Vladimir Kulich facts for kids

Vladimír Kulich (born on July 14, 1956) is an actor from the Czech Republic who also has Canadian citizenship.

He is well-known for playing strong characters. Some of his famous roles include Buliwyf in the movie The 13th Warrior, Tiberius in Ironclad, and Erik in the TV series Vikings. He also lent his voice to Ulfric Stormcloak in the video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and played The Beast in the TV series Angel. In 1995, he appeared as Olafsson in an episode of The X-Files called "Død Kalm."

When he was younger and lived in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, he was a professional ice hockey player. He often helps out by playing in charity games with famous people, including the Los Angeles Kings Alumni Association.

Early Life and Hockey Dreams

Growing Up in Prague

Vladimír Kulich was born in Prague, which was then part of Czechoslovakia. His family was already involved in acting. His uncle ran a theater company in the city. This gave young Vladimír a chance to see what it was like to be on stage.

He visited the theater often. When he was about five years old, his uncle let him help with small tasks. These often included getting drinks for people during breaks. Vladimír became very interested in acting. He thought that acting would be his future job.

First Acting Jobs and Moving to Canada

He started by performing in small parts at the State Theatre of Czechoslovakia. His first paid acting job was in a low-budget Czech film. He played a crying boy who had lost his balloon. However, his acting career changed when his parents divorced. Vladimír and his mother then moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Vladimír was twelve years old when they moved to Quebec. They lived in a simple apartment in a less wealthy part of their neighborhood. He was sad to find that there were no theaters or acting chances nearby. So, he started playing hockey as a hobby. As his mother worked hard to find a job, Vladimír became more and more involved in the sport.

From Hockey Player to Actor

As Vladimír focused more on ice skating, he stopped acting for a while. He even got encouragement from John Ferguson, Sr., a famous player for the Montreal Canadiens. Ferguson liked Vladimír and, when he became the head coach for the New York Rangers, he offered Vladimír a chance to try out for the team.

Vladimír didn't make the main team. But he soon started playing for one of their smaller teams in Port Huron, Michigan. Even though he might have been called up to the main team, Vladimír decided to stop playing professional hockey after one year. He was 21 years old at the time.

Starting Over in Film and TV

From Rafting to "Hollywood North"

After leaving hockey, Vladimír tried different things. He worked at a summer camp for children with disabilities. He also started reading more and tried painting. He couldn't find a clear path, so he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. There, he started a whitewater river rafting business near Chilliwack, B.C.. Vladimír owned and ran the business, sometimes guiding trips for ten years.

This business eventually helped him get back into acting. The acting industry was growing in Vancouver. Some people even called the city "Hollywood North" because many TV and film projects were being made there. One weekend, some producers from the TV show 21 Jump Street went on a rafting trip with Vladimír's company. They were impressed by his unique look. They offered him a small role on their show, which he accepted. He played a doorman and only said one word. But it was enough to bring him back to acting and set him on the path to more recognition.

Moving to Los Angeles

Soon, Vladimír started getting guest roles on other TV shows like MacGyver and Wiseguy. In January 1990, he decided to try his luck in Hollywood. He drove from Vancouver to Los Angeles, California. He planned to give himself one month to find an acting opportunity.

He knew he might need to return to his rafting business in Canada if things didn't work out. The month was almost over when he finally got a call saying an agent would represent him. Still being practical, Vladimír gave himself one more month to find work. His agent sent him to an audition for the TV miniseries The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake. He felt a bit discouraged after the audition. He decided to go back to Vancouver a few days early. But even though he left, he still got the part! As the month ended, he received a call telling him he was needed back in L.A.

A Big Break with The 13th Warrior

Through the mid-1990s, Vladimír kept working in movies and TV shows. He mostly stayed in Vancouver. He appeared on shows like The Commish and Highlander. His most memorable early role was on The X-Files. He played a crew member on a ship caught in strange events. For this episode, he had to learn lines in Norwegian. This was his first truly rewarding acting experience.

Again, his thoughts turned to Hollywood. He liked living in Canada, but the chance for greater success in L.A. was too strong to ignore. Vladimír got his green card and moved to the U.S. soon after.

After moving, Vladimír faced financial challenges. He was often asked to audition for roles as villains. He became so unhappy with his agent that he fired him without having another one lined up. Soon after, his former agent contacted him. Even though Vladimír was no longer his client, the agent had heard about a Viking-themed movie. He thought Vladimír would be perfect for it.

The project was first called Eaters of the Dead, but later changed to The 13th Warrior. Vladimír didn't know much about the movie, and the audition was very simple. Two months later, he was told that the director, John McTiernan, wanted to meet him. By the time of his screen test, Vladimír realized this was a big project. He hoped it would be the "big break" he needed.

Filming was long and sometimes difficult. It took place in the familiar landscapes of British Columbia. Vladimír had never ridden a horse before playing Buliwyf. This character was based on the mythical hero Beowulf. But Vladimír naturally fit into the role. When the movie came out in 1999, his performance was noticed by audiences and critics. Even though the movie didn't become a huge hit, the experience was good for Vladimír. It brought him new recognition and more fans. His performance in this movie helped him get other important roles later on.

From 2000 to Today

The Beast in Angel

After The 13th Warrior, Vladimír went back to the Czech Republic with his earnings. He thought about buying a home there and retiring quietly. But in the end, he decided to continue his acting career in the U.S. The trip did make him more interested in his heritage and his home country.

Back in L.A., Vladimír looked for more important film and TV roles. In 2002, he got a call about a part in the TV series Angel. This show was a spin-off from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Casting agents wanted him to play The Beast. Vladimír didn't know much about the show at first. But he knew of it because he had the same manager as the show's star, David Boreanaz, for a year.

When he read for the role, Vladimír was shown drawings of the character. At first, he was a bit worried. The part meant he would be covered in special effects, makeup, and a detailed costume. He would be completely unrecognizable. Only his voice would remain the same. Still, he realized that being considered for such a role showed that people trusted his acting skills.

After another reading, the show's executive story editor, Mere Smith, told him how much she liked his performance in The 13th Warrior. Even though he was still not thrilled about what would be a very tiring filming schedule, Vladimír felt better after the compliment and accepted the part. He played The Beast in eight episodes during Angel's 2002-2003 season. Filming took 11 weeks in the fall.

His transformations on set involved a fiberglass bodysuit that weighed about 50 pounds. It took an hour to put on. The detailed makeup and special effects took four hours to apply. The experience was positive for Vladimír. It gave him much more attention as an actor than he had received for The 13th Warrior. He also had his first on-screen kiss with Angel co-star Charisma Carpenter.

Later Roles and New Ventures

After his time on Angel, Vladimír attended some fan gatherings and conventions. He was a guest at the Starfury: Quor'Toth convention in London, England, in June 2005. In May 2004, he also spoke at 15 Minutes Plus. This was an event at the University of Southern California that offered workshops on topics like film, theatre, music, and screenwriting.

Vladimír returned to acting in late 2005. He was offered the role of a mysterious character called The Swede in the action movie Smokin' Aces. Even though he wasn't on screen for long, he was an important part of the story. The movie's writer and director, Joe Carnahan, told Vladimír how much he admired his work in The 13th Warrior. He offered him the job right away. When Smokin' Aces came out in early 2007, it did fairly well at the box office. It has become even more popular on DVD.

In 2006, Vladimír met his two half-brothers. They were his father's sons from another marriage. Before this meeting, the three had never met or spoken. Vladimír knew little about them, except that they shared his last name. After getting to know each other, the brothers decided to start a production company together. They named it Charles Bridge Productions, and it is based in Prague. The name comes from the Charles Bridge, a historic bridge in Prague built in 1357. Vladimír plans for this company to help foreign film companies that want to film projects in his home country.

Vladimír played Tiberius, the leader of Danish soldiers, in the 2011 independent film Ironclad. The movie is about King John's attack on Rochester Castle in the year 1215.

In 2011, Vladimír voiced Ulfric Stormcloak. This character is the leader of a rebellion in the popular video game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim by Bethesda Softworks.

Hobbies and Helping Others

Languages and Creative Pursuits

Because he has traveled a lot, Vladimír Kulich speaks four languages fluently: Czech, French, English, and Hungarian. He has said he is interested in someday writing and developing his own film projects. He might even try directing.

Hockey and Charity

Vladimír has not forgotten the sports he loved when he was young. Even though he no longer plays hockey professionally, he is still a big fan of the sport. Lately, he has returned to playing the game. He sees it as a way to feel good and remember his past. He has used his hockey skills to play in many charity games. These games are sponsored by the Los Angeles Kings and their Alumni Association.

Some of the well-known games he played in were the "Freeze the Disease" Pro/Celebrity Hockey Games in 2005, 2006, and 2007. The Freeze the Disease Foundation is a group of volunteers. They organize an annual friendly hockey game to help children and young adults who have cystic fibrosis.

Animal Lover and Home Renovation

Vladimír is a big dog lover, especially of large breeds. He has adopted many dogs from animal shelters over the years. His dog Spanky, a 95-pound pit bull terrier, was allowed to visit Vladimír on the set of Angel during his last day of filming. The show's star, David Boreanaz, who also loves dogs, welcomed Spanky warmly. Vladimír has also spent time helping a rescue organization. This group uses special methods to help pit bulls that have been mistreated.

The actor also loves architecture. He has worked on several house renovation projects. He has learned how to do woodworking and electrical tasks. But his favorite part is redesigning houses. This includes big changes like removing walls to make more space. This work has sometimes helped him earn money. It has also been a way for him to relax. Vladimír has also explored his musical side by learning to play the guitar. He has written songs for the instrument, but only for his own enjoyment.

Motorcycle Accident

Vladimír has been a fan of motorcycles for many years, just like his father. However, he had a serious motorcycle accident in late April 2007 while riding in Prague. He was in the hospital for three days because of his injuries. This stay was extended to ten days after he had an allergic reaction to his pain medicine. Looking back, Vladimír sees the accident as an experience that changed his life. He is very thankful that he survived it.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Vladimir Kulich para niños