Jan Rubes, a renowned basso singer, was born in Volyne, Czechoslovakia, to Ruzena Kellnerová and Jan Rubes.
After graduating from the Conservatory of Music in Prague in 1945, he joined the Prague Opera House as their youngest singer.
He also performed at the Pilsen Opera House, taking on leading roles in his early years.
By 1948, he was selected to represent Czechoslovakia at the International Music Festival in Geneva, where he won first prize in his category.
Jan Rubes immigrated to Canada on New Year's Eve 1948, seeking a greater musical career.
As a member of the Canadian Opera Company, he gained recognition for his roles, including Boris in "Boris Godunov", Schigolch in "Lulu", and Mephisto in "Faust".
He also served as the company's director of touring and program development.
In addition to his work in opera, Jan Rubes ventured into radio and television, writing and hosting TVOntario's "Guess What?" from 1975 to 1983.
He acted in numerous TV dramas and received the Earle Grey Award for his lifetime work in Canadian television.
Many moviegoers would recognize Jan Rubes in the film Witness (1985),where he played an Amish patriarch opposite Harrison Ford.
Jan Rubes lived in Toronto with his wife, actor and director Susan Douglas Rubes, and they had three children together.
