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".
Acted in 32
2010s
- 2011
Fimfarum - To the good of all
(voice)
2000s
- 2002
Jan Werich's Fimfarum
Vypravěč
1980s
- 1988
Pan Tau – der Film
(archive footage)
- 1983
Echoes of the Blue Room
Movie
1970s
- 1970
Pan Tau
TV
1960s
- 1968
Assignment K
Dr. Spiegler
Klapzubova jedenáctka
TV
- 1967
- 1965
Magnetické vlny léčí
léčitel Wohu
- 1963
Uspořená libra
Sam Adams
Kočár nejsvětější svátosti
Movie
Tears the World Can't See
Fedor Akimič Rjebrotěsov
When the Cat Comes
Oliva
- 1962
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
kapitán holandské lodi
- 1961
Italienisches Capriccio
Don Marzio
Medvěd
statkář Grigorij Stěpanovič Smirnov
- 1960
Balada z hadrů
strážný Holofern
1950s
- 1956
Jaroslav Hasek's Exemplary Cinematograph
Commentary (voice)
- 1955
Hudba z Marsu
Nadšený divák
Two Little Frosts
Brave Frost (voice)
Dog's Heads
Movie
Once Upon a Time, There Was a King...
král Já I.
- 1951
The Emperor and the Golem
Emperor Rudolf II / Matheus Kotrba, The Baker
Pekařův císař
Rudolf II. / Matěj Kotrba
Císařův pekař
Rudolf II. / Matěj Kotrba
- 1950
The Fall of Berlin
Goering
1930s
- 1939
Crisis
Movie
- 1937
The World Belongs to Us
kamelot
- 1934
Here in Kocourkov
Ferdinand Kaplan
Heave-Ho!
Movie
- 1932
Your Money or Your Life
Tonda
Powder and Petrol
Movie
Wrote 25
2010s
- 2011
Fimfarum - To the good of all
Original Story
2000s
- 2006
Fimfarum 2
Original Story
- 2002
Jan Werich's Fimfarum
Original Story
1990s
- 1997
RumplCimprCampr
Book
- 1991
When the Oak Leaves Fall
Book
1980s
- 1989
Mean Barbara
Book
- 1984
Ruffiano and Sweeteeth
Book
The Three Veterans
Book
1960s
- 1968
Přiložte životopis
Screenplay
- 1964
Three veterans
Original Story
- 1963
Uspořená libra
Adaptation, Screenplay
Kočár nejsvětější svátosti
Screenplay
- 1960
Balada z hadrů
Theatre Play
1950s
- 1956
The Good Soldier Svejk
Adaptation
- 1955
Once Upon a Time, There Was a King...
Dialogue, Story, Screenplay
- 1953
The Secret of Blood
Screenstory
- 1951
The Emperor and the Golem
Creative Producer, Story, Screenplay
Pekařův císař
Screenplay
Císařův pekař
Screenplay
1930s
- 1937
The World Belongs to Us
Theatre Play, Lyricist, Screenplay
- 1936
The Golem
Theatre Play
- 1934
Here in Kocourkov
Lyricist
Heave-Ho!
Screenplay, Story
- 1932
Your Money or Your Life
Screenplay, Story
Powder and Petrol
Story, Screenplay
Produced 1
1930s
- 1932
Powder and Petrol
Producer
Appearances9
2020s
- 2021
Jan Werich: Když už člověk jednou je…
Self (archive footage)
2000s
- 2006
Fimfarum 2
Narrator
1990s
- 1991
When the Oak Leaves Fall
Narrator (voice) (archive footage)
1980s
- 1989
Mean Barbara
Narrator (voice) (archive footage)
1960s
- 1968
Přiložte životopis
Self · 2 episodes
Czechoslovakia: Portrait of a Tragedy
Self
- 1964
The Cry
Narrator (voice)
1950s
- 1958
- 1956
The Good Soldier Svejk
Narrator
