Josef Větrovec

Josef Větrovec (born March 5, 1922 in Pilsen, died February 11, 2002 in Prague) was a Czech actor.

From 1946 to 1960, he was an actor at the Theatre of Josef Kajetán Tyl in Pilsen. Then, from 1960 to 1990, he performed at the Emil F. Burian Theatre in Prague, where he served as director from 1973 to 1988. After the political changes, the theatre was closed in 1991.

He created a number of acting roles in films and television series; he was also a respected voice actor. He played, among others, the character of mayor Karel Mrázek (as well as his twin brother, a Prague taxi driver) in the popular TV series "Pod jedním dachem" (Under One Roof) (1975). He also appeared in the series "Trzydzieści przypadków majora Zemana" (Thirty Cases of Major Zeman) (1974–79) in the role of Colonel Pavlásek and "Arabela" (1979). Notable films he participated in include: "Noc panny młodej" (The Night of the Bride) (1967), "Skradziony balon" (The Stolen Balloon) (1967), "Najlepsza kobieta mojego życia" (The Best Woman of My Life) (1968), "Na komecie" (On the Comet) (1970), "Dni zdrady" (Days of Betrayal) (1973), "Oswobodzenie Pragi" (Liberation of Prague) (1976), "Jutro wstanę rano i oparzę się herbatą" (Tomorrow I Will Get Up in the Morning and Scald Myself with Tea) (1977), "Szpinak czyni cuda!" (Spinach Makes Miracles!) (1977), "Anielska diablica" (Angel Devil) (1983) and its sequel titled "Anioł uwodzi diabła" (Angel Seduces the Devil) (1988).

During World War II, he was active in the Czechoslovak resistance movement. In 1943, he was arrested by the Gestapo and was imprisoned in concentration camps in Terezin (KL Theresienstadt) and Buchenwald until the end of the war. In later years, he became a staunch communist, supporting the communist authorities of Czechoslovakia throughout his life.

(From the Polish Wikipedia, translated. Text under CC BY-SA license.)