Miloš Kopecký (22 August 1922 in

Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...

– 16 February 1996 in Prague) was a

Czech Czech may refer to: * Anything from or related to the Czech Republic, a country in Europe ** Czech language ** Czechs, the people of the area ** Czech culture ** Czech cuisine * One of three mythical brothers, Lech, Czech, and Rus *Czech (surnam ...

actor, active mainly in the second half of the 20th century.

Biography

He was born into the family of a furrier; his mother was a hatter. From childhood he was involved with the theatre and music, and after some unsuccessful attempts to study, he chose the career of an actor. He began to appear on the stage in 1939, as a member of an amateur elocution group. During the

German occupation of Czechoslovakia German(s) may refer to: * Germany, the country of the Germans and German things **Germania (Roman era) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizenship in Germany, see also Ge ...

he performed with a collective of young artists, ''Tvar'' (The Shape). At the end of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, he was (having one

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

parent) interned in the

labor camp A labor camp (or labour camp, see British and American spelling differences, spelling differences) or work camp is a detention facility where inmates are unfree labour, forced to engage in penal labor as a form of punishment. Labor camps have ...

in Bystřice u Benešova. His mother was murdered in the

Auschwitz concentration camp Auschwitz, or Oświęcim, was a complex of over 40 Nazi concentration camps, concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany, occupied Poland (in a portion annexed into Germany in 1939) d ...

. Following the liberation, he took up a career as a professional actor in the

avant-garde In the arts and literature, the term ''avant-garde'' ( meaning or ) identifies an experimental genre or work of art, and the artist who created it, which usually is aesthetically innovative, whilst initially being ideologically unacceptable ...

studio ''Větrník'' (from 1945 to 1946), and afterward he was engaged in many Prague theatre scenes. A few years later, he also began to appear in films and gradually became one of the most popular actors in

Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia ( ; Czech language, Czech and , ''Česko-Slovensko'') was a landlocked country in Central Europe, created in 1918, when it declared its independence from Austria-Hungary. In 1938, after the Munich Agreement, the Sudetenland beca ...

. In the mid-1980s Kopecký acted in a politically biased documentary film about emigrants, but, on the other side, he presented a very critical speech against the communist régime in May 1987, at the Fourth Congress of Dramatic Artists. He was married five times, once with Czech actress

Stella Zázvorková Stella Zázvorková (14 April 1922 – 18 May 2005) was a Czech actress from Prague. Zázvorková, an alumnus of Prague's theatre school of E.F. Burian, appeared in more than a hundred films and series. She was married to the actor Milo� ...

. For many years Kopecký suffered from

manic-depressive Bipolar disorder (BD), previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally elevated mood that each last from days to weeks, and in some cases months. If the elevated m ...

disease, partially caused by the death of his mother, who perished in a

concentration camp A concentration camp is a prison or other facility used for the internment of political prisoners or politically targeted demographics, such as members of national or ethnic minority groups, on the grounds of national security, or for exploitati ...

Theatre

Following his engagement in ''Větrník'' he appeared in various theatre scenes: *Divadlo satiry (1946–47) *Studio Národního divadla (1947–48) *Realistické divadlo (1948–49) * Národní divadlo (1949–50) *Městská divadla pražská (1950–51) *Armádní umělecké divadlo (1951–54) *Divadlo estrády a satiry (1954–55) *Divadlo satiry (1955–59) *Divadlo ABC (1957–60) *Hudební divadlo v Karlíně (1964–65) A turning point in his career came in 1965, when the director František Pavlíček engaged him to the ''Divadlo na Vinohradech'', to which he remained faithful throughout the rest of his life. Nonetheless, he acted as a guest also in other theatres, e.g. in ''Semafor'' Theatre, or in ''Divadlo ABC'' (ABC Theatre), where he cooperated with another important actor of the time, Jan Werich. Among his most valued roles were Paolino in Pirandello's ''The Man, The Beast and The Virtue'', Professor Higgins in G. B. Shaw's '' Pygmalion'', Harpagon in

Molière Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (; 15 January 1622 (baptised) – 17 February 1673), known by his stage name Molière (, ; ), was a French playwright, actor, and poet, widely regarded as one of the great writers in the French language and world liter ...

's ''

The Miser ''The Miser'' (; ) is a five-act comedy in prose by the French playwright Molière. It was first performed on September 9, 1668, in the Théâtre du Palais-Royal (rue Saint-Honoré), theatre of the Palais-Royal in Paris. This is a character com ...

'', and many others.

Film

Kopecký was a passionate admirer of film from an early age, and began to appear on screen shortly after the war. His first minor role was in the historic film ''Jan Roháč z Dubé'' (1947), but he quickly graduated to more important characters. During his career he played mainly negative roles of bon vivants, elegant intriguers, traitors, debauchees, lechers and villains, which he managed to depict with great elegance and esprit. Among his most valued roles in film were Chaplain Katz in ''The Good Soldier Švejk'' (1956), Hogofogo in '' Limonádový Joe'' (1964), the chief of the Czech water-goblins in '' Jak utopit dr. Mráčka aneb Konec vodníků v Čechách'' (1974), the villainous Count von Kratzmar in '' Adéla ještě nevečeřela'' (1977), and many others. He may be best known today as Dr. Štrosmajer in the Czech television series '' Nemocnice na kraji města''.

Selected filmography

*1947: ''Jan Rohác z Dube'' - Student *1947: '' Don't You Know of an Unoccupied Flat?'' - Komisar *1948: ''Az se vrátís'' - Soused *1949: ''Návrat domù'' *1949: - Vinárník *1949: ''Revolucni rok 1848'' - Komorník u Portheima *1950: ''Daleká cesta'' - Prisoner building a gas chamber #1 *1951: ''Posel úsvitu'' - Doctor Held *1952: ''

The Emperor and the Golem ''The Emperor and the Golem'' (, literally "The Emperor′s Baker and Baker′s Emperor") is a two-part Czechoslovak historical fantasy comedy film produced in 1951. The film was shot in color (not common for Czechoslovak films in that period) b ...

'' - Alchemist 2 *1952: ''Mikolás Ales'' *1952: '' The Proud Princess'' - Chancellor *1952: ''Velké dobrodruzství'' - Cecil Rhodes *1953: ''Únos'' - Rychman *1953: ''

Anna Proletářka ''Anna Proletářka'' is a 1953 Czechoslovak film based on the novel by Ivan Olbracht. The movie was filmed on location in Osek, and Prague. It was released on 20 February 1953. It describes proletarian The proletariat (; ) is the social cla ...

'' - Komisar *1953: ''Tajemství krve'' - Lékar na prednásce *1954: ''Kavárna na hlavní tríde'' - Matejka, redaktor *1954: ''Olovený chléb'' - Policejní komisar *1954: ''Severní prístav'' - Berka *1954: '' Cirkus bude!'' - klaun Tonda *1954: '' Nejlepší člověk'' - lekárník Valérian Kýla *1955: ''Byl jednou jeden král'' - Smart prince *1955: ''

Dog's Heads ''Dog's Heads'' () is a 1955 Czech drama film directed by Martin Frič, based on the novel of the same name by Alois Jirásek. It was entered into the 1955 Cannes Film Festival. Cast * Vladimír Ráž - Jan Sladký-Kozina * Jana Dítětová - ...

'' - Kos, správce *1955: ''

Jan Hus Jan Hus (; ; 1369 – 6 July 1415), sometimes anglicized as John Hus or John Huss, and referred to in historical texts as ''Iohannes Hus'' or ''Johannes Huss'', was a Czechs, Czech theologian and philosopher who became a Church reformer and t ...

'' - Biskupský Kanclér *1956: ''

Jan Žižka Jan Žižka z Trocnova a Kalicha (; 1360 – 11 October 1424) was a Czechs, Czech military leader and Knight who was a contemporary and follower of Jan Hus, and a prominent Radical Hussite who led the Taborites, Taborite faction during the Hu ...

'' - Sir from Sternberk *1956: '' Větrná hora'' - Melichar Hnátek *1956: '' Stříbrný vítr'' - Gerlic, nadporucík *1957: ''Dědeček automobil'' - Albert de Dion *1957: ''Legenda o lásce'' - Prodavachat na kilimi *1957: '' The Good Soldier Schweik'' - Katz, feldkurát *1958: ''Stenata'' - Magistrate *1958: ''Mezi zemí a nebem'' - Leopold *1959: '' O věcech nadpřirozených'' - Graphologist Jensen (segment "The Secret of a Handwriting") *1959: ''

Hvězda jede na jih ''Hvězda jede na jih'' is a 1958 Czechoslovak-Yugoslavian comedy film directed by Oldrich Lipský. Cast * Gordana Miletić - Sona Klánová - singer * Rudolf Hrušínský - Conductor * Joza Gregorin - Driver Dargo * Barbara Połomska - L� ...

'' - Soustek - tourist guide *1959: '' Občan Brych'' - Kamil Tajchman *1959: ''Sny na nedeli'' - pacient Voves, Jindruv kamarád *1960: ''Zpívající pudrenka'' - Krásný Venca *1960: ''Konec cesty'' - Jirák *1960: ''Vstup zakázán'' - Saboteur (segment "The Chase") (voice) *1961: ''Cirkus jede'' - Klaun Mrskoc *1961: ''

The Fabulous Baron Munchausen ''The Fabulous Baron Munchausen'' () is a 1962 Czechoslovak romance film, romantic adventure film directed by Karel Zeman, based on the tales about Baron Munchausen. The film combines live-action with various forms of animation and is highly sty ...

'' - Emil Tuma / Emil Tuma Sr. *1962: '' Man in Outer Space'' - Josef, calouník *1962: ''Kolik slov stací lásce?'' - Frantisek Habrada *1962: ''

'' - Baron Munchausen *1962: ''Dva z onoho sveta'' - Psychiatr *1962: ''Kočár nejsvětější svátosti'' (TV Movie) - secretary Martinez *1963: '' The King of Kings'' - Izmail el Sarif ben Serfi *1964: ''

Lemonade Joe ''Lemonade Joe, or the Horse Opera'' () is a 1964 Czechoslovak musical comedy film, directed by Oldřich Lipský and written by Jiří Brdečka, based on his novel and stage play. A parody of the American Western, the film centers on a clean-livi ...

'' - Horác Badman Alias 'hogofogo' *1965: '' Lov na mamuta'' - Doktor *1965: ''Bílá paní'' - Tajemník MNV *1966: ''U telefonu Martin'' - Havrda *1966: ''Flám'' - Jirí Donát *1967: - Muz za novinami *1967: ''Ta nase písnicka ceská'' - Johanes *1967: ''Kdyz má svátek Dominika'' - Nácelník detektivu *1967: ''Sedm žen Alfonse Karáska'' (TV Movie) - Alfons Karásek *1968: '' Přísně tajné premiéry'' - Müller *1968: ''Objízdka'' - Narrator (voice) *1969: ''Prazske noci'' - Fabricius (segment "Fabricius and Zuzana") *1969: '' Slasti Otce vlasti'' - Jan Lucemburský *1969: '' Já, truchlivý bůh'' - Adolf *1969: ''Trapasy'' (TV Short) - Milos Kopecký *1970: '' Four Murders Are Enough, Darling'' *1970: '' I Killed Einstein, Gentlemen'' - Wertheim *1971: '' You Are a Widow, Sir'' - Professor Somr, majítel sanatoria *1971: '' Svatby pana Voka'' - Petr Vok z Rozmberka *1971: ''Vražda v hotelu Excelsior'' - Arno Hnízdo, reditel hotelu *1971: '' The Tricky Game of Love'' - Francesco Vergellesi (segment "Arabský kun") *1971: '' Svět otevřený náhodám'' - Rataj *1971: ''Alfons Karásek v lázních'' (TV Short) - Alfons Karásek *1972: ''

Straw Hat A straw hat is a wide-brimmed hat woven out of straw or straw-like synthetic materials. Straw hats are a type of sun hat designed to shade the head and face from direct sunlight, but are also used in fashion as a decorative element or a ...

'' - Maurice Fadinard *1972: ''Sest medvedu s Cibulkou'' - Svihák *1972: ''Lakomec'' (TV Movie) - Harpagon *1973: '' A Night at Karlstein'' - Duke Stepan of Bavaria *1974: '' Jak utopit doktora Mráčka aneb Konec vodníků v Čechách'' - Wassermann *1976: '' Zítra to roztočíme, drahoušku…!'' - Evzen Novák *1976: ''To byla svatba, strýčku!'' (TV Movie) - Alfons Karásek *1977: '' Nemocnice na kraji města'' (TV Series) *1977: ''Nás dedek Josef'' - Baron *1978: '' Dinner for Adele'' - Rupert von Kratzmar *1979: ''Já už budu hodný, dědečku!'' - herec Theodor Bergner *1979: '' Božská Ema'' - cechoamerikan Herold Samuel *1980: ''Causa králík'' - Dr. Oldrich Lukásek *1980: ''Jak napálit advokáta'' - JUDr. Horic *1980: ''Úteky domu'' - MUDr. Karel Chrástek *1980: ''V hlavni roli Oldrich Novy'' - Himself *1981: ''Zakázaný výlet'' - Klavírista *1981: ''Zralé víno'' - Weber *1981: '' The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians'' - Baron Gorc z Gorcu *1981: ''Křtiny'' - Ing. Ciruvka *1983: '' Srdečný pozdrav ze zeměkoule'' - Prof. Horowitz *1983: ''Zbohom, sladké driemoty'' - Director *1983: ''

Angel in a Devil's Body ''Angel in a Devil's Body'' () is a Czech comedy film directed by Václav Matějka. It was released in 1983. Cast * Zdena Studenková - Renáta * Božidara Turzonovová - Madam * Karel Heřmánek - Bulis * Miloš Kopecký - Boura * Radoslav ...

'' - sekcní séf min. financí Boura *1984: ''Tři veteráni'' - 1. Skritek *1984: ''Tajna starog tavana'' - Boss *1984: ''Bambinot'' (TV Series) - Mitropulos *1984: ''Prodloužený čas'' - Prof. Svozil *1984: - Self - entertainer *1986: ''Carovné dedictví'' - Vetesník *1986: ''Zkrocení zlého muže'' - Bayer *1986: ''Velká filmová loupez'' - Dr. Strosmajer *1986: ''Spanelská paradentóza'' - Onkel Tobias *1987: ''Poslední leč Alfonse Karáska'' (TV Movie) - Alfons Karásek *1988: ''Anděl svádí ďábla'' - Minister *1989: ''Utopím si ho sám'' (TV Movie) - Choun *1991: ''

Labyrinth In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth () is an elaborate, confusing structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos. Its function was to hold the Minotaur, the monster eventually killed by the h ...

'' - Rabbi Löw *1991: - Giacomo Casanova *1992: ''La valle di pietra'' - Giudice Escher *1992: ''Uctivá poklona, pane Kohn'' (TV Mini-Series) - Munk *1993: ''Kanarska spojka'' - Don Padre *1994: ''Andelské oci'' - Krause *1995: '' The Dance Teacher'' - Grandfather of Richard *1996: ''Das Zauberbuch'' - Regent

References

External links