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Otakar Jirák, iconic Czech actor and voice artist, dies at 77
Czech actor, voice actor, and mime Otakar Jirák has passed away at the age of 77. His death was confirmed by his wife, Drahomíra, following a sudden illness on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Jirák was a highly recognizable figure in Czech culture, particularly known for his distinctive, warm voice. For over four decades, he provided the voice for the character Hele in the beloved children's program ‘Studio Kamarád’. His extensive dubbing career included iconic roles such as the alien Alf, Obelix in the ‘Asterix’ series, and Manny the mammoth in ‘Ice Age’.
Beyond voice work, Jirák was a versatile performer who studied puppetry at DAMU. He worked as a mime in various troupes, including the Alfréd Ctibor Turbo Circus and the Boris Hybner GAG group, and performed at prestigious venues like the Semafor Theatre. He also held a long-term engagement at the Municipal Theatre in Mladá Boleslav.
In recent years, Jirák had faced significant health challenges, including a heart attack and a stroke in 2019. Despite these struggles, he remained active in the arts and was a frequent presence in television series such as ‘Slunečná’ and ‘Ordinace v růžové zahradě’.
Entities
Damu · Drahomíra Jirák · Drahomíra Jiráková · Municipal Theatre in Mladá Boleslav · Městské divadlo Mladá Boleslav · Otakar Jirák · Semafor Theatre · Studio Kamarád
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What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] He provided the Czech voice for characters including Alf, Manny the mammoth in 'Ice Age', and Hele from 'Studio Kamarád'. ct24.ceskatelevize.cz · www.novinky.cz
- [● 4 SOURCES] Otakar Jirák died on Saturday evening, October 17, 2026, at the age of 77. zena.aktualne.cz · ct24.ceskatelevize.cz · www.novinky.cz
- [● 3 SOURCES] The final farewell will be held privately within a close family circle. zena.aktualne.cz · www.novinky.cz
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The actor passed away following a sudden illness. zena.aktualne.cz
- [● 4 SOURCES] He studied puppetry at DAMU and worked in various theater groups, including Semafor and the Municipal Theatre in Mladá Boleslav. zena.aktualne.cz · ct24.ceskatelevize.cz · www.novinky.cz