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Libuse Safránková was born on 7 June 1953 in Brno, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Kolja (1996), Bájecná léta pod psa (1997) and Tri orísky pro Popelku (1973). She was married to Josef Abrhám. She died on 9 June 2021 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Jan Tríska was born on 4 November 1936 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Ronin (1998), Apt Pupil (1998) and The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996). He was married to Karla Chadimová. He died on 25 September 2017 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Karel Zeman was a Czech film director, screenwriter, and animator. He is primarily remembered for creating fantasy and science fiction films which combined live-action and animation.

In 1910, Zeman was born in the village of Ostromer in Austria-Hungary. The village is located near the town of Nova Paka, whose main tourist attraction is an abandoned monastery of Minims.

Zeman originally pursued a business education in the town of Kolin. In the 1920s, he studied advertising in France. He remained in France until 1936, working at an advertising studio in Marseilles. His first experience with animation was creating an animated advertisement for soap.

In the late 1930s, Zeman returned to Czechoslovakia, where he continued working in advertising. He created advertisements for companies such as Bata and Tatra. In 1939, Zeman attempted to migrate to Casablanca to avoid the poor living conditions in the German-occupied Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. He was soon barred from migrating.

During World War II, Zeman became the advertising head of advertisement at Dum Sluzeb in the city of Brno. He participated in a window-dressing competition there, which his won. Film director Elmar Klos (1910-1993) filmed a newsreel about the competition and became acquainted with Zeman. Klos offered Zeman work at an animation studio located in Zlin. Zeman accepted the business proposal in 1943.

Zeman started working as an assistant animator under veteran animator Hermina Tyrlova (1900-1993), who would eventually be nicknamed "the mother of Czech animation". In 1945, Zeman became the head of the animation's studio, stop-motion animation production group. He started work on his first short film "A Christmas Dream", which combined live-action with puppet animation. The plot involved a dream about toys coming to life.

In 1946, Zeman introduced a series of short films featuring a puppet called Mr. Prokouk. The series gained a fan following. In 1948, Zeman completed the short film "Inspiration", as an experiment in using glass in animation productions. In 1950, Zeman completed a half-hour film called "Kral Lavra" (King Lavra), an adaptation of a satirical poem by Karel Havlicek Borovsky (1821-1856), The film depicted the legend of Labraid Loingsech, High King of Ireland and was met with critical success. Zeman won a National Award with this film.

In 1952, Zeman created his first feature film "The Treasure of Bird Island", adapting a Persian fairy tale. He used several experimental techniques in animation. His next film was "Journey to the Beginning of Time" (1955), in which he animated many prehistoric animals. It was his first film to have an international release. Zeman worked on 8 other feature films between 1958 and 1980, as well as a large number of short films. He was one of Czechoslovakia's most famed animators.

Zeman retired in 1980, at the age of 70. He had been working as a director for 34 years at that point. He died of natural causes in April 1989, about 7 months before the Velvet Revolution and the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia. He was 78-years-old.

Zeman has been called as one of the 20th century's most innovative and influential animators. He has been cited as an influence by (among others) Wes Anderson, Tim Burton, Terry Gilliam, and Jan Svankmajer.

Juraj Herz was born on 4 September 1934 in Kezmarok, Czechoslovakia [now Slovakia]. He was a director and actor, known for Spalovac mrtvol (1969), Habermann (2010) and Panna a netvor (1978). He was married to Therese Herz. He died on 8 April 2018 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Jirí Menzel was born on 23 February 1938 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor and director, known for Ostre sledované vlaky (1966), I Served the King of England (2006) and Skrivánci na niti (1969). He was married to Olga Menzelová-Kelymanová. He died on 5 September 2020 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Vera Chytilová was born on February 2, 1929, in Ostrava, Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic). She studied philosophy and architecture in Brno for two years, then worked as a technical draftsman, a designer, a fashion model, a photo re-toucher, then worked as a clapper girl for Barrandov Film Studios in Prague. There she continued as a writer, actress, and assistant director.

She was denied a scholarship, or even a recommendation from Barrandov, but she took the admissions tests at FAMU and was accepted. From 1957-1962 she studied film directing under Otakar Vávra, who also taught Jirí Menzel, Milos Forman, Jan Nemec, and Ivan Passer. In 1962 she graduated as director from Film Academy (FAMU) in Prague. Her graduation film 'Strop' (Ceiling 1962) and the following film 'Pytel blech' (A Bagful of Fleas 1963) were "staged" improvisations with non-actors. In 1966 Chytilova and her husband, 'Jaroslav Kucera', made a witty surrealist comedy Sedmikrásky (1966), which was immediately banned, but then was released in 1967, and won the Grand Prix at the Bergamo Film Festival. She remained in Czechoslovakia after the events of 1968, when her colleagues Milos Forman, Jan Nemec, and Ivan Passer emigrated. Her films were often "shelved" for reasons of political censorship. For six years Chytilova was banned from making films. In 1976 she wrote a letter of complaint to President Gustav Husak, describing her artistic position. After some behind-the-scenes influence by her supporters, Chytilova was allowed to make a low-budget Hra o jablko (1977), which won a Silver Hugo at Chicago Film Festival.

Chytilova belongs among the foremost directors of the 1960's Czech New Wave, which was influenced by both the French New Wave and Italian Neo-Realism. Her films were acclaimed for visual experimentation and for bold unmasking of the moral problems of contemporary society. Her art belongs to what Sergei Eisenstein described as "intellectual cinema", that embraces the mix of "avant-garde", "cinema verite", "formalism", "feminism", or "happening" and, with a good deal of humor, it spreads beyond definitions. Chytilova's films often present a multi-layered plethora of visual associations that encourages the viewer to make active interpretations. She survived through the political turbulences in Czechoslovakia and has been a highly original and uncompromising filmmaker.

Hana Brejchová was born on 12 December 1946 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Lásky jedné plavovlásky (1965), Amadeus (1984) and Nejkrásnejsí vek (1969). She was married to Jaroslav Barina. She died on 20 April 2024 in Kladno, Czech Republic.

Oldrich Lipský was born on 4 July 1924 in Pelhrimov, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was a writer and director, known for Tajemství hradu v Karpatech (1981), Limonádový Joe aneb Konská opera (1964) and Zabil jsem Einsteina, panove (1970). He died on 19 October 1986 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic].

Stu Gilliam was born on 27 July 1933 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was an actor, known for Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976), What's Happening!! (1976) and The Meteor Man (1993). He was married to Vivian White. He died on 11 October 2013 in Ceské Budejovice, Czech Republic.

Frantisek Vlácil was born on 19 February 1924 in Cesky Tesin, Moravian-Silesian, Czech Republic. He was a director and writer, known for Marketa Lazarová (1967), Adelheid (1969) and Údolí vcel (1968). He died on 28 January 1999 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Eman Fiala was born on 15 April 1899 in Prague, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor and composer, known for Proc se nesmejes (1923), Batalión (1937) and Batalion (1927). He died on 24 June 1970 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic].

Jaromil Jires was born on 10 December 1935 in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia [now Slovak Republic]. He was a director and writer, known for Zert (1969), ...a pozdravuji vlastovky (1972) and Valerie a týden divu (1970). He died on 26 October 2001 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Reinhard Heydrich began his career as an officer in the post-World War I German navy. He was dishonorably discharged after becoming involved in an illicit love affair. The young woman became pregnant, but instead of marrying her, Heydrich met and soon got engaged to Lina von Osten. In 1930 Heydrich, now unemployed, was persuaded by his wife to join Adolf Hitler's National Socialist (Nazi) party, which he did the next year; he also became a member of the SS at that same time. As one of its first officers, Heydrich was tasked by Heinrich Himmler to expand the small organization into an internal security force to monitor the Nazi party. The result was the creation of the SD (Sicherheistdienst [Security Service]), which was combined, in 1934, with the Gestapo (Gestaatspolizei, or state secret police) to form the much feared SS Security Police, which Heydrich--now an SS Brigadier General--commanded. He played a major role in the destruction of the SA, known as the "storm troopers", which was an internal security service set up by Hitler but which he now suspected of plotting against him; the organization was destroyed and many of its officers, including its leader, Ernst Röhm, were murdered in June of 1934. For his services Heydrich was made a Lieutenant-General in the SS.

At the start of World War II Heydrich became commander of the consolidated Reich security forces, which he formed into the Reich Security Central Office of the SS. Also, by this time, Heydrich had become a major figure in the rounding up and planned extermination of Europe's Jews. On his orders, the SS-Einsatzgruppen--Special Groups--were created for the purpose of hunting down, rounding up and exterminating Jews in Poland and Russia. Three years later, in 1942, he chaired the infamous Wannsee Conference, where the decision was made to exterminate all the Jews of Europe. Promoted to SS-General (Obergruppenfuhrer), Heydrich was made the Reich Governor of Czechoslovakia at the start of 1942. Aware of how powerful, cunning and dangerous Heydrich was, British intelligence agents put together an operation designed to kill him, and trained and dispatched three Czech exiles to Prague. The assassination was carried out in May of 1942. Heydrich died a short while later, on June 4th, the same day of the historic Battle of Midway in the Pacific.

If ever a truly monstrous and evil man existed, it was Reinhard Heydrich, one of the masterminds of the Holocaust. In a horrific act of revenge, called "Operation Reinhard," Hitler had the entire village of Lidice, Czechoslovakia--near where Heydrich was killed--exterminated. All male inhabitants above the age of 15 were shot; all other residents were sent to concentration camps, and the village itself was physically wiped off the face of the earth. Heydrich was buried with full honors. His grave on the Invalidenfriedhof in Berlin is now anonymous in order to prevent any form of remembrance.

Harry O'Connor was born on 28 August 1957 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. He is known for The Perfect Storm (2000), Charlie's Angels (2000) and Air Force One (1997). He died on 4 April 2002 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Míla Myslíková was born on 14 February 1933 in Trebíc, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Jak svet prichází o básníky (1982), Konec básníku v Cechách (1993) and Spalovac mrtvol (1969). She died on 11 February 2005 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Rudolf Hrusínský was born on 17 October 1920 in Nový Etynk-Vcelnice, Czechoslovakia [now Nová Vcelnice, Czech Republic]. He was an actor and director, known for Spalovac mrtvol (1969), Tajemství hradu v Karpatech (1981) and Pancho se zení (1946). He died on 13 April 1994 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Vladimír Mensík was born on 9 October 1929 in Ivancice, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor and writer, known for Nahá pastýrka (1966), Slamený klobouk (1972) and Spalovac mrtvol (1969). He was married to Olga and Vera. He died on 29 May 1988 in Brno, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic].

Gene Deitch was an animator at UPA. He later joined Terrytoons in 1955. He created characters like "John Doormat", "Clint Clobber", "Gaston Le Crayon", "Sidney", and "Foofle". In early 1958, his theatrical cartoon Sidney's Family Tree (1958) was nominated for Academy Award. In August, 1958, he was fired from Terrytoons, and in 1960, he moved to Prague, Czechoslovakia to work with William L. Snyder, and directed approximately a dozen Tom and Jerry cartoons for MGM, and also "Krazy Kat" and "Popeye" for King Features, and also a Oscar Winning Munro (1961). He later created "Nudnik", a character based on "Foofle", which he created, while at Terrytoons. He lived in Prague, with his wife, Zdenka, until the time of his death on April 16th, 2020.

Frantisek Filipovský was born on 23 September 1907 in Prelouc, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Jak svet prichází o básníky (1982), Haskovy povidky ze stareho mocnarstvi (1952) and Dobrý voják Svejk (1957). He was married to Hilda Kvicinská. He died on 26 October 1993 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Milena Dvorská was born on 7 September 1938 in Prostejov, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. She was an actress, known for Kamenný most (1996), Alexander Dumas starsi (1970) and Kouzelný dum (1970). She was married to Josef Krause. She died on 22 December 2009 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Jirí Vala was born on 27 November 1926 in Poprad, Czechoslovakia [now Slovakia]. He was an actor and writer, known for Poklad byzantského kupce (1967), Snatky z rozumu (1968) and Zlá krev (1986). He died on 15 November 2003 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Antonin Dvorak was a son of butcher, but he did not follow his father's trade. While assisting his father part-time, he studied music, and graduated from the Prague Organ School in 1859. He also was an accomplished violinist and violist, and joined the Bohemian Theatre Orchestra, which was under the baton of Bedrich Smetana in 1860s. For financial reasons he quit the orchestra and focused on composing and teaching. He fell in love with one of his students, but she married another guy. Her sister was available, so Dvorak married the sister, Anna, in 1873, and they had nine children.

Dvorak's early compositions were influenced by Richard Wagner and Johannes Brahms, and with their promotion his music became performed in European capitals and received international acclaim. His performances in 1880s of Slavonic Dances, the Sixth Symphony and the Stabat Mater were a success in England, and Dvorak received an honorary doctorate from Cambridge. He made a successful concert tour in Russia in 1890, and became a professor at the Prauge Conservatory. In 1892 he received an invitation to America from Jeaunnette Thurber, the founder of he National Conservatory of Music in New York City. Dvorak was the Director of the National Conservatory in New York for three years (1892-95), where he also taught composition and carried on his cross-cultural studies.

Dvorak broadened his experiences through studying the music of the Native Americans and African Americans, many of whom became his students and friends. Dvorak was inspired by the originality of indigenous American music and culture, as well as by the spirituals and by the singing of his African American students. Dvorac incorporated his new ideas, blended with his Bohemian roots, into his well-known Symphony No.9 in E minor "From the New World". He worked on this symphony for most of the spring and summer of 1893, and made it's glorious premiere in Carnegie Hall in December, 1893. In America he also wrote the remarkable Cello Concerto and two string quartets, including the Quartet in F ("The American"). Dvorak was doing very well in New York financially, but his heart was in Prague and he left America for his Czech Motherland. He had a big family with his wife and nine children in Prague. He became the Director of the Prague Conservatory in 1901 and kept the position until his death in 1904.

Miroslav Ondrícek was born on 4 November 1934 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was a cinematographer, known for Amadeus (1984), If.... (1968) and Hair (1979). He was married to Eva. He died on 28 March 2015 in Prague, Czech Republic.

Karel Hermánek was born on 17 October 1947 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Stalingrad (1993), Cerní baroni (2004) and Zdivocelá zeme (1997). He was married to Hana Hermánková. He died on 24 August 2024 in Príbram, Czech Republic.

Karel Kachyna was born on 1 May 1924 in Vyskov, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was a director and writer, known for Ucho (1970), Nadeje (1964) and Vysoká zed (1964). He was married to Alena Mihulová. He died on 12 March 2004 in Prague, Czech Republic.