Former Czech culture minister Martin Stepanek dies at 63

Sep 17, 2010, 11:23 GMT

Prague - Martin Stepanek, a Czech actor, radio journalist and former culture minister, committed suicide at the age of 63, local reports said Friday.

Reports said that Stepanek's wife discovered his body in the couple's Prague apartment on Thursday. He shot himself to death, according to the Blesk tabloid daily.

Stepanek was born on January 11, 1947, in Prague into a famed acting clan. He performed at Prague theatres, including the National Theatre, since late 1960s.

Stepanek emigrated to Austria in 1981 where he continued acting in Vienna. He relocated to Munich two years later, acting there and working as a commentator for the then Munich-based Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

He returned to Prague in early 1990s, after communism fell in former Czechoslovakia in 1989. Stepanek served for four months as the Czech Republic's culture minister between September 2006 and January 2007.

He is survived by his wife, Jaroslava Tvrznikova, son Jan and daughter Josefina.