as Narrator
2006
Jan Werich's Fimfarum
as Vypravěč
2002
RumplCimprCampr
Book (Writing)
1997
When the Oak Leaves Fall
as Narrator (voice) (archive footage)
1991
Mean Barbara
as Narrator (voice) (archive footage)
1989
Pan Tau – der Film
as (archive footage)
1988
Jonáš a Melicharová
as (archive footage)
1986
Ruffiano and Sweeteeth
Book (Writing)
1984
The Three Veterans
Book (Writing)
1984
Přišel na večeři
Adaptation (Writing)
1981
Královna Koloběžka první
as Narrator (archive footage) (voice)
1981
Herecké Vánoce
as Jan Werich
1970
Assignment K
as Dr. Spiegler
1968
Czechoslovakia: Portrait of a Tragedy
as Self
1968
King and Women
as Jindřich VIII.
1967
The 25th Hour
as Sgt. Constantin
1967
Golem
Theatre Play (Writing)
1967
Pražská strašidla
as Narrator (voice)
1966
Magnetické vlny léčí
as léčitel Wohu
1965
The Dear Departed
as Dědeček
1964
Three veterans
Original Story (Writing)
1964
The Cry
as Narrator (voice)
1964
Uspořená libra
as Sam Adams
1963
Kočár nejsvětější svátosti
1963
Tears the World Can't See
as Fedor Akimič Rjebrotěsov
1963
When the Cat Comes
as Oliva
1963
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
as kapitán holandské lodi
1962
Italienisches Capriccio
as Don Marzio
1961
Medvěd
as statkář Grigorij Stěpanovič Smirnov
1961
Těžká Barbora
1960
Balada z hadrů
as strážný Holofern
1960
The Creation of the World
as Narrator (voice)
1958
Silvestr 1957
1957
To jsou Bratři v triku
as Himself
1957
The Good Soldier Schweik
as Narrator
1956
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Švejkova budějovická anabase
as Narrator (voice)
1956
Jaroslav Hasek's Exemplary Cinematograph
as Commentary (voice)
1956
Hudba z Marsu
as Nadšený divák
1955
Two Little Frosts
as Brave Frost (voice)
1955
Dog's Heads
1955
Once Upon a Time, There Was a King...
as král Já I.
1955
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Švejkovy nehody ve vlaku
as Narrator (voice)
1955
