Jan Werich
Acting
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
Acting58
movieJan Werich: Když už člověk jednou je…
2021
Self (archive footage)
movieFimfarum 2
2006
Narrator
movieJan Werich's Fimfarum
2002
Vypravěč
movieWhen the Oak Leaves Fall
1991
Narrator (voice) (archive footage)
movieMean Barbara
1989
Narrator (voice) (archive footage)
moviePan Tau – der Film
1988
(archive footage)
Jonáš a Melicharová
1986
(archive footage)
Královna Koloběžka první
1981
Narrator (archive footage) (voice)
Herecké Vánoce
1970
Jan Werich
movieAssignment K
1968
Dr. Spiegler
King and Women
1967
Jindřich VIII.
movieThe 25th Hour
1967
Sgt. Constantin
Pražská strašidla
1966
Narrator (voice)
movieMagnetické vlny léčí
1965
léčitel Wohu
movieThe Cry
1964
Narrator (voice)
movieUspořená libra
1963
Sam Adams
movieTears the World Can't See
1963
Fedor Akimič Rjebrotěsov
movieThe Fabulous Baron Munchausen
1962
kapitán holandské lodi
movieItalienisches Capriccio
1961
Don Marzio
movieMedvěd
1961
statkář Grigorij Stěpanovič Smirnov
movieBalada z hadrů
1960
strážný Holofern
movieThe Creation of the World
1958
Narrator (voice)
movieThe Good Soldier Svejk
1956
Narrator
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Švejkova budějovická anabase
1956
Narrator (voice)
movieJaroslav Hasek's Exemplary Cinematograph
1956
Commentary (voice)
movieHudba z Marsu
1955
Nadšený divák
movieTwo Little Frosts
1955
Brave Frost (voice)
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Švejkovy nehody ve vlaku
1955
Narrator (voice)
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Z Hatvanu na hranice Haliče
1954
Narrator (voice)
movieThe Emperor and the Golem
1951
Emperor Rudolf II / Matheus Kotrba, The Baker
The Golden Fish
1951
Narrator (voice)
movieThe Fall of Berlin
1950
Goering
Here in Kocourkov
1934
Ferdinand Kaplan
Writing29
movieFimfarum - To the good of all
2011
Original Story
movieFimfarum 2
2006
Original Story
movieJan Werich's Fimfarum
2002
Original Story
King and Women
1967
Adaptation
Golem
1967
Theatre Play
movieThree veterans
1964
Original Story
movieUspořená libra
1963
Adaptation, Screenplay
movieKočár nejsvětější svátosti
1963
Screenplay
Těžká Barbora
1960
Theatre Play
movieBalada z hadrů
1960
Theatre Play
movieThe Good Soldier Svejk
1956
Adaptation
movieOnce Upon a Time, There Was a King...
1955
Dialogue, Story, Screenplay
movieThe Secret of Blood
1953
Screenstory
movieThe Emperor and the Golem
1951
Creative Producer, Story, Screenplay
The Golden Fish
1951
Story, Screenplay
movieThe World Belongs to Us
1937
Theatre Play, Lyricist, Screenplay
movieThe Golem
1936
Theatre Play
movieHeave-Ho!
1934
Screenplay, Story
movieYour Money or Your Life
1932
Screenplay, Story
moviePowder and Petrol
1932
Story, Screenplay
Production1
moviePowder and Petrol
1932
Producer