Karel Fiala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Karel Fiala
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Show Jana Krause, FTV Prima 2014
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| Born | 3 August 1925 Hrušov, Czechoslovakia
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| Died | 3 October 2020 (aged 95) |
| Occupation | Actor, opera singer |
Karel Fiala (born August 3, 1925 – died October 3, 2020) was a famous Czech singer and actor. He was known for singing in operas and musicals. He became very famous for playing Don Giovanni in the movie Amadeus.
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About Karel Fiala
Karel Fiala was born on August 3, 1925. His hometown was Hrušov, which is in Czechoslovakia (now part of the Czech Republic). Before becoming an actor, he worked as a chimney sweeper. In 1947, he started studying music at the Prague Conservatory. He continued his studies at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and finished in 1955.
Early Acting Career
While still a student, Fiala began performing in operas. He started at the National Theatre in Prague in 1949. He worked there until 1954. After that, he joined the main actors at the Hudební divadlo Karlín theatre. He performed there for many years.
He was very good at playing parts in operettas and musicals. Some of his famous roles included Count Danilo in The Merry Widow. He also played Freddy in My Fair Lady and Jim Kenyon in Rose-Marie.
Film Roles and Fame
Fiala is best known for his many roles in Czech films. These films were often based on operas, operettas, and musicals. His first movie was in 1956. He played the main character in Dalibor. This movie was based on an opera with the same name.
A very big success for him was playing the main part in the 1964 musical film Lemonade Joe. He also famously appeared as Mozart's Don Giovanni in the 1984 film Amadeus. This movie won an Academy Award. Fiala also acted in a few Czech films where he did not sing. These were usually smaller roles. His last film was Tichý společník in 1989.
Awards and Personal Life
In 1988, Fiala received the Medal of Merit. This was an award from the government of Czechoslovakia. In 2013, he won the Czech Thalia Prize. This award is for great achievements in acting. He was married three times and had four sons.
Karel Fiala passed away on October 3, 2020. He was 95 years old and had been ill for a long time. He died in Vršovice, Prague.
His Political Views
Karel Fiala supported the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia for some time. However, in 1968, he left the party. He did this to protest against the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia. This event was when armies from several countries entered Czechoslovakia.
