Otto Šimánek
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.
Three Wishes for Cinderella
as King (voice) (uncredited)Popelka, a resourceful and independent young girl, is a servant in her stepmother's house and...
Movie pageThe Fabulous World of Jules Verne
as The Man on the TrainAs the world progresses into the industrial age, a professor studying the "nature of pure...
Movie pageThe Fabulous Baron Munchausen
as Michal ArdanA 20th century man lands on the Moon and discovers that Baron Munchausen has beaten him to it,...
Movie pageWho Wants to Kill Jessie?
as uncreditedIn this zany Czechoslovakian comedy, a scientist invents a machine that projects a sleeping...
Movie pagePan Tau – der Film
as Josef Novak (Pan Tau) and Rudolf KarasekPan Tau, the friend of all children, now also helps the adults. A movie producer is in trouble...
Movie pageTomorrow I'll Wake Up and Scald Myself with Tea
as Patrick WhiteFormer Nazi Klaus Abard survives to the 1990s by taking anti-ageing pills. He plans to use a...
Movie pageDva muži hlásí příchod
as uncreditedAn only son, Jirí Valenta (Jaromír Hanzlík), has been drafted to the army. At the barracks he...
Movie pageOne of Them Is the Murderer
as Adam (voice)Marek (Jirí Holý), formerly a driver of a long-distance lorry, has served his term for smuggling...
Movie pageYou Are a Widow, Sir
as průmyslník Alfred KelettiAfter a soldier cuts off the arm of king's cousin, king decides to deactivate the army. Of...
Movie pageMerry Christmas Octopus
as učitelEva and her younger brother Johnny own two sentient octopuses made out of strange matter. Will...
Movie pageThe Phantom of Morrisville
as uncreditedInspector Brumpby (Jaroslav Marvan) and the young crime reporter Allan Pinkerton (Vít Olmer)...
Movie pageThe End of Agent W4C
as InventorThe invincible agent Cyril Juan Borguette alias W4C has been assigned a mission to go to a hotel...
Movie pageMen About Town
as mužThree blue collar workers have a night out in big city Prague.
Movie pageDesire
as Brother-in-law (segment "Lidé na zemi a hvezdy na nebi")A poignant overview of how short life can be, this interesting drama from Czech director Vojetch...
Movie pageThe Hope
as FojtarA group of outcasts, including a vagabond and a prostitute, gather at the outskirts of the...
Movie pageCrime at the Girls School
as Prop Man (segment "Jak se koupe žena")Three short story omnibus. The main hero and connecting link is Lieutenant Boruvka, created by...
Movie pageEvery Young Man
as vojákJurácek's feature debut is shot in two parts. In the first, a corporal accompanies a new recruit...
Movie pageSvatby pana Voka
as uncreditedCzech nobleman Petr Vok of Rozmberk (Milos Kopecký) is no longer so young, but his amatory...
Movie pageAlarm in the Clouds
as Pan TauIn defiance of all the laws of physics Mr. Tau is walking on the wing of an aircraft flying...
Movie pageNo Magic from Tomorrow
as Pan TauMr. Tau, the quiet and kind magician with a bowler hat and an umbrella, shows up unexpectedly on...
Movie pageDeath Is Called Engelchen
as uncreditedPavel is a Czech partisan fighter in the waning days of the war. Just as peace is declared,...
Movie pageShoesmachine
as laborerThe happenings in a shoe factory serve as a not very thinly veiled examination of the pros and...
Movie page...and again that Lucy!
as Mall DetectiveA second part of a funny adventures of six years old Lucie and her two magic dolls.
Movie pageWhere an Alibi Is Not Everything
as Moravec“A bored housewife, a husband who married her for show, and a stupid boy who is full of himself...
Movie pageTouha Sherlocka Holmese
as uncreditedSherlock Holmes likes to play violin and expects a great career in music. He gets a place in a...
Movie pageWine Working
as uncreditedIt is the summer of 1968 and also in South Moravian Pálavice appear political clashes. The so...
Movie pageLucy, the Menace of Street
as Mall DetectiveA first part of a funny adventures of six years old Lucie and her two magic dolls.
Movie pageFear
as okrskář v RoudnéA car deliberately runs down a young man on a road by a small border town. The locals recognize...
Movie pageBambi Awards
as SelfThe Bambi, often called the Bambi Award and stylised as BAMBI, is a German award presented...
TV Show pageArabela
as uncreditedArabela was a children's television series produced in Czechoslovakia which aired from 1979 to...
TV Show pageArabela
as (uncredited)Arabela was a children's television series produced in Czechoslovakia which aired from 1979 to...
TV Show pagePan Tau
as Pan TauPan Tau always had a gentle expression and a friendly smile, he was elegantly dressed in a...
TV Show pagePan Tau
as Pan Tau / AlfonsPan Tau always had a gentle expression and a friendly smile, he was elegantly dressed in a...
TV Show pageThe Visitors
as uncreditedIt's the year 2484 and the Earth is threatened by a rogue comet which could fatally change its...
TV Show pageSňatky z rozumu
as uncreditedSňatky z rozumu was a Czechoslovak television programme which was first broadcast in 1968. The...
TV Show pageMuž na radnici
as uncreditedMuž na radnici was a Czechoslovak television program which was broadcast in 1976. The program...
TV Show pageThe Octopuses from the Second Floor
as TeacherWhile on vacation with their bickering parents in Portugal, Eva and her little brother Johnny...
TV Show pageThe Train of Childhood and Expectation
as uncreditedA story of a little girl Verka and her life during the beginning of WWII. Based on Vera Sládková...
TV Show page