Valič will be remembered by his numerous tragicomic and character roles, including in the first Slovenian feature film "Na svoji zemlji" (On Our Own Land).

Born in 1919 in Gorizia on the Slovenian territory that now belongs to Italy, Valič got his first acting experience in a Partisan theatre.

After liberation, he got his first major role at the Slovenian theatre in Trieste. He described the experience in his book "Sanje in resničnost" (Dreams and Reality, 1999).

But it was in Ljubljana's Drama theatre that his acting career took a decisive turn. That was the period when he established himself as an actor who won the Borštnik Ring, the highest accolade given to Slovenian theatre actors.

He was a specialist for both classical and modern roles. While playing in Moliere's comedies he was described as "great in the understanding of weakness and in the subtle reminding that we should look into ourselves before throwing the first stone".

In 1972 Valič received the Borštnik Award, conferred for best performances of that year, for his role of Geronto in Moliere's "Scapin's Schemings".

He played in many Shakespeare plays and was especially memorable in Carlo Goldoni's comedy "The Liar" and Anton Tomaž Lihart's "This Merry Day or Matiček's Wedding".

"Each time he appeared on stage the show came to life. Not just because of his imposing presence, but also because the audience expected him to cast a different light on certain genuine humane trait each time," the jury said as he received the Borštnik Ring in 2008.

Yet his greatest achievement was the portrayal of Rameau's nephew in the namesake play by Denis Diderot, as it cemented Valič's reputation as a character actor and set the benchmark against which all monodrama performances are still measured in Slovenia.

This also earned him in 1967 the Prešeren Fund Prize for outstanding achievements in the arts.

Valič also had a rich film career. He starred in 15 feature films, including the first Slovenian feature film, the 1948 war drama "Na svoji zemlji" (On One's Land) and the legendary 1964 comedy drama "Ne joči Peter" (Don't Cry, Peter).

He has written two books, "Dreams and Reality" and "Fontliners" (1980).

Valič started a veritable acting dynasty. His son Iztok is actor, director and the founder of a children and youth theatre in Ljubljana, while actor Domen Valič and comedian Vid Valič are his grandsons.

Dare Valič, an acclaimed actor, is his nephew, while Aleš Valič, the winner of the Prešeren Fund Prize and three Borštnik awards, is a distant relative.