For a fairly new country that has been around for a little more than a decade now, one would not expect it to have an exciting history, leave aside having a stockpile of famous men. So it is far more exhilarating when you discover that the new country is not only a reservoir of great talents, but address to some world-famous men and women too, you are likely to change your mind for good. That is right! Czech Republic does a fine job of displaying its enviable heritage, picturesque cities and, illuminating individuals with élan. Be it its beautiful women, top-class sportsmen, Nobel Prize laureates or globally lauded writers and musicians, the Czechs have stamped their greatness in diverse fields and how. People like Franz Kafka, Martina Navratilova, Sigmund Freud, Jaroslav Heyrovsky, Vaclav Havel, Ivan Lendl and Eva Herzigova are just some of the Czechs who have earned unparalleled name and an irreplaceable status in the world map, all thanks to their insurmountable contribution in their diverse fields. Unravel all about the famous Czechs in their biographies below. Their timeline, trivia, and interesting facts are worth a read.
This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.
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Famous As: Tennis player
Birthdate: October 18, 1956
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Prague, Czechia
Martina Navratilova is the world’s only tennis player to be no. 1 for more than 200 weeks in both singles and doubles. She is one of three women with a "Grand Slam Boxed Set.” She is openly lesbian and had earlier fled her country, Czechoslovakia, due to political issues.
Famous As: Owner of The Montecito Picture Company, founded in 1998.
Birthdate: October 27, 1946
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Komárno, Czechoslovakia
Ivan Reitman is a screenwriter and film and TV producer and director. He is a co-owner of The Montecito Picture Company. He attended McMaster University, where he studied music. After being fired from his first job at a TV channel, he went on to produce stage productions. Later on, he began producing films as well.
Famous As: Model
Birthdate: April 9, 1965
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Prostějov, Czechoslovakia
Model, actress, and author, Paulina Porizkova, became the first woman from Central Europe to be featured on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in 1984. She began modeling as a teenager and became a top model in Paris during the early 1980s. She eventually began acting as well. Also a writer, she has written a few books.
Celebrities Born On My Birthday?
Famous As: Composer
Birthdate: September 8, 1841
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Nelahozeves, Prague, Czechia
Died: May 1, 1904
Antonín Dvořák was a Czech composer who achieved worldwide recognition for his works. His life and career inspired the 1980 historical biographical film Concert at the End of Summer, in which Dvořák was played by actor Josef Vinklář. Canadian children's author Ian Krykorka has based many of his works on some of Antonín Dvořák's operas.
Famous As: Logician, Mathematician, Philosopher
Birthdate: April 28, 1906
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Brno, Czech Republic
Died: January 14, 1978
Hailed as one of the greatest logicians since Aristotle, Kurt Gödel was Austrian-born American mathematician, logician, and philosopher, who earned international stardom for his incompleteness theorem. Also credited with developing a technique called Gödel numbering, he later started working on Mathematical Platonism, a philosophical theory that failed to attract wide acceptance.
Famous As: Footballer
Birthdate: August 30, 1972
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Cheb
Famous As: Film director, Screenwriter and Film actor
Birthdate: February 18, 1932
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Čáslav, Czechoslovakia
Died: April 13, 2018
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Famous As: Tennis player
Birthdate: March 7, 1960
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Ostrava, Czechia
Born to professional tennis players, Czech-American tennis legend Ivan Lendl has eight Grand Slam titles under his belt. Known for his topspin groundstrokes, he later turned coach and was responsible for three Grand Slams of Andy Murray. Lendl also has a few Celebrity Tour golf wins in his kitty.
Famous As: Playwright
Birthdate: July 3, 1937
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Zlín, Czechoslovakia
Born in Czechoslovakia, legendary playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard had lost his father in the Japanese invasion of Singapore during World War II. The five-time Tony winner is best known for the absurdist tragicomedy Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. He also co-wrote the Academy Award-winning screenplay of Shakespeare in Love.
Famous As: Assassinator of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Birthdate: July 25, 1894
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Obljaj
Died: April 28, 1918
Gavrilo Princip was a Bosnian Serb member of the Young Bosnia movement who wished to end the Austro-Hungarian reign in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He thus assassinated Austrian archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, at age 19. This eventually contributed to the start of World War I.
Famous As: Writer
Birthdate: April 1, 1929
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Brno, Czechia
Milan Kundera is a Czech writer who became a naturalized French citizen in 1981 after going into exile in France in 1975. Although his Czechoslovak citizenship was revoked four years after going into exile, he received Czech citizenship in 2019, thanks to his achievements as a writer. He is the recipient of several prestigious awards, such as the Jerusalem Prize.
Famous As: Football player
Birthdate: May 20, 1982
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Pilsen, Czechia
Famous As: Ice hockey player
Birthdate: February 15, 1972
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Kladno, Czechia
Famous As: Model
Birthdate: February 28, 1984
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Děčín, Czechia
Karolína Kurková is a Czech-American actress and model best known for being a former Victoria's Secret Angel. Praised by the bigwigs of the modeling industry for her skills as a model, Kurková was counted among the world's highest-paid models by 2007. Also known for her humanitarian work, Kurková was honored by Women Together, a non-profit organization, in 2006.
Famous As: Tennis player
Birthdate: March 8, 1990
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bílovec, Czechia
Famous As: Founder of Porsche Automobile Company
Birthdate: September 3, 1875
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: ratislavice nad Nisou, Liberec, Czechia
Died: January 30, 1951
Ferdinand Porsche was an Austrian-German automotive engineer. He is credited with founding one of the most popular car companies in the world, Porsche AG. He is also credited with creating the Lohner-Porsche mixed hybrid, the first gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle. During World War II, Porsche was a prominent contributor to the German war effort.
Famous As: Tennis player
Birthdate: March 21, 1992
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Louny, Czechoslovakia
Famous As: Painter
Birthdate: July 24, 1860
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Ivancice, Czechia
Died: July 14, 1939
Famous As: Electress of Hanover
Birthdate: October 14, 1630
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: The Hague, Netherlands
Died: June 8, 1714
Sophia of Hanover was the Electress of Hanover, through her marriage to Ernest Augustus. After a long conflict regarding the succession of the throne of England, she died just 2 months before she could become the queen. An art connoisseur, she played a crucial role in creating the Herrenhausen Gardens.
Famous As: Politician
Birthdate: October 5, 1936
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Prague, Czechia
Died: December 18, 2011
Famous As: Former Tennis player who won the women's singles title at Wimbledon in 1998 and three Olympic medals
Birthdate: October 2, 1968
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brno, Czech Republic
Famous As: Footballer
Birthdate: October 4, 1980
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Prague
Famous As: Holy Roman Emperor (1355-78)
Birthdate: May 14, 1316
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Prague, Czechia
Died: November 29, 1378
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor reigned as the king of Bohemia from 1346 until his death in 1378. In 1355, he became the first king of Bohemia to be crowned Holy Roman Emperor. Later, he was crowned king of Burgundy in 1365, making him the sole king of the Holy Roman Empire and all its kingdoms.
Famous As: Composer
Birthdate: March 2, 1824
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Litomysl, Czechia
Died: May 12, 1884
Bedrich Smetana was a Czech composer remembered for his opera, The Bartered Bride. Considered the father of Czech music, Smetana was a prodigy whose first public performance came at age six. He then went on to establish himself as one of the most important composers of Czech music. Smetana has been honored with a Walk of Fame star in Vienna.
Famous As: Rock Climber
Birthdate: February 5, 1993
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Brno, Czech Republic
Famous As: Mixed martial artist
Birthdate: October 14, 1992
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Hostěradice, Czechia
Famous As: Former Actor best known for his roles in The Ladykillers, The Pink Panther film series, War and Peace and the television series The Human Jungle
Birthdate: September 11, 1917
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Prague, Czech Republic
Died: September 27, 2012
Famous As: Politician, Economist
Birthdate: September 28, 1944
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Kolín
Famous As: Tennis player
Birthdate: March 21, 1992
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Louny, Czechoslovakia
Famous As: Politician
Birthdate: November 27, 1921
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Uhrovec
Died: November 7, 1992
The First Secretary of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, Alexander Dubček, was no stranger to politics as a child, being the son of a Communist Party member. He resisted the Nazi occupation, while his liberal policies later led Soviet authorities to invade Czechoslovakia. He eventually died in a car crash.
Famous As: Former footballer striker
Birthdate: September 25, 1913
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Vienna, Austria
Died: December 12, 2001
Famous As: Composer
Birthdate: July 3, 1854
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Hukvaldy, Czechia
Died: August 12, 1928
Leos Janacek was a Czech composer, musical theorist, folklorist, and teacher. He is credited to have created an original, modern musical style inspired by Moravian and other Slavic folk music. He was deeply influenced by folklore and by the works of his contemporary and friend, Antonín Dvořák. The Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra is named in his honor.
Famous As: Tennis player
Birthdate: December 18, 1995
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Brno, Czech Republic
Famous As: Tennis player
Birthdate: September 17, 1985
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Valasske Mezirici, Czechia
Famous As: Entrepreneur
Birthdate: 1938 AD
Birthplace: Pilsen
The Queen of Makeovers Marilyn Miglin is a known face on the Home Shopping Network. The owner of the fragrance brand Pheromone, Miglin has an entire stretch named after her in Oak Street’s shopping district. She made headlines when her husband, Lee Miglin, was brutally murdered by a serial killer.
Famous As: Actor
Birthdate: July 14, 1956
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Czechia
Famous As: Footballer
Birthdate: October 28, 1981
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Vigantice
Famous As: Pianist, Composer, Musician, Songwriter, Record producer, Film producer, Film score composer
Birthdate: April 17, 1948
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Prague
Famous As: Former tennis player who won seven singles titles and 15 doubles titles on WTA Tour.
Birthdate: February 4, 1987
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Brno, Czechia
Famous As: Lady-in-waiting, Photographer
Birthdate: March 1, 1868
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Stuttgart, Kingdom of Württemberg
Died: June 28, 1914
Famous As: Architect
Birthdate: December 10, 1870
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Brno
Died: August 23, 1933
Austrian architect Adolf Loos is often compared to American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in terms of his contribution. Loos believed architecture shouldn’t contain the extra elements and ornaments promoted by Art Nouveau. Mostly known for his residential projects, he built modern buildings such as the Goldman and Salatsch Building.
Famous As: Tennis player
Birthdate: March 28, 1986
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Plzeň, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic)
Famous As: King of Bohemia
Birthdate: February 26, 1361
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Nuremberg, Germany
Died: August 16, 1419
Famous As: Ice hockey player
Birthdate: January 29, 1965
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Pardubice, Czech Republic
Famous As: Actress
Birthdate: October 26, 1988
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Brno, Czechoslovakia
Famous As: Golfer
Birthdate: February 27, 1993
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Bradenton, Florida, USA
Jessica Korda is an American golfer who has won six LPGA Tour events so far in her career. As an amateur golfer, Korda has represented the United States as well as the Czech Republic. After turning professional, Korda went on to win the Women's Australian Open in 2012.
Famous As: Naturalist
Birthdate: January 20, 1910
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Troppau, Austrian Silesia, Austria-Hungary, now Opava, Czech Republic
Died: January 3, 1980
Best known for her iconic book Born Free, which describes her experiences of raising a lion cub named Elsa, Joy Adamson was a noted Austro-Hungarian wildlife conservationist. She excelled in music and medicine in her younger days and later settled in Kenya with her third husband, conservationist George Adamson.
Famous As: Philosopher
Birthdate: March 28, 1592
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Nivnice, Czechia
Died: November 15, 1670
Famous As: Tennis player
Birthdate: January 23, 1968
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Prague, Czechia
Famous As: Model
Birthdate: June 24, 1979
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Karvina, Czechia
Czech model and philanthropist Petra Nemcova has not only graced the covers of magazines such as Elle and Cosmopolitan but is also associated with the non-profit All Hands And Hearts. She barely escaped death in the 2004 tsunami in Thailand but lost her photographer boyfriend Simon Atlee in the disaster.