Jan Werich
Known for Acting · 58 credits
- Born
- 1905-02-06
- Died
- 1980-10-31
- Place of birth
- Praha - Československo
- Also known as
- Ян Верих
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".
Known For
TV Shows (6)
Movies (52)
The Creation of the World
1958
as Narrator (voice)
Two Little Frosts
1955
as Brave Frost (voice)
The 25th Hour
1967
as Sgt. Constantin
The Emperor and the Golem
1951
as Emperor Rudolf II / Matheus Kotrba, The Baker
The Fabulous Baron Munchausen
1962
as kapitán holandské lodi
Herecké Vánoce
1970
as Jan Werich
Silvestr 1957
1957
Mean Barbara
1989
as Narrator (voice) (archive footage)
Once Upon a Time, There Was a King...
1955
as král Já I.
Powder and Petrol
1932
Jan Werich's Fimfarum
2002
as Vypravěč
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Švejkova budějovická anabase
1956
as Narrator (voice)
Večer s Jaroslavem Haškem
1953
When the Cat Comes
1963
as Oliva
The Fall of Berlin
1950
as Goering
The World Belongs to Us
1937
as kamelot
The Good Soldier Svejk
1956
as Narrator
Echoes of the Blue Room
1983
Assignment K
1968
as Dr. Spiegler
Czechoslovakia: Portrait of a Tragedy
1968
as Self
Magnetické vlny léčí
1965
as léčitel Wohu
Pražská strašidla
1966
as Narrator (voice)
Dog's Heads
1955
Pan Tau – der Film
1988
as (archive footage)
Tears the World Can't See
1963
as Fedor Akimič Rjebrotěsov
Jan Werich: Když už člověk jednou je…
2021
as Self (archive footage)
Těžká Barbora
1960
Medvěd
1961
as statkář Grigorij Stěpanovič Smirnov
Balada z hadrů
1960
as strážný Holofern
Jaroslav Hasek's Exemplary Cinematograph
1956
as Commentary (voice)
The Golden Fish
1951
as Narrator (voice)
Královna Koloběžka první
1981
as Narrator (archive footage) (voice)
The Dear Departed
1964
as Dědeček
Fimfarum 2
2006
as Narrator
Heave-Ho!
1934
Your Money or Your Life
1932
as Tonda
Pouť noci silvestrovské
1953
The Cry
1964
as Narrator (voice)
Italienisches Capriccio
1961
as Don Marzio
Crisis
1939
When the Oak Leaves Fall
1991
as Narrator (voice) (archive footage)
Here in Kocourkov
1934
as Ferdinand Kaplan
King and Women
1967
as Jindřich VIII.
Kočár nejsvětější svátosti
1963
Fimfarum - To the good of all
2011
as (voice)
To jsou Bratři v triku
1957
as Himself
Hudba z Marsu
1955
as Nadšený divák
Uspořená libra
1963
as Sam Adams
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Z Hatvanu na hranice Haliče
1954
as Narrator (voice)
Cecílie
2025
as voice
Jonáš a Melicharová
1986
as (archive footage)
Osudy dobrého vojáka Švejka – Švejkovy nehody ve vlaku
1955
as Narrator (voice)
About Jan Werich
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 no… With 58 credits spanning from 1932 to 2025, Jan Werich has appeared in 52 films and 6 TV shows.
Fans searching for Jan Werich movies, Jan Werich filmography, or the latest projects starring Jan Werich can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Jan Werich Movies
- The Creation of the World (1958) — as Narrator (voice)
- Two Little Frosts (1955) — as Brave Frost (voice)
- The 25th Hour (1967) — as Sgt. Constantin
- The Emperor and the Golem (1951) — as Emperor Rudolf II / Matheus Kotrba, The Baker
- The Fabulous Baron Munchausen (1962) — as kapitán holandské lodi
Where to Watch Jan Werich Films
Most Jan Werich movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Jan Werich, check our movies catalogue and browse page.