He was known for his work in operettas and musicals, but received worldwide attention for his portrayal of Mozart's Don Giovanni in the film Amadeus.

Fiala was born on 3 August 1925 in Hrušov (Ostrava), Czechoslovakia, and initially worked as a chimney sweeper[1] before entering the Prague Conservatory in 1947.

He was committed to that theatre through 1954 after which he joined the roster of principal artists at the Hudební divadlo Karlín where he performed roles for several decades.

He was particularly successful in portraying parts in operettas and musicals, including such roles as Count Danilo in Lehar's The Merry Widow, Freddy in My Fair Lady, and Jim Kenyon in Rose-Marie.

[1] Fiala also appeared as a non-singing actor in a handful of Czech films during his career, mostly in smaller roles.