Czech actor Vladimír Ráž († 77) entered the hearts of the audience as a symbol of justice and nobility in the fairy tale Proud Princess, where he portrayed King Miroslav. As reported by the Czech daily, both his path to fame and his private life were marked by unexpected twists and deep wounds.
The man from a strict official family did not originally dream of acting. His ambitions extended to medicine or professional sports. However, his plans were thwarted by the war and the closing of universities, which paradoxically brought him to the stage. His charisma and captivating voice quickly made him a star, but while his career was on the rise, he privately faced his first unimaginable loss.
Tragedy broke the marriage with actress Alexandra Myškováwhich they could not overcome. Their son Martin died as a few-month-old baby from sudden infant death syndrome. Myšková went to the theater and left the little boy with the nanny. After returning home, she saw a terrible sight, as her son was no longer breathing in the crib. The emotional gap between the spouses deepened just at the time when Ráž got his life role in the fairy tale The Proud Princess.
A spark between him and Alena Vránová, who played Princess Krasomila, ignited on the set. Both were engaged at the time, and their affair turned into a national scandal. The disgraced husband of the actress, the writer Pavel Kohout, even publicly pilloried their relationship problems in a play called Good Song.
Even the second marriage of two film idols did not bring the desired harmony. Their household soon turned into a scene of constant conflicts, jealousy and mutual distrust. Ráza’s known weakness for women did not go unanswered. Vránová finally repaid him with the same coin when she found comfort in the arms of the Austrian veterinarian.
The toxic environment was poorly tolerated, especially theirs daughter Markéta, who possessed a high intellect and knew four foreign languages, but fell into alcoholism. Her addiction finally took her life at the age of 50. The artist did not resent love even after two failed marriages. He opened his third life chapter in his sixties, when he married Olga Hnátková, a teacher almost thirty years younger.
They had a daughter, Veronika, who was born with a physical disability, as her the left hand was missing. In this situation, however, the artist behaved like the real King Miroslav. He surrounded his daughter with immense love and support, thanks to which she grew into a successful athlete.
Ráž preserved his acting honor until the last moments. Three days before his departure in July 2000, he was in front of the camera during the production of the series Zdivočelá země. When he finally died peacefully in his sleepleft behind the legacy of a person who was not broken by life’s slaps and who remained a top and classy professional until the end.
