Famous Czech Actors

Miloš Forman was a Czech and American screenwriter, film director, actor, and professor. He is remembered for directing the 1975 psychological comedy drama film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which became the second film to receive all five major Oscars. During his career, Forman won two Oscars, a César Award, and three Golden Globe Awards among other prestigious awards.

Vladimir Kulich is a Czech-Canadian actor best known for his portrayal of Buliwyf in the 1999 American historical action film, The 13th Warrior. He has also appeared in popular TV series like Vikings. Prior to his acting career, Vladimir Kulich played professional ice hockey and tried his hand at many other things, including a whitewater river rafting business.

Karel Roden is a Czech actor best known for his performances in films like The Bourne Supremacy and Hellboy. Over the course of his acting career, Roden has received several prestigious awards such as the Czech Lion Award and Alfréd Radok Award. Karel Roden is also known for his voice work in the popular video game, Grand Theft Auto IV.

George Voskovec was a Czech actor, dramatist, writer, and director. He acted in 72 films, out of which only the first five were Czech and the rest were either American or English. In the USA, George Voskovec became known for his portrayal of Juror 11 in the 1957 courtroom drama film 12 Angry Men.

Jan Rubeš was a Czech-Canadian actor and bass opera singer. He first achieved popularity in 1948 when he performed at the Geneva International Music Festival and won the first prize. Jan Rubeš went on to appear in many films and TV series and won the prestigious Earle Grey Award in 1990. 

Czech-born actor David Nykl was 2 when he moved to Canada with his parents and later began his acting career with small roles in community theater and television in Vancouver. He is, perhaps, best known for his portrayal of Radek Zelenka in the sci-fi series Stargate: Atlantis.

Czech-born actor Jan Triska, who later moved to the US, was know for his roles in films such as Ronin, Lunacy, and Up and Down. The 3-time Czech Lion-nominated actor moved back to the Czech Republic after the 1989 Velvet Revolution. He also delivered an award-winning performance in a production of King Lear.

Jan Werich was a Czech playwright, actor, and writer. He is best remembered for his partnership with Jaroslav Ježek and Jiří Voskovec as the trio produced many successful left-wing political satires. After World War II, which forced the trio to move to the USA, Werich returned to his homeland and started working alongside personalities like Jiří Trnka and Miroslav Horníček.

Alfred Radok Award- and Theater News Award-winning Czech actor Karel Dobrý is best known for his roles in the movie Mission: Impossible and the miniseries Dune. He is a fan of fast cars and is also an avid horseman, who performs his own stunts. His role in Hastrman won him a Czech Lion.

Czech director and screenwriter Václav Marhoul is best known for his popular films such as the war drama The Painted Bird and Tobruk. He has also appeared in several films, such as the comedy movie Gympl. He is also the father of actor Anna Marhoulová.

Bolek Polívka is a Czech actor, screenwriter, playwright, and mime artist. He is one of the best-known proponents of Czech mime. Bolek Polívka is also known for his film roles, such as Vicar Holý in Forgotten Light and Josef Čížek in Divided We Fall, for which he was honored with the prestigious Czech Lion Awards.      

Emil František Burian was a Czech poet, singer, actor, journalist, musician, composer, playwright, dramatic adviser, and director. Burian had a major influence on Czech modern theatre. His innovative staging methods and inventions continue to serve as an inspiration even today. A communist, Emil František Burian was also active in politics.