
Jan Werich
- Date of Birth: 1905-02-06
- Date of Death: 1980-10-31
- Place of Birth: Praha - Československo
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 l... 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".

Jan Werich's Fimfarum
Animation, Family, Fantasy • 2002 November

The Emperor and the Golem
Comedy, Fantasy, Horror • 1952 January

The Cry
Drama • 1964 February

The Creation of the World
Animation, Comedy, Family • 1958 April

The World Belongs to Us
Comedy • 1937 July

Fimfarum - To the good of all
Animation • 2011 February

Pan Tau
Family • 1970 December

Two Little Frosts
Animation, Comedy • 1955 April

Magnetické vlny léčí
TV Movie, Comedy • 1965 December

Pan Tau – der Film
Family, Fantasy, Comedy • 1988 November