Jiří Sovák was born Jiří Schmitzer to the family of an innkeeper in Prague.[1] He later changed his name to Sovák as a protest against Nazi Germany and its occupation of Czechoslovakia.[2] In 1941 – during WW2 – he graduated from Prague State Conservatory where he studied drama. His father did not want him to be an actor, so he worked as a clerk and played in an amateur theatre group; today known as Rokoko Theatre.[1]
Careeredit
In 1943 he got his first professional engagement with Horácké Theatre in Třebíč.[1] During military service he met Miroslav Horníček (who became famous actor too) and made friends for life.
Jiří Sovák first appeared in a movie in 1942 and then played many minor roles. He played his first main character in Dařbuján a Pandrhola (dir. Martin Frič, 1959) and created a expressive roles in the 1960s, '70s and '80s. Among his best-known roles are Antonín Skopec in Světáci (Dandies; dir. Zdeněk Podskalský) and Jiří Kroupa in Marečku, podejte mi pero! (Mark, Fetch Me a Pen!; dir. Oldřich Lipský, 1976). He also played in comedies such as Pane, vy jste vdova (You Are a Widow, Sir!; dir. Václav Vorlíček, 1970) or Což takhle dát si špenát (What About Having Some Spinach; dir. Václav Vorlíček, 1977), sci-fi comedies such as Zabil jsem Einsteina, pánové (I Killed Einstein, Sirs; dir. Oldřich Lipský, 1970) or Zítra vstanu a opařím se čajem (Tomorrow I'll Wake Up and Scald Myself with Tea ; dir. Jindřich Polák, 1977), and movies for children, e.g. Ať žijí duchové (Long Live Ghosts; dir. Oldřich Lipský, 1977). In 1990s he played old men such as the cabinet maker Růžička in Kolya. Sovák's last movie role was in Návrat ztraceného ráje (Lost Paradise Recovered; dir. Vojtěch Jasný, 1999).[3]
Sovák entered Czechoslovak television as soon as it came into existence in 1953. He played in TV film and serial microcomedies such as Uspořená libra (A Pound on Demand, based on a play by Seán O'Casey; Vladimír Svitáček, 1963), and Bohouš (1968); and children's TV serials such as Pan Tau, Arabela, and Létající Čestmír. His most successful roles were in the serials Byli jednou dva písaři (with Horníček; based on Bouvard et Pécuchet by Gustave Flaubert; dir. Ján Roháč, 1972) and Chalupáři (Cottagers; 1975).[1]
Personal lifeedit
He married three times.[2] His son from his first marriage, Jiří Schmitzer (b. 1949), became an actor and folk singer. Sovák had a poor relationship with his son (with whom he appeared in many movies[3]) after he left his wife that worsened when Schmitzer caused a fatal car crash in 1976.[4]
He retired on 31 March 1983.[3] In 2000 he fell on his terrace, broke his hip and had an embolism during his operation.[2] He died in a Prague hospital before reaching 80. He is buried in small town Stříbrná Skalice, in a private grave closed to the public.[4]
jiří, sovák, schmitzer, december, 1920, september, 2000, czech, actor, best, known, comedy, roles, 1989bornjiří, schmitzer, 1920, december, 1920prague, czechoslovakiadied6, september, 2000, 2000, aged, prague, czech, republicoccupationactoryears, active1942, 1. Jiri Sovak ne Schmitzer 27 December 1920 6 September 2000 was a Czech actor best known for his comedy roles Jiri SovakJiri Sovak in 1989BornJiri Schmitzer 1920 12 27 27 December 1920Prague CzechoslovakiaDied6 September 2000 2000 09 06 aged 79 Prague Czech RepublicOccupationActorYears active1942 1999 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Film and TV career 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editJiri Sovak was born Jiri Schmitzer to the family of an innkeeper in Prague 1 He later changed his name to Sovak as a protest against Nazi Germany and its occupation of Czechoslovakia 2 In 1941 during WW2 he graduated from Prague State Conservatory where he studied drama His father did not want him to be an actor so he worked as a clerk and played in an amateur theatre group today known as Rokoko Theatre 1 Career editIn 1943 he got his first professional engagement with Horacke Theatre in Trebic 1 During military service he met Miroslav Hornicek who became famous actor too and made friends for life In 1947 he went to Prague where he played in the E F Burian Theatre 1947 1952 Vinohrady Theatre 1952 1966 and National Theatre 1966 1983 1 Film and TV career edit Jiri Sovak first appeared in a movie in 1942 and then played many minor roles He played his first main character in Darbujan a Pandrhola dir Martin Fric 1959 and created a expressive roles in the 1960s 70s and 80s Among his best known roles are Antonin Skopec in Svetaci Dandies dir Zdenek Podskalsky and Jiri Kroupa in Marecku podejte mi pero Mark Fetch Me a Pen dir Oldrich Lipsky 1976 He also played in comedies such as Pane vy jste vdova You Are a Widow Sir dir Vaclav Vorlicek 1970 or Coz takhle dat si spenat What About Having Some Spinach dir Vaclav Vorlicek 1977 sci fi comedies such as Zabil jsem Einsteina panove I Killed Einstein Sirs dir Oldrich Lipsky 1970 or Zitra vstanu a oparim se cajem Tomorrow I ll Wake Up and Scald Myself with Tea dir Jindrich Polak 1977 and movies for children e g At ziji duchove Long Live Ghosts dir Oldrich Lipsky 1977 In 1990s he played old men such as the cabinet maker Ruzicka in Kolya Sovak s last movie role was in Navrat ztraceneho raje Lost Paradise Recovered dir Vojtech Jasny 1999 3 Sovak entered Czechoslovak television as soon as it came into existence in 1953 He played in TV film and serial microcomedies such as Usporena libra A Pound on Demand based on a play by Sean O Casey Vladimir Svitacek 1963 and Bohous 1968 and children s TV serials such as Pan Tau Arabela and Letajici Cestmir His most successful roles were in the serials Byli jednou dva pisari with Hornicek based on Bouvard et Pecuchet by Gustave Flaubert dir Jan Rohac 1972 and Chalupari Cottagers 1975 1 Personal life editHe married three times 2 His son from his first marriage Jiri Schmitzer b 1949 became an actor and folk singer Sovak had a poor relationship with his son with whom he appeared in many movies 3 after he left his wife that worsened when Schmitzer caused a fatal car crash in 1976 4 He retired on 31 March 1983 3 In 2000 he fell on his terrace broke his hip and had an embolism during his operation 2 He died in a Prague hospital before reaching 80 He is buried in small town Stribrna Skalice in a private grave closed to the public 4 References edit a b c d e Jiri Sovak Slavka Kopecka Sovak podruhe ISBN 80 900776 4 1 in Czech a b c Marecku podejte mi pero little known info about the movie 1 in Czech a b c Czech and Slovak Movie Database 2 in Czech a b source Super tabloid paper 3 permanent dead link in Czech External links editJiri Sovak at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jiri Sovak amp oldid 1189108732, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
