Jan Tříska


Jan Tříska was a Czech actor who played over 160 roles across stage, film, and television. He worked in the United States after emigrating there in the 1970s, but later returned to his native country following the Velvet Revolution. He was a three-time Czech Lion Award nominee, for Best Actor in Leading Role, and twice for Best Supporting Actor.

Biography

Tříska was born in Prague on November 4, 1936. He studied at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. After graduating in 1959, he became the youngest member to join the National Theatre, where he acted in Karel Čapek's The White Disease and Vilém Mrštík's Maryša. He also worked with Otomar Krejča's Za Branou Theater and in municipal theatres throughout Prague. He appeared in many Czechoslovak films, and was the official Czech-language dubber of Jean-Paul Belmondo from 1965 to 1977.

Life and career in the United States

After signing the Charter 77 proclamation, he emigrated to the United States via Cyprus and Canada. His first American film role was in Ragtime, directed by fellow Czech emigre Miloš Forman. He played supporting parts in Reds, The Osterman Weekend, 2010: The Year We Make Contact, The Karate Kid Part III, Apt Pupil, as well as guest appearances on Highlander: The Series, and Highlander: The Raven. One of his more notable roles was as Joseph Paul Franklin, the would-be-assassin of Larry Flynt, in Miloš Forman's The People vs. Larry Flynt.

Return to the Czech Republic

After the Velvet Revolution of 1989, Tříska visited the Czech Republic to perform in movies such as The Elementary School, Horem pádem, the Academy Award nominated Želary and Máj. In 2002, Tříska received an Alfréd Radok Award for his performance as Lear in King Lear at the Summer Shakespeare Festival at Prague Castle. In 2005, he was nominated for the Czech Lion Award for Best Actor in Leading Role for his performance in the Jan Švankmajer film Lunacy.

Later life and death

Although he occasionally visited the Czech Republic, Tříska remained a permanent resident of the United States in Los Angeles, California.
On 23 September 2017, for reasons yet to be determined, Tříska fell from the Charles Bridge in Prague. Passengers on a nearby boat rescued him from the Vltava River, after which he was resuscitated and hospitalized in serious condition. He died in hospital two days later on 25 September 2017.

Personal life

Tříska was married to Czech actress Karla Chadimová. He has two children, Jana and Karla, and two grandchildren, Augustin and Josephine.

Partial theatre credits

American National Theater

New York's Public Theater

La Jolla Playhouse

Tylovo divadlo, Prague

Divadlo za branou

Národní divadlo, Prague

Others

Selected filmography