Otto Šimánek

Born: 1925-04-28

Otto Šimánek (April 28, 1925 Třešť - May 8, 1992 Prague) was a Czech mime, film and theater actor. He has starred in a number of comedies and several fairy tales. Probably his most famous role was the title role in the series Pan Tau. He trained as an electrician at Tesla in Prague and has so far played the theater only amateuristically. He later got to the Theater on May 5 and also traveled for a few months at the Theater under the Placht of Jindřich Plachta. He gained acting experience in various theaters. He worked in theaters in Zlín, Ostrava and finally in 1958 he was engaged in the Municipal Theaters of Prague, where he lasted until 1990. He played a number of large roles on the stage. The character of the clown Jean Debureau remains unforgettable for the audience in the dramatization of Kožík's novel The Greatest of the Pierots, where he could fully use his love for pantomime. Acting in the Prague theater also meant an opportunity to win film and television roles. He mainly played smaller roles in about forty films. The most famous is probably the role from the movie I'll Get Up Tomorrow and Bake My Tea. His character, Mr. Tau, entered the European and, to some extent, world film consciousness in the co-production series of the same name by director Jindřich Polák and screenwriter Ota Hofman. He also taught pantomime at the Prague Conservatory and DAMU. Among his students was, among others, the actor Petr Čepek. On the site of the pharmacy where Otto Šimánek was born, an ash statue was installed in 2011 depicting an actor in the role of Mr. Tau with a typical hand movement near his hat. The author is Daniel Stejskal.


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Three Wishes for Cinderella

as King (voice) (uncredited)
Released: 1973-11-16

Popelka, a resourceful and independent young girl, is a servant in her stepmother's house and...

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The Fabulous World of Jules Verne

as The Man on the Train
Released: 1958-08-22

As the world progresses into the industrial age, a professor studying the "nature of pure...

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The Fabulous Baron Munchausen

as Michal Ardan
Released: 1962-07-01

A 20th century man lands on the Moon and discovers that Baron Munchausen has beaten him to it,...

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Who Wants to Kill Jessie?

as uncredited
Released: 1966-08-26

In this zany Czechoslovakian comedy, a scientist invents a machine that projects a sleeping...

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Pan Tau – der Film

as Josef Novak (Pan Tau) and Rudolf Karasek
Released: 1988-11-03

Pan Tau, the friend of all children, now also helps the adults. A movie producer is in trouble...

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Tomorrow I'll Wake Up and Scald Myself with Tea

as Patrick White
Released: 1977-08-12

Former Nazi Klaus Abard survives to the 1990s by taking anti-ageing pills. He plans to use a...

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Dva muži hlásí příchod

as uncredited
Released: 1975-09-26

An only son, Jirí Valenta (Jaromír Hanzlík), has been drafted to the army. At the barracks he...

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Black Saturday

as Slávek (voice)
Released: 1961-01-06

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One of Them Is the Murderer

as Adam (voice)
Released: 1971-04-23

Marek (Jirí Holý), formerly a driver of a long-distance lorry, has served his term for smuggling...

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You Are a Widow, Sir

as průmyslník Alfred Keletti
Released: 1971-01-15

After a soldier cuts off the arm of king's cousin, king decides to deactivate the army. Of...

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Všude žijí lidé

as Rehák
Released: 1960-12-16

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Přísně tajné premiéry

as lupič Mareček
Released: 1968-01-26

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Merry Christmas Octopus

as učitel
Released: 1987-11-01

Eva and her younger brother Johnny own two sentient octopuses made out of strange matter. Will...

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The Phantom of Morrisville

as uncredited
Released: 1966-07-15

Inspector Brumpby (Jaroslav Marvan) and the young crime reporter Allan Pinkerton (Vít Olmer)...

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The End of Agent W4C

as Inventor
Released: 1967-10-06

The invincible agent Cyril Juan Borguette alias W4C has been assigned a mission to go to a hotel...

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Men About Town

as muž
Released: 1969-10-10

Three blue collar workers have a night out in big city Prague.

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Desire

as Brother-in-law (segment "Lidé na zemi a hvezdy na nebi")
Released: 1958-12-25

A poignant overview of how short life can be, this interesting drama from Czech director Vojetch...

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The Hope

as Fojtar
Released: 1964-01-17

A group of outcasts, including a vagabond and a prostitute, gather at the outskirts of the...

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Crime at the Girls School

as Prop Man (segment "Jak se koupe žena")
Released: 1966-02-18

Three short story omnibus. The main hero and connecting link is Lieutenant Boruvka, created by...

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Zelená vlna

as uncredited
Released: 1982-06-25

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Every Young Man

as voják
Released: 1966-05-13

Jurácek's feature debut is shot in two parts. In the first, a corporal accompanies a new recruit...

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Svatby pana Voka

as uncredited
Released: 1971-03-26

Czech nobleman Petr Vok of Rozmberk (Milos Kopecký) is no longer so young, but his amatory...

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Alarm in the Clouds

as Pan Tau
Released: 1978-11-01

In defiance of all the laws of physics Mr. Tau is walking on the wing of an aircraft flying...

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Letiště nepřijímá

as Pilot Dvořák
Released: 1960-02-26

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Mature Wine

as uncredited
Released: 1981-07-31

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Ta naše písnička česká

as uncredited
Released: 1967-08-11

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No Magic from Tomorrow

as Pan Tau
Released: 1979-11-01

Mr. Tau, the quiet and kind magician with a bowler hat and an umbrella, shows up unexpectedly on...

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Death Is Called Engelchen

as uncredited
Released: 1963-05-03

Pavel is a Czech partisan fighter in the waning days of the war. Just as peace is declared,...

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Shoesmachine

as laborer
Released: 1954-09-24

The happenings in a shoe factory serve as a not very thinly veiled examination of the pros and...

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...and again that Lucy!

as Mall Detective
Released: 1984-12-01

A second part of a funny adventures of six years old Lucie and her two magic dolls.

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Where an Alibi Is Not Everything

as Moravec
Released: 1961-07-28

“A bored housewife, a husband who married her for show, and a stupid boy who is full of himself...

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Panenka z vltavské tůně

as uncredited
Released: 1976-12-24

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Ohnivé ženy se vracejí

as uncredited
Released: 1987-03-28

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Tři chlapi v chalupě

as uncredited
Released: 1963-12-25

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Malý Bobeš ve městě

as uncredited
Released: 1962-12-07

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Touha Sherlocka Holmese

as uncredited
Released: 1972-03-03

Sherlock Holmes likes to play violin and expects a great career in music. He gets a place in a...

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Bubny

as uncredited
Released: 1965-03-12

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Wine Working

as uncredited
Released: 1976-04-30

It is the summer of 1968 and also in South Moravian Pálavice appear political clashes. The so...

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Zkouška pokračuje

as Inspicient
Released: 1960-09-02

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Lucy, the Menace of Street

as Mall Detective
Released: 1984-10-01

A first part of a funny adventures of six years old Lucie and her two magic dolls.

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Poslední růže od Casanovy

as uncredited
Released: 1966-08-05

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Černá dynastie

as uncredited
Released: 1962-11-30

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Fear

as okrskář v Roudné
Released: 1964-04-03

A car deliberately runs down a young man on a road by a small border town. The locals recognize...

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Policejní hodina

as uncredited
Released: 1961-04-21

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Začít znova

as uncredited
Released: 1964-03-13

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Chicken on Travels

as Teacher
Released: 1962-06-01

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Spadla s měsíce

as uncredited
Released: 1961-08-18

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Objev na Střapaté hůrce

as uncredited
Released: 1962-11-16

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Bambi Awards

as Self
First aired: 1948-01-01

The Bambi, often called the Bambi Award and stylised as BAMBI, is a German award presented...

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Bakaláři

as uncredited
First aired: 1972-02-19

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Arabela

as uncredited
First aired: 1980-12-25

Arabela was a children's television series produced in Czechoslovakia which aired from 1979 to...

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Arabela

as (uncredited)
First aired: 1980-12-25

Arabela was a children's television series produced in Czechoslovakia which aired from 1979 to...

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Pan Tau

as Pan Tau
First aired: 1970-12-13

Pan Tau always had a gentle expression and a friendly smile, he was elegantly dressed in a...

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Pan Tau

as Pan Tau / Alfons
First aired: 1970-12-13

Pan Tau always had a gentle expression and a friendly smile, he was elegantly dressed in a...

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The Visitors

as uncredited
First aired: 1983-11-05

It's the year 2484 and the Earth is threatened by a rogue comet which could fatally change its...

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Malý pitaval z velkého města

as uncredited
First aired: 1983-11-26

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Hříšní lidé města pražského

as uncredited
First aired: 1969-09-27

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Sňatky z rozumu

as uncredited
First aired: 1968-10-23

Sňatky z rozumu was a Czechoslovak television programme which was first broadcast in 1968. The...

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Muž na radnici

as uncredited
First aired: 1976-09-12

Muž na radnici was a Czechoslovak television program which was broadcast in 1976. The program...

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The Octopuses from the Second Floor

as Teacher
First aired: 1986-12-21

While on vacation with their bickering parents in Portugal, Eva and her little brother Johnny...

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F. L. Věk

as uncredited
First aired: 1971-09-12

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Dobrodružství šesti trampů

as uncredited
First aired: 1970-09-03

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Bejvávalo

as uncredited
First aired: 1966-01-01

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The Train of Childhood and Expectation

as uncredited
First aired: 1989-03-04

A story of a little girl Verka and her life during the beginning of WWII. Based on Vera Sládková...

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