
Jan Ladislav Rubeš CM (6 June 1920 – 29 June 2009) was a Czech-Canadian bass opera singer and actor. Born in Czechoslovakia, he graduated in 1945 from the Conservatory of Music in Prague. Rubes went on to join the Prague Opera House as their youngest basso singer. He also performed at the Pilsen Opera House in leading roles in his early years. By 1948, he was chosen to represent Czechoslovakia at the International Music Festival held in Geneva and won first prize in his category. He emigrated to Canada on New Year's Eve 1948 with hopes of creating a greater musical career. As a member of the Canadian Opera Company, he achieved recognition for his roles, as Boris in "Boris Godunov", Schigolch in "Lulu" and as Mephisto in "Faust". As well, he served as the company's director of touring and program development. Branching out into radio and, eventually, TV, he wrote and hosted from 1975-83 TVOntario's "Guess What?" and acted in many TV dramas, later receiving the Earle Grey Award for lifetime work in Canadian television.

Witness
1985 · as Eli Lapp

D2: The Mighty Ducks
1994 · as Jan

Class Action
1991 · as Pavel

The Amateur
1981 · as Kaplan

Mr. Patman
1981 · as Vrakettas

Snow Falling on Cedars
1999 · as Ole Jurgensen

Devlin
1992 · as Vittorio Di Fabrizi

Music from Another Room
1998 · as Louis Klammer

Dead of Winter
1987 · as Dr. Joseph Lewis

The Kiss
1988 · as Gordon Tobin

Deceived
1991 · as Tomasz

Our Fathers
2005 · as Pope John Paul

Roommates
1995 · as Bolek Krupa

The Experts
1989 · as Illyich

Two Men
1988 · as Michael Barra

Descending Angel
1990 · as Bishop Dancu

Your Ticket Is No Longer Valid
1981 · as Psychiatrist

The Incredible Journey
1963 · as Carl Nurmi