He graduated from DAMU, after which he played for three seasons at the Vinohrady Theatre (then the Czechoslovak Army Theatre). He then anchored at the Drama Club until 1992, where his performances won him critical acclaim. He briefly performed at the National Theatre, but left the theatre permanently in August 1994.
He became popular with the public mainly thanks to his appearances in film and television. His first major film role was given to him in 1962 by director Brynych in the film Transport from Paradise (1962). This was followed by the roles of the expectant father in The Scream (1963) and the writer Hašek, whom he played in The Great Journey (1963). In the film Man Against Destruction (1989) he played the main role of the writer Karel Čapek. From 1990 to 1995 he performed in accompanying programmes at exhibitions (Herbert Masaryk, T. G. Masaryk - Man and Art) organised by the Masaryk Democratic Movement.
In 2006 he was nominated for the Czech Lion in the category of supporting actor.
After an eight-year relationship with Nadia Urbánková, he was married to actress Libuša Šafránková from 1976 (until her death in June 2021). They have a son Josef (* 1977), who has 4 children - two sons with his first wife Denisa Grimmová, a director, sons Josef (* 2006) and Antonín (* 2009) and a daughter Laura and a son Benjamin with his second wife Ludmila.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Josef Abrhám, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
2017
as Václav Novotný
2016
as Saint Joseph
2016
2015
as Čaroděj Kruciatus
2013
2013
as José
2013
as Václav David
2013
2013
as Fotios
2012
as Kruml
2012
2011
as Vilém Rieger
2010
as Narrator (voice)
2009
as Král Ferdinand
2008
as král Dobromil
2008
2008
2007
as Josef Hrabě
2007
as Hotel Manager Brandejs
2006
as Evuen Benes
2005
as král Filip I.
2005
2005
2004
2004
as soused Lupínek
2003
2003
2002
as král lesního palouku
2001
as král
2001
1999
as Jakub Silberstein
1999
as Father
1998
as Brandejs
1998
1995
1995
as Faust
1994
as Dirigent
1994
as Evzen
1993
as Prokop
1993
1993
1992
1991
as Friend of Kafka
1991
as Macheath
1991
1991
1990
1990
as Vaněk
1990
as Robert
1990
as Aksál
1990
as MUDr. Vojtěch Albert
1989
as Karel Čapek
1989
1989
1989
as Leutnant Seuter
1989
as Duke Alexej
1988
as hrabě Schönstein
1987
as Himself
1987
as Šipučin
1987
1986
1986
1986
1986
1986
1986
1986
1985
as JUDr. Smutný, prokurátor
1985
1985
as Falsacappa
1985
as Profesor Žalud
1985
1985
1984
as Tomáš Krchňák
1984
as Martin Hardy
1984
1984
as Narrator in Radio (voice)
1983
as Kamil
1983
1983
as divadelní vědec
1983
1983
1983
1983
as Icharev
1982
as Jaroslav Hilbert
1981
as Eisenstein
1981
as Capitano
1981
1981
as Steve Carella
1981
as pyrotechnik Jaroslav Ticháček
1981
as Narrator (voice)
1981
as Dalibor Vrána
1980
as Narrator (voice)
1980
1980
as Danda Jr.
1980
1980
as Tomáš Růžička, přítel Evy
1979
as Count Boleslaw Barański
1979
as Knotek
1979
as Jack Worthing
1979
as Petr
1978
1977
1976
as Učitel Janda
1976
1976
1976
as MUDr Rendl
1976
as Engineer
1976
1975
1975
1975
as Capt. Havránek (segment "Kapsář")
1975
1975
as Commentary (voice)
1974
1974
1974
as Pacovský (voice)
1974
1974
1974
1973
1973
1973
1972
as Marek
1972
1972
1972
1972
as Eddie
1971
1971
as Poručík Rudi Macháček
1971
1971
1970
as Peter
1970
as Parrot Trader
1970
1970
1970
1969
1969
as inspicient
1969
as (segment "Chlebové střevíčky")
1969
1969
1969
1968
as Vitalij (voice)
1968
as Bernard Mulligan alias Bertík
1968
as D.E. Huppert
1967
as Karel (voice)
1967
as Ptáček
1967
as Zdeněk (voice)
1966
as Priest (voice)
1966
1965
1965
as Honza (voice)
1965
as Borek
1964
as Mára (voice)
1964
as Slávek
1963
as Kája Micka (voice)
1963
as Jaroslav Hašek
1963
1962
1962
1962
as Pepik
1961
as witness Jirka Ruml