Vladimír Valenta

Vladimír Valenta

Deceased · Born: May 28, 1923 · Died: May 13, 2001

Personal Details

BornMay 28, 1923 Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]

Biography

In the tumultuous landscape of Czechoslovakia, actor and writer Ladislav Valenta found himself at odds with both the Nazi regime and its subsequent Communist successor, ultimately leading to seven years of imprisonment and labor camp confinement, with four of those years spent in a grueling uranium mine labor camp.

Prior to his imprisonment, Valenta had established himself as one of Czechoslovakia's most prominent film and television personalities, but the Soviet tanks' invasion of Prague in 1968 sent him fleeing to Canada with his family.

In his new Canadian home, Valenta continued to work in the film industry, directing productions for the National Film Board of Canada and appearing in numerous Canadian and European films. He often reflected on his experiences under six different political regimes, stating, "When you are a character, like me, and not a collaborator, you worry every day, no matter the regime."

Valenta's impressive career included a notable role as Max the Stationmaster in the 1968 Academy Award-winning foreign film, Closely Watched Trains. In the 1970s, he collaborated with acclaimed directors Milos Forman and Ivan Passer at the Chelsea Hotel in New York.

In 1993, Valenta was the subject of a National Film Board documentary, Closely Watched Freedom, directed by Tom Radford, which provided a poignant glimpse into his remarkable life and career.

Career

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1989
{"id":7103,"title":"The Unbearable Lightness of Being","year":"1988","character":"Mayor","permalink":"https:\/\/streamfind.com\/us\/movie\/the-unbearable-lightness-of-being","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamfind.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/7o244liqp9q0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamfind.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/7o244liqp9q0.jpg"},"released":1}
1988
{"id":62801,"title":"Draw!","year":"1984","character":"Mordecai Hurwitz - General Store","permalink":"https:\/\/streamfind.com\/us\/movie\/draw","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamfind.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_62801.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamfind.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_62801.jpg"},"released":1}
1984
Draw!
Draw! as Mordecai Hurwitz - General Store
{"id":24599,"title":"The Amateur","year":"1981","character":"Uncle Ludwig","permalink":"https:\/\/streamfind.com\/us\/movie\/the-amateur","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamfind.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_24599.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamfind.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_24599.jpg"},"released":1}
1981
The Amateur
The Amateur as Uncle Ludwig
{"id":64667,"title":"Sunday in the Country","year":"1974","character":"Luke","permalink":"https:\/\/streamfind.com\/us\/movie\/sunday-in-the-country","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamfind.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_64667.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamfind.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_64667.jpg"},"released":1}
1974
{"id":164679,"title":"Wolfpen Principle","year":"1974","character":"","permalink":"https:\/\/streamfind.com\/us\/movie\/wolfpen-principle","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamfind.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_164679.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamfind.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_164679.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":223028,"title":"Closely Watched Trains","year":"1966","character":"Stationmaster Max","permalink":"https:\/\/streamfind.com\/us\/movie\/closely-watched-trains","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streamfind.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_223028.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streamfind.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_223028.jpg"},"released":1}
1966
Closely Watched Trains
Closely Watched Trains as Stationmaster Max