Jan Werich, born in 1905, began his academic journey at the "reálné gymnasium" in Křemencova Street, Prague, from 1916 to 1924, where he would meet his future collaborator, Jiří Voskovec. He then pursued legal studies at Charles University Law School until 1927, but his passion for the arts prompted an early exit to embark on a remarkable career in theater.
Werich became a prominent figure in the performing arts, particularly through his collaboration with Voskovec and composer Jaroslav Ježek. Their alliance flourished for over a decade at Osvobozené divadlo (Liberated Theatre), where they produced numerous politically charged satirical works. Drawing from Dadaism, their performances critiqued bourgeois society and addressed the aftermath of World War I, establishing them as key voices in Czech theater.
In 1955, Werich transitioned to film, but it was during the 1960s that he truly reached the zenith of his acting career. Following his role at the ABC Theatre, he graced the stages of the City Theatres of Prague and later the Musical Theatre of Karlin and Nusle. Notably, he was cast by producer Harry Saltzman as Ernst Stavro Blofeld for the iconic 1967 James Bond film "You Only Live Twice." However, upon his arrival on set, both producer Albert R. Broccoli and director Lewis Gilbert deemed him unsuitable for the role, likening him to a "poor, benevolent Santa Claus." Despite this, Werich left an indelible mark on Czech culture through his extensive body of work.
