Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthdate
1920-06-06
Day of Death
2009-06-29
Place of Birth
Volyně, Czechoslovakia
Jan Rubeš
Biography
Jan Ladislav Rubeš CM (6 June 1920 – 29 June 2009) was a Czech-Canadian bass opera singer and actor. Born in Czechoslovakia, he graduated in 1945 from the Conservatory of Music in Prague. Rubes went on to join the Prague Opera House as their youngest basso singer. He also performed at the Pilsen Opera House in leading roles in his early years. By 1948, he was chosen to represent Czechoslovakia at the International Music Festival held in Geneva and won first prize in his category. He emigrated to Canada on New Year's Eve 1948 with hopes of creating a greater musical career. As a member of the Canadian Opera Company, he achieved recognition for his roles, as Boris in "Boris Godunov", Schigolch in "Lulu" and as Mephisto in "Faust". As well, he served as the company's director of touring and program development. Branching out into radio and, eventually, TV, he wrote and hosted from 1975-83 TVOntario's "Guess What?" and acted in many TV dramas, later receiving the Earle Grey Award for lifetime work in Canadian television.
Filmography (53)
Our Fathers
2005
Daniel and the Superdogs
2004
The Burial Society
2002
Anthrax
2001
The Christmas Secret
2000
Believe
2000
Snow Falling on Cedars
1999
What Katy Did
1999
Nightmare Man
1999
The White Raven
1998
Rescuers: Stories of Courage - Two Couples
1998
Music from Another Room
1998
Flood: A River's Rampage
1997
Sarabande
1997
