Ivan Jandl

Ivan Jandl (January 24, 1937 – November 21, 1987) was an Academy Award-winning Czech child actor. Jandl appeared in the 1948 film The Search as a nine year old Czech boy who had survived Auschwitz and was searching for his mother in post-war Germany. Filmed on location, the performance of Jandl as a boy rendered mute by his experiences struck a chord with cinema goers and critics alike. He was awarded an Academy Juvenile Award for his work, but w... more

Ivan Jandl (January 24, 1937 – November 21, 1987) was an Academy Award-winning Czech child actor. Jandl appeared in the 1948 film The Search as a nine year old Czech boy who had survived Auschwitz and was searching for his mother in post-war Germany. Filmed on location, the performance of Jandl as a boy rendered mute by his experiences struck a chord with cinema goers and critics alike. He was awarded an Academy Juvenile Award for his work, but was not permitted to travel to the USA to accept it. He appeared in some Czech films in 1949 and 1950 and then left acting to continue his studies. He tried unsuccessfully to continue his acting career in his late teens, and eventually found work in radio. He died from complications of diabetes. less