Lukavský, Radovan

Born Feb. 1, 1919, in Prague. Czechoslovak actor.

In 1946, Lukavský graduated from the faculty of philosophy of the university and from the drama department of the conservatory in Prague. In the same year he began to perform in Prague theaters. He has been the leading actor of the National Theater since 1957. Among his parts have been Kulygin and Vershinin in Chekhov’s Three Sisters, Jan in Jirásek’s Father, Vocilka in Tyl’s The Bagpiper of Strakonice, Medvedenko in Chekhov’s The Seagull, Vaclav in Tyl’s Drahomira, and Becket in Anouilh’s Becket. Lukavsky also works in films and television. He is an actor with a keen mind and high artistic standards. His acting is characterized by simplicity and a modern interpretation of characters. These qualities were brilliantly demonstrated in his portrayal of Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play (1959).