| Josef Abrhám | |
| Birth Date: | 14 December 1939 |
| Birth Place: | Zlín, Bohemia and Moravia (now Czech Republic) |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Years Active: | 1961–2017 |
| Children: | 1 |
Josef Abrhám (14 December 1939 – 16 May 2022)[1] was a Czech film and theatre actor.[2] [3]
He originally began studying acting at Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava and later moved to Theatre Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, where he graduated in 1962. While still a student, he played at the National Theatre,[4] after graduation he performed for three seasons at the Vinohrady Theater. In 1965–1982 he was one of the leading actors in The Drama Club in Prague and has been noted as one of the Czech Republic's best performers.[5] Then he briefly performed at the National Theater, but he ended his long-term commitment in August 1994 and (with two exceptions) quit theatre acting completely.[3]
He was also a popular film and television actor. In 1962 he was given his first major film role in the film Transport from Paradise directed by director Zbyněk Brynych. This was followed by the major roles in The Cry (1963) and the role of writer Jaroslav Hašek in Velká cesta (1963). In the Czech Republic his most famous roles were seductive physician Blažej in the television series Hospital at the End of the City (1978 - 1981) and fake waiter Vrána in Waiter, Scarper! (1981).[6]
In 1994 he won the Czech Lion Award for Best Actor in Leading Role for his role of Prokop in the film Big Beat. He was also nominated in 2006 for the Czech Lion Award for Best Supporting Actor for Beauty in Trouble and in 2011 for the Czech Lion Award for Best Actor in Leading Role for Leaving.[7] In 2020, he received the Thalia Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Between 1968 and 1976 his partner was the actress Naďa Urbánková, he was married to actress Libuše Šafránková from 1976 until her death in 2021.[8]