Jan Rubeš

CM
Born
Jan Ladislav Rubeš

(1920-06-06)6 June 1920
Volyně, Czechoslovakia
Died29 June 2009(2009-06-29) (aged 89)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)Actor, opera singer
Years active1935–2006
Spouse(s)Susan Douglas (1950–2009; his death; 3 sons)

Jan Ladislav Rubeš[1] CM (6 June 1920 – 29 June 2009) was a Czech-Canadian bass opera singer and actor.[2]

Life and career

Susan Douglas and Jan Rubeš singing Czech folk songs, 1953

Rubeš was born in Volyně, Czechoslovakia, to Ružena (née Kellnerová) and Jan Rubeš.[3] Not long after World War II, he graduated from the Prague Conservatoire and joined the Prague Opera House as a bass singer. In 1948, he won first prize at the Geneva International Music Festival and emigrated to Canada at the end of the year to pursue a career in a wider sphere. Beginning as a singer with the Canadian Opera Company, he subsequently directed and became director of touring, before switching to radio and television, where he became well known as an actor and presenter in Canada. He is noted for his portrayal of Amish patriarch Eli Lapp in Peter Weir's major-market film Witness and Jan in D2: The Mighty Ducks.

Family

On 22 September 1950, Rubeš married actress Susan Douglas. The couple had three sons: Christopher (died 1996), Jonathan, and Anthony. They remained married until his death in 2009. He is the great uncle of Czech YouTuber Janek Rubeš.

Death

On 29 June 2009, Rubeš died following a stroke at Toronto General Hospital.[1][4]

Awards and recognition

Filmography

Motion pictures

Television movies

Television series

  • 1963: The Forest Rangers - Jaworski / Gregor Kowalski
  • 1970: Castle Zaremba - Col. Kazimir Zaremba
  • 1970: The Barbara McNair Show - Himself
  • 1983: Vandenberg - Lewis Vanderberg
  • 1975-1983: Guess What (host)
  • 1985: Kane & Abel (miniseries) - The Polish Consul
  • 1985: Murder in Space - Gregory Denarenko
  • 1986: Kay O'Brien - Dr. Josef Wallach
  • 1986: Crossings (miniseries) - Isaac Zimmerman
  • 1988: Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show (as a special guest) - Jan Rubes
  • 1989: War of the Worlds - (Episode, "Choirs of Angels") - Dr. Erik von Deer
  • 1990: Street Legal (season 4, Episode 4X13 "Leon's Story") - Arthur Robinovitch
  • 1990: Max Glick - Augustus Glick
  • 1992-1993: By Way of the Stars (miniseries) - Hausierer Nathan
  • 1996: The X-Files (Episodes Tunguska [uncredited] and Terma) - Vassily Peskow
  • 1996-1998: Due South - Dr. Mort Gustafson
  • 1997: The Third Twin (miniseries)
  • 1999: The Outer Limits (Episode, "Tribunal") - Robert Greene / Older Karl Rademacher
  • 2000: Stargate SG-1 (season 3, Episode 21 "Crystal Skull") - Nicholas Ballard

References

  1. 1 2 "Jan Rubeš brought a wide range of talents to stage, screen and radio". The Globe and Mail. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  2. ↑ "Jan Rubeš". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Historica Canada. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  3. ↑ Profile, filmreference.com; accessed 11 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Opera singer and actor Jan Rubeš dies at 89". CBC News. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  5. ↑ "Order of Canada citation: Jan Rubes, C.M." Governor General of Canada. Archived from the original on 5 July 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2009.
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