Rudolf Hrušínský (17 October 1920 – 13 April 1994) 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. He was one of the most popular Czech actors. Many of his movies such as ''

The Good Soldier Švejk ''The Good Soldier Švejk'' () is an unfinished satirical dark comedy novel by Czech writer Jaroslav Hašek, published in 1921–1923, about a good-humored, simple-minded, middle-aged man who appears to be enthusiastic to serve Austria-Hungary i ...

'', ''

The Cremator ''The Cremator'' () is a 1969 Czechoslovak dark comedy horror film directed by Juraj Herz, based on a novel by Ladislav Fuks. The screenplay was written by Herz and Fuks. The film was selected as the Czechoslovak entry for the Best Foreign Lang ...

'' or ''

Capricious Summer ''Capricious Summer'' (), a 1968 Czechoslovak comedy film, was the first colour film directed by Jiří Menzel. It is based on the novel ''Rozmarné léto'' (Summer of Caprice) by the Czech writer Vladislav Vančura. It was listed to compete at ...

'' are considered classics of the Czech cinema. He was awarded the

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...

by France and title ''National Artist'' in Czechoslovakia.

Jiří Menzel Jiří Menzel () (23 February 1938 – 5 September 2020) was a Czech film director, theatre director, actor, and screenwriter. His films often combine a humanistic view of the world with sarcasm and provocative cinematography. Some of these films ...

once described him as "the Czech

Jean Gabin Jean Gabin Alexis Moncorgé (born Jean-Alexis Moncorgé), known as Jean Gabin (; 17 May 190415 November 1976), was a French actor and singer. Considered a key figure in French cinema, he starred in several classic films, including '' Pépé le ...

Biography

He was born back stage at the theatre in

Nová Včelnice Nová Včelnice (until 1950 Nový Etynk-Včelnice; ) is a town in Jindřichův Hradec District in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 2,200 inhabitants. Geography Nová Včelnice is located about northeast of Jindřichů ...

on 17 October 1920. His parents were Hermina Červičková and Rudolf Hrušínský (born Rudolf Böhm). His family moved from place to place, but eventually settled 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 ...

. He studied law school, but dropped out of to pursue acting. Initially he starred in minor plays, but managed to escalate to famous film roles, many of which won him fame abroad. He spent most of his theatrical career in Czech National Theatre. In 1968 he signed

The Two Thousand Words "The Two Thousand Words" (full title: 2000 Words to Workers, Farmers, Officials, Scientists, Artists, and Everyone; ) is a manifesto written by Czech reformist writer Ludvík Vaculík. It was signed by intellectuals and artists on June 17, 1968, i ...

manifesto. As a result he was not allowed to star in movies or in theatres until 1976. Director Jiří Menzel planned to make a West German TV series adaptation of '' Good Soldier Švejk'' with Hrušínský in the titular role, however they did not get the permission from the Czechoslovak government. After the

Velvet Revolution The Velvet Revolution () or Gentle Revolution () was a non-violent transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia, occurring from 17 November to 28 November 1989. Popular demonstrations against the one-party government of the Communist Pa ...

he entered the Parliament as a member of

Civic Forum The Civic Forum (, OF) was a political movement in the Czech part of Czechoslovakia, established during the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The corresponding movement in Slovakia was called Public Against Violence ( – VPN). The Civic Forum's purpo ...

. His sons Rudolf Hrušínský Jr. and

Jan Hrušínský Jan Hrušínský (born 9 June 1955) is a Czech actor. He has appeared in 56 films and television shows since 1970. He starred in the 1974 film '' Kdo hledá zlaté dno'', which was entered into the 25th Berlin International Film Festival. He is ...

are both actors. He died in 1994 and is buried in

Olšany Cemetery Olšany Cemeteries (, ) is the largest graveyard in Prague, Czech Republic, once laid out for as many as two million burials. The graveyard is particularly noted for its many remarkable Art Nouveau monuments. History The Olšany Cemeteries w ...

, Prague.

Selected filmography

*''

Cesta do hlubin študákovy duše ''Journey into the Depth of the Student's Soul'' (') is a Czechoslovak comedy film directed by Martin Frič. It was released in 1939. Cast * Jindřich Plachta - Matulka - Natural science teacher * Jaroslav Marvan - Vobořil - Mathematics Teach ...

'' (1939) *'' Humoreska'' (1939) *''Turbina'' (1941) *''

Nocturnal Butterfly ''Nocturnal Butterfly'' () is a 1941 Czech drama film directed by František Čáp based on a novel by Karel Novák. It was shown in 9th Venice Film Festival where it won a prize Targa di segnalazione. The film was dubbed into German and release ...

'' (1941) *'' The Hard Life of an Adventurer'' (1941) *''

Barbora Hlavsová ''Barbora Hlavsová'' is a 1942 Czech drama film directed by Martin Frič. Plot Hlavsa, the manager of a small-town pawn shop, commits embezzlement and shoots himself after being unable to get out of the situation. His mother takes in her widowe ...

'' (1942) *'' Spring Song'' (1944) * ''

Mist on the Moors ''Mist on the Moors'' () is a 1943 Czech drama film directed by František Čáp based on a novel by Karel Klostermann. Cast *Zdeněk Štěpánek as Farmer Josef Potužák * Marie Blažková as Potužák's wife * Vladimír Salač as Václav, the ...

'' (1944) *''

Premonition Premonition(s) or The Premonition may refer to: Film and television * "Premonition" (''Alfred Hitchcock Presents''), an episode of ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' (1955) * "The Premonition" (''The Outer Limits''), an episode of the original ve ...

'' (1947) * ''

The Last of the Mohicans ''The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757'' is an 1826 historical romance novel by James Fenimore Cooper. It is the second book of the '' Leatherstocking Tales'' pentalogy and the best known to contemporary audiences. '' The Pathfinder'', ...

'' (1947) *''

The Secret of Blood ''The Secret of Blood'' () is a 1953 Czechoslovak biographical drama film directed by Martin Frič about Czech doctor Jan Janský who discovered and classified the four different blood types. It competed at 14th Venice International Film Festiv ...

'' (1953) *'' The Strakonice Bagpiper'' (1955) *''

'' (1957) *''

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� ...

'' (1958) *''

I Dutifully Report ''I Dutifully Report'' () is a 1958 Czechoslovak comedy film directed by Karel Steklý. It is the sequel to ''The Good Soldier Schweik (1956 film), The Good Soldier Schweik''. Cast * Rudolf Hrušínský as Josef Švejk * Svatopluk Beneš as fir ...

'' (1958) *'' Dařbuján a Pandrhola'' (1960) *'' The Night Guest'' (1961) *''

'' (''Rozmarné léto'', 1967) *''

'' (''Spalovač mrtvol'', 1968) *''

Larks on a String ''Larks on a String'' () is a 1969 Czech film directed by Jiří Menzel. The film was banned by the Czechoslovak government, but was later released in 1990 after the fall of the Communist regime. It tells the stories of various characters consider ...

'' (''Skřivánci na niti'', 1969) *''

Dinner for Adele ''Dinner for Adele'' () is a 1977 Czech parody comedy film directed by Oldřich Lipský. Alternative titles were ''Adele Hasn't Had Her Dinner Yet'', ''Nick Carter in Prague'' and ''Adela Has Not Had Supper Yet''. The film is set at the fin de s ...

'' (''Adéla ještě nevečeřela'', 1977) *'' Swap'' (''A kétfenekű dob'', 1978) *''

Ball Lightning Ball lightning is a rare and unexplained phenomenon described as Luminosity, luminescent, spherical objects that vary from pea-sized to several meters in diameter. Though usually associated with thunderstorms, the observed phenomenon is repor ...

'' (''Kulový blesk'', 1978) *'' Those Wonderful Movie Cranks'' (1978) *'' Lásky mezi kapkami deště'' (1979) *''

Cutting It Short ''Cutting It Short'' (also released as ''Shortcuts'') ( - literraly: First haircut) is a 1980 in film, 1980 cinema of the Czech Republic, Czechoslovak comedy film directed by Jiří Menzel. It is based on the novel ''Postřižiny'' by Czech write ...

'' (''Postřižiny'', 1980) *''Pozor, vizita!'' (1981) *''

The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians ''The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians'' () is a 1981 Czech comedy film directed by Oldřich Lipský. It is based on Jules Verne's novel '' The Carpathian Castle''. Production The film marks Lipský's third and final collaboration with scree ...

'' (''Tajemství hradu v Karpatech'', 1981) *'' Unterwegs nach Atlantis'' (1982, TV series) *''The Snowdrop Festival'' (''Slavnosti sněženek'', 1983) *''Three Veterans'' (''Tři veteráni'', 1983) *''Dissolved and Effused '' (''Rozpuštěný a vypuštěný'', 1984) *''

My Sweet Little Village ''My Sweet Little Village'' () is a 1985 Czechoslovak film directed by Jiří Menzel. In 1987 it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Plot The film's main storyline follows the life of Otík, a young man with menta ...

'' (''Vesničko má středisková'', 1985) *'' Forbidden Dreams'' (''Smrt krásných srnců'', 1986) *''

Dobří holubi se vracejí ''Dobří holubi se vracejí'' is a Czech dark comedy from the Alcohol Treatment Centre. It was directed by Dušan Klein, released in 1987. Plot Cast * Milan Kňažko as Miloš Lexa * Rudolf Hrušínský as Masák * Alicja Jachiewicz as Soňa L ...

'' (1988) *''

How Poets Are Enjoying Their Lives ''How Poets Are Enjoying Their Lives'' () is a 1988 Czechoslovak comedy film directed by Dušan Klein and written by Klein with Ladislav Pecháček. The third installment in the "Poets hexalogy", the title is preceded by '' How the World Is Lo ...

'' (1988) *''

The End of Old Times ''The End of Old Times'' () is a 1989 Czechoslovak comedy film directed by Jiří Menzel. Cast * Josef Abrhám - Duke Alexej * Marián Labuda - Stoklasa * Jaromír Hanzlík - Spera * Rudolf Hrušínský - Jakub Lhota * Jan Hartl - Pustina * ...

'' (1989) *''

The Elementary School ''The Elementary School'' () is a 1991 Czechoslovak comedy-drama film directed by Jan Svěrák. The screenplay comes from the pen of his father Zdeněk Svěrák. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in ...

'' (''Obecná škola'', 1991) *'' La piovra'', (1992, TV series)

References

*Miloš Fikejz: ''Český film. Herci a herečky/1. A-K.'' Prague: Libri, 2006.

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hrusinsky, Rudolf 1920 births 1994 deaths People from Nová Včelnice Czech male stage actors Czech theatre directors Czech male film actors Czech male television actors 20th-century Czech male actors Burials at Olšany Cemetery Czechoslovak male actors Civic Forum politicians