Karel Fiala

Karel Fiala (3 August 1925 – 3 October 2020) was a Czech operatic tenor and film actor. 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.

Biography Fiala was born on 3 August 1925 in Hrušov (Ostrava), Czechoslovakia, and initially worked as a chimney sweeper

While still a student, Fiala began performing in operas at the National Theatre in Prague in 1949. 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.

Fiala is chiefly remembered for his numerous appearances in films of Czech operas, operettas, and musicals. His first film was in 1956 where he portrayed the title role in Dalibor, a movie version of Smetana's opera of the same name. A major success for him was the title part in the 1964 musical film Lemonade Joe.

Politics Fiala was an active supporter of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia until 1968 when he resigned his membership in protest at the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia.