Boleslav Polívka

oleslav “Bolek” Polívka is a beloved Czech actor, comedian, mime, playwright and screenwriter. He graduated from the Janáček Academy of Performing Arts (JAMU) in Brno, and from 1972 performed at the legendary Husa na provázku Theatre in productions such as Balada pro banditu, The Jester and the Queen, and Commedia dell’arte. In 1993 he founded his own Bolek Polívka Theatre in Brno, where he wrote and staged his original plays. His work is inspired by commedia dell’arte, slapstick and mime. He became famous for his stage, film and television roles, including Pupendo and Cosy Dens (Pelíšky). For his performance as Father Holý in Forgotten Light, he received the Czech Lion and the Best Actor Award at the Karlovy Vary IFF in 1997. He earned a second Czech Lion for the film Divided We Fall (Musíme si pomáhat), which was also nominated for an Academy Award. He appeared in several films by Věra Chytilová, including Kalamita (1981), The Jester and the Queen (1987), and the cult comedy The Inheritance or Kurvahošigutntag (1992). On television, he hosted popular shows such as Manéž Bolka Polívky and Bolkoviny. His children Kamila, Anna and Vladimír are also active in the arts.