Jiří Štěpnička: Czech actor dies at 79 amid family estrangement

Czech actor and voice artist Jiří Štěpnička passed away on October 11, 2026, at the age of 79. While he was a widely recognized figure, his private life was marked by significant family tension.

Štěpnička maintained a close and supportive relationship with his daughter, Judita, who assisted him with care and practical matters in his final years. In contrast, he shared a long-standing and bitter estrangement from his son, Jakub. The actor described their relationship bluntly, stating, “My son is a doctor. We hate each other!”

Reports suggest the conflict may have been fueled by disputes over a Prague apartment inherited from his maternal grandfather, painter Josef Říha, which the actor believed his son had squandered. Despite Jakub’s professional role in healthcare and his care for their late mother, Jana, the rift between father and son remained unresolved until the actor's death.