Jiří Voskovec

Jiří Voskovec (Czech pronunciation: [ˈjɪr̝iː ˈvoskovɛts]) (June 19, 1905 in Sázava (Benešov District), Bohemia as Jiří Wachsmann – July 1, 1981 in Pearblossom, California, U.S. as George Voskovec) was a Czech-American actor, playwright, dramatist, director, translator, and poet. Throughout most of his career he was associated with Jan Werich. He is most well known for his role as the 11th juror in the American film 12 Angry Men (1957 film).

His granduncle was Bedřich Wachsmann and his cousin was Alois Wachsman, both Czech painters and architects. Also his uncle was Austrian painter Julius Wachsmann (1866-1936).

He attended school in Prague and in Dijon, France, and became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1955.

Biography