He appeared in more than one hundred films, and is considered a key figure in the postwar development of Czech cinema.

[1] One of his best-known roles was as the title character in Jakob der Lügner for which won the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 25th Berlin International Film Festival.

[2] He also played the king in the hit children's TV series Arabela and as Alois Drchlík in The Visitors.

His final film role was as a pensioner named Frantisek in Autumn Spring.

He was married to Jana Brejchová for 16 years before getting a divorce; together they had a daughter, actress Tereza Brodská.