Jan Werich
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1905-02-06
Day of Death
1980-10-31 (75 years old)
Place of Birth
Praha - Československo
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".
Known For
Acting
(2021)
Jan Werich: Když už člověk jednou je…
as Self (archive footage)
(2011)
Fimfarum - To the good of all
as (voice)
(2006)
Fimfarum 2
as Narrator
(2002)
Jan Werich's Fimfarum
as Vypravěč
(1991)
When the Oak Leaves Fall
as Narrator (voice) (archive footage)
(1989)
Mean Barbara
as Narrator (voice) (archive footage)
(1988)
Pan Tau – der Film
as (archive footage)
(1986)
Jonáš a Melicharová
as (archive footage)
(1981)
Královna Koloběžka první
as Narrator (archive footage) (voice)
(1968)
Assignment K
as Dr. Spiegler
(1968)
(1967)
The 25th Hour
as Sgt. Constantin
(1967)
King and Women
as Jindřich VIII.
(1966)
Pražská strašidla
as Narrator (voice)
(1965)
Magnetické vlny léčí
as léčitel Wohu
(1964)
The Cry
as Narrator (voice)
(1964)
The Dear Departed
as Dědeček
(1963)
When the Cat Comes
as Oliva
(1963)
Tears the World Can't See
as Fedor Akimič Rjebrotěsov
(1963)
Uspořená libra
as Sam Adams
(1963)
(1962)
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
as kapitán holandské lodi
(1961)
Italienisches Capriccio
as Don Marzio
(1961)
Medvěd
as statkář Grigorij Stěpanovič Smirnov
(1960)
Balada z hadrů
as strážný Holofern
(1960)
Těžká Barbora
as druhý žoldnéř
(1958)
The Creation of the World
as Narrator (voice)
(1957)
To jsou Bratři v triku
as Himself
(1957)
(1956)
Jaroslav Hasek's Exemplary Cinematograph
as Commentary (voice)
(1956)
The Good Soldier Schweik
as Narrator
(1956)
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Švejkova budějovická anabase
as Narrator (voice)
(1955)
Once Upon a Time, There Was a King...
as král Já I.
(1955)
Hudba z Marsu
as Nadšený divák
(1955)
(1955)
Two Little Frosts
as Brave Frost (voice)
(1955)
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Švejkovy nehody ve vlaku
as Narrator (voice)
(1954)
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Z Hatvanu na hranice Haliče
as Narrator (voice)
(1953)
(1952)
The Emperor and the Golem
as Emperor Rudolf II / Matheus Kotrba, The Baker
(1951)
The Golden Fish
as Narrator (voice)
(1950)
The Fall of Berlin
as Hermann Goering
(1939)
(1937)
The World Belongs to Us
as kamelot
(1934)
(1934)
Here in Kocourkov
as Ferdinand Kaplan
(1932)
Your Money or Your Life
as Tonda
(1932)
Crew
(2011)
Fimfarum - To the good of all
Original Story
(2006)
Fimfarum 2
Original Story
(2002)
Jan Werich's Fimfarum
Original Story
(1997)
RumplCimprCampr
Author
(1991)
(1989)
Mean Barbara
Book
(1984)
(1984)
(1981)
(1967)
Golem
Theatre Play
(1967)
King and Women
Adaptation
(1964)
Tři veteráni
Original Story
(1963)
Uspořená libra
Adaptation, Screenplay
(1963)
Kočár nejsvětější svátosti
Screenplay
(1960)
Těžká Barbora
Writer
(1960)
Balada z hadrů
Theatre Play
(1956)
The Good Soldier Schweik
Adaptation
(1955)
Once Upon a Time, There Was a King...
Dialogue, Story, Screenplay
(1953)
The Secret of Blood
Screenstory
(1952)
The Emperor and the Golem
Creative Producer, Screenplay, Story
(1951)
The Golden Fish
Screenplay, Story
(1937)
The World Belongs to Us
Theatre Play, Screenplay, Lyricist
(1936)
The Golem
Theatre Play
(1934)
Heave-Ho!
Screenplay, Story
(1934)
Here in Kocourkov
Lyricist
(1932)
Your Money or Your Life
Screenplay, Story
(1932)
Powder and Petrol
Screenplay, Story, Producer