Jiří Hromada played and performed in two hundred television productions and programs. Stars such as Kirk Douglas, Marlon Brando, Morgan Freeman, Gerard Depardieu, Walter Matthau, Donald Sutherland, John Wayne, Peter Ustinov, Robert de Niro, Richard Chamberlain, Ben Afleck, Alan Rickman or Stellan Skarsgard spoke in his voice.
In the years 2011-2017, he was the president of the Actors’ Association. He was also a politician and gay activist.
“Jiří Hromada gave the Actors’ Association order and a system. He had experience in communication with the state administration. He devoted himself very intensively to the work for the association, he was a bulldog who, when he got into a problem, went after it and was not afraid to go into conflict. He could talk beautifully about acting. I remember the joint filming of a documentary about Eduard Kohout, when he spoke about him not only with great emotion, but also with professional erudition,” Ondřej Kepka told Novinkám.
PHOTO: A rainbow parade passed through Prague
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Jiří Hromada was born on June 14, 1958 in Chomutov. After his birth, he spent five years in a sanatorium with tuberculosis of the bones. It looked like he wouldn’t survive. He spent his childhood only with his mother, whom he loved very much. His grandfather and both of his mother’s brothers replaced him as a male role model.
Grandfather was an amateur actor. He took the loss of his mother in 2004 very hard, and it took a toll on his health, with food and alcohol. He had her urn at home and a second one for himself next to it.
After completing his acting studies at DAMU, he was engaged in the EF Buriana Theater, where he stayed for ten years. “I feel like I’ve always been someone else. And in all directions. I didn’t go to discos, but to the amateur theater, first the theater of poetry, then the classical theater, the interests of boys of my age went beyond me,” he said on TV’s 13th Chamber in 2011.
Photo: Profimedia.cz
In 2014 at the Thalia presentation with actress Květa Fialová
After the revolution with the cancellation of the theater, he remained inactive and dedicated himself to the gay movement. He became the president of the national organization of the Czech gay and lesbian movement, in the years 2007-2010 he was the head of advisers to the Minister for Human Rights Džamila Stehlíková and an adviser to Minister Michael Kocáb. He traveled all over the country and advocated in the broadest social context to change the homosexual minority’s view of the world.
He didn’t take care of himself and due to his gourmet, he gained weight up to a record 180 kilograms. He successfully tried to lose weight several times. He took working for the LGBT community very personally as a fight for his own human dignity.
He was a sociable and warm-hearted person who thought of others more than himself – everyone claims about him.
In February 1990, he became a co-founder of the Movement for the Equality of Homosexual Citizens. In the years 1991-2000, he chaired the Association of Homosexual Citizens’ Organizations in the Czech Republic, which covered forty regional organizations. In the years 2001-2006, he was the chairman of the Gay Initiative in the Czech Republic.
Photo: Profimedia.cz
In August 2018, at the first ever Prague Pride march
He always spoke openly about his sexual orientation and was instrumental in promoting the law on registered partnerships.
“When the law on registered partnership was voted in the Chamber of Deputies, I was happy. It was probably the greatest moment of my life,” he said in the 13th chamber. He wanted to summarize his twenty-year journey in pursuit of this fulfilled dream in book form.
Actor John Amos has died
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Jiří Hromada: A Life on Screen and Beyond
Ah, Jiří Hromada! The man who could make a storm in a teacup seem like a gentle ripple. A wilful player in the world of television, he wasn’t just another face in the crowd of Czech actors; he was the face that gave voice to legends like Kirk Douglas, Marlon Brando, and even Morgan Freeman! That’s no small feat—when your vocal cords are channelling such iconic figures, you better hope they don’t work on a ‘one take only’ basis, or Hromada would need to invest in some very expensive throat lozenges.
A Multifaceted Legacy
Born on June 14, 1958, in Chomutov, Jiří’s journey from a sanatorium bed to a stage shared with Hollywood’s crème de la crème is nothing short of cinematic itself. At a mere five years old, he wrestled tuberculosis like a pro wrestler at the top of his game! I mean, most of us only had to worry about the schoolyard bullies!
After shining at the DAMU acting school, Jiří threw himself into the EF Buriana Theater for ten glorious years, before diving headfirst into the chaotic, sparkling world of gay activism. It’s almost like he heard someone say, “The show must go on!” and took it a tad too seriously.
Now, if you thought that being a voiceover artist was just about reading in a suave tone, think again! Jiří had more than 200 television productions to his name. He was like the Swiss Army knife of Czech television—so versatile you could almost hear him narrating a documentary about… well, how to narrate a documentary!
Taking the Stage – and the Fight for Equality
Not content with simply being the golden voice behind Hollywood actors, Jiří became the president of the Actors’ Association from 2011 to 2017. Ondřej Kepka once said he was like a bulldog—fierce and relentless. Just imagine Jiří in a suit, jowls flapping, chasing down bureaucracy like it was a runaway car needing a firm brake!
His tenure wasn’t without its challenges—one moment he’s advocating for gay rights, the next he’s wrestling with politicians who might as well have been allergic to change. Hromada spent years championing the rights of homosexual citizens and became the co-founder of the Movement for the Equality of Homosexual Citizens in February 1990. Talk about multitasking!
His battles in the political arena were ongoing, but don’t let the seriousness fool you—he had a knack for turning even the most tedious political discussions into engaging stories. He could make a discussion about government regulations feel like a Shakespearean drama. Imagine a soliloquy about taxes! “To tax or not to tax, that is the question!”
A Personal Struggle
Behind the accolades and the star-studded career lay a heart that beat fiercely for his family and community. He held his mother’s urn at home with the kind of love that even Hollywood couldn’t script. “What a role model,” you might think! Jiří’s tumultuous journey included personal battles, notably with his weight, which once peaked at a staggering 180 kilograms! But just like any good actor, he embraced transformative moments—not just on screen but in the very fabric of his life.
Conclusion: A Life Remembered
Jiří Hromada was more than a voice; he was a vibrant tapestry of passion, humor, and activism. He broke down barriers, raised awareness, and made sure that the world knew—loud and proud—that love doesn’t have a shape or size, and neither does a life well-lived. His presence in the arts and his powerful advocacy have left an indelible mark on the hearts of many, proving that you can be both a fierce advocate and a gentle soul.
So, here’s to Jiří Hromada! May his legacy continue to inspire and remind us that laughter, love, and an unwavering spirit can change the world—one performance at a time.
