Best ex-Yugoslav actors ever
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Rade Serbedzija was born in Bunic (Korenica) in 1946. Graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. Still a student, he started to play the leading roles in films and theater productions. He is remembered as an outstanding Peer Gynt, Don Juan, Georgij, Melkior, Oedipus, Hamlet, Leon and Richard III. He wrote and published four books of poetry and released four albums, as well as directed 12 plays (Balade Petrice Kerempuha, Kazu da je sova nekad bila pekareva kci, Judita, Hrvatski slavuj...). He shot more than seventy films (Rdece klasje (1970), Zadah tela (1983), Hajka (1977), Vecernja zvona (1986), Bravo maestro (1978), Variola Vera (1982), Una (1984), Usijanje (1979), Life Is Beautiful (1985), Cyclops (1982), Povratak (1979), Horvatov izbor (1985), Dreaming the Rose (1986), Kontesa Dora (1993)...), and starred in leading roles of several TV-series (Sam covjek, U registraturi (1974), Prosjaci i sinovi (1971), Bombaski proces (1977), Nikola Tesla (1977), Putovanje u Vucjak (1986)...). He joined Vanessa Redgrave to found a theater that produced plays such as Brecht in exile, Liberation of Skopje, Smoke, Opera Sarajevo. He took part in many charity and peace initiatives. After a world famous film Before the Rain (1994) where he played the leading role, he was cast in films by prominent directors of the world (P. Noyce, J. Woo, S. Kubrick, F. Rossi...), in films such as The Saint (1997) (P. Noyce), The Truce (1997) (F. Rossi), Prague Duet (1998), Broken English (1996), Eyes Wide Shut (1999) (S. Kubrick), Polish Wedding (1998), Stigmata (1999), Mighty Joe Young (1998), The Sweet Sounds of Life (1999), Open Sea (1999), Mission: Impossible II (2000), Space Cowboys (2000), Snatch (2000), and in South Pacific (2001), Hermano (2007), Quicksand (2003), currently in post-production. He starred alongside Val Kilmer, Elisabeth Shue, John Turturro, Tom Cruise, Glenn Close. He lives in London.- Actor
- Director
- Script and Continuity Department
Predrag 'Miki' Manojlovic was born on 5 April 1950 in Nis, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He is an actor and director, known for Underground (1995), The Heir Apparent: Largo Winch (2008) and We Are Not Angels (1992). He is married to Tamara Vuckovic. They have one child.- Actor
- Writer
Fabijan Sovagovic was born on 4 January 1932 in Ladimirevci, Croatia, Yugoslavia. He was an actor and writer, known for Rhythm of a Crime (1981), Covjek koji je volio sprovode (1989) and Handcuffs (1970). He was married to Maja Blaskov-Sovagovic. He died on 1 January 2001 in Zagreb, Croatia.- Mustafa Nadarevic was born on 2 May 1943 in Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for The Glembays (1988), Washed Out (1995) and No Man's Land (2001). He was married to Slavica Radovic, Snjezana Nozinic and Jasna Nadarevic. He died on 22 November 2020 in Zagreb, Croatia.
- Danilo 'Bata' Stojkovic was born on 11th of August 1934 in Belgrade, Stojkovic in Belgrade. He was one of the most prominent and respectable actors in the history of Yugoslav and Serbian cinema.
He acted in 68 films during his life (debut in Covek iz hrastove sume (1964)), more than 50 TV dramas and 20 TV series. The character Bubuleja in Sinisa Pavic's TV series Diplomci (1971) is considered to be the most popular role of this actor. He began his career as a theatre actor in the 1950s in Yugoslav Drama Theatre and later as a member of a famous "Atelje 212" (1961-1999). He realized more than 80 theater roles, such as Pete in "The Birthday Party" by Harold Pinter, Lopahin in "The Cherry Orchard" by Anton Chekhov, Ilija Cvorovic in "The Balkan Spy" by Dusan Kovacevic, Luka Laban in "The Professional" by Dusan Kovacevic and Captain in "The Father" by August Strindberg. Danilo 'Bata' Stojkovic was one of the favorite actors of director Slobodan Sijan and writer Dusan Kovacevic. - Dragan Nikolic's movie debut was in 1964 Pravo stanje stvari (1964), but he started his career with role Dzimi Barka in movie When I Am Dead and Gone (1967), directed by Zivojin Pavlovic and for this role, he was awarded with Diploma at Pula Film Festival in 1968. He appeared in more than 90 feature films. In 1985 he received the "October award" of Belgrade. He was married to Milena Dravic.
He lived in Belgrade, worked in theatre and acted in TV series like A Better Life (1987) and Porodicno blago (1998). He was regular member of famous Belgrade theatre "Atelje 212" (1969-2009) where he realized more than 50 roles, such as Berger in "Hair" by Gerome Ragni and James Rado, Djenka Djavo in "The Marathon Family" by Dusan Kovacevic, Gavrilo in "St. George Kills The Dragon" by Dusan Kovacevic and The Unknown in "The Visitor" by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt. - Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
Bora Todorovic was born in Belgrade, in the teacher's family which was first led by service to Milanovac. He had lost his father there during his childhood and then the family moved to Arandjelovac. Then followed going to Belgrade, secondary school and army service. He had not dreamed about acting but he was imperceptible bitten by this profession fever, since his elder sister Mira Stupica, had already been considerably infected with this fever. On Belgrade Drama Arts Academy he was taught secrets of craft in class of Jozo Laurencic, together with Ljuba Tadic and Slobodan 'Cica' Perovic. His first theatre engagement was in Belgrade Drama Theatre. When Mira and her husband Bojan Stupica had got engagement in Zagreb, Bora went with them and for four years (1957-1961) he spent there he got his self-confidence playing great and significant roles. After that he came back in Belgrade, in Atelje 212, where was roles like: "Arsenic and Old Laces" by Kesselring, "Maratonci trce pocasni krug" and "Radovan III" by Dusan Kovacevic, "Cudo u Sarganu" by Ljubomir Simovic... We remember series such as Radjanje radnog naroda (1969), Ceo zivot za godinu dana (1971), Diplomci (1971) ... His work on movie, after debut in U mrezi (1956), really started with Prague school directors breakthrough - Goran Paskaljevic, Goran Markovic, Slobodan Sijan. He played in Who's Singin' Over There? (1980), Montenegro (1981), Maratonci trce pocasni krug (1982), Balkan ekspres (1983), Balkan Spy (1984) and finally Time of the Gypsies (1988) by Emir Kusturica where his magnificent talent was fully expressed. The whole decade (1986-1996) Bora was absent from stage and his come-back was in "Lari Tompson, tragedija jedne mladosti" by Dusan Kovacevic in Zvezdara Theatre in Belgrade. Last years, Bora Todorovic spent in Prague and Belgrade, with his wife and three children.- Actor
- Music Department
Pavle Vuisic was born on 10 July 1926 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for Who's Singin' Over There? (1980), The Written Off Return (1976) and Maratonci trce pocasni krug (1982). He died on 1 October 1988 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia.- Actor
- Music Department
Slobodan Aligrudic was born on 15 October 1934 in Bitolj, Yugoslavia [now North Macedonia]. He was an actor, known for Do You Remember Dolly Bell? (1981), Written Off (1974) and The Written Off Return (1976). He died on 13 August 1985 in Gradac, Croatia, Yugoslavia.- Actor
- Writer
Ljuba Tadic was born on 31 May 1929 in Urosevac, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He was an actor and writer, known for Doktor Mladen (1975), Mars na Drinu (1964) and Uka i Bjeshkëve të nemura (1968). He was married to Visnja Djordjevic and Snezana Niksic. He died on 28 October 2005 in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro.- Actor
- Director
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Aleksandar Bercek was born on 4 September 1950 in Vrdnik, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He is an actor and director, known for Who's Singin' Over There? (1980), Another Life (1992) and Cabaret Balkan (1998).- Ivo Gregurevic was born on 7 October 1952 in Orasje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for Ne dao Bog veceg zla (2002), Tri muskarca Melite Zganjer (1998) and The Reaper (2014). He was married to Dubravka Ostojic. He died on 1 January 2019 in Zagreb, Croatia.
- Bogdan Diklic was born on 1 August 1953 in Bjelovar, Croatia, Yugoslavia. He is an actor, known for Fuse (2003), Obrana i zastita (2013) and No Man's Land (2001).
- Actor
- Producer
Svetozar Cvetkovic was born on 20 June 1958 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He is an actor and producer, known for Turneja (2008), You Go to My Head (2017) and Bullets Over Marseille (2021).- Actor
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Boro Stjepanovic was born on 8 May 1946 in Vares, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. He is an actor and director, known for No Man's Land (2001), The Bridge at the End of the World (2014) and Who's Singin' Over There? (1980).- Actor
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- Producer
Slavko Stimac is a Serbian actor, who was born on October 15, 1960 in Konjsko Brdo, a village in municipality of Perusic, Croatia, Yugoslavia. He began acting when he was only 12 years old and starred in popular movies like "Sutjeska", "Cross of Iron" "Specijalno vaspitanje" and "Ko to tamo peva". With his leading role in Emir Kusturica's classic "Sjecas Li Se, Dolly Bell" Stimac gained international popularity. Then he graduated from Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. His collaboration with Kusturica continued in the next years.- Davor Dujmovic was born on 20 September 1969 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for Time of the Gypsies (1988), Underground (1995) and Last Waltz in Sarajevo (1990). He died on 31 May 1999 in Novo Mesto, Slovenia.
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Lazar Ristovski was born in Ravno Selo in the province of Vojvodina. He graduated from the Teacher College in Sombor, and then completed the Belgrade Academy of Dramatic Arts, graduating as an actor. He lives and works in Belgrade. At the beginning of his career, he was deeply dedicated to theater performance where he masterfully played the classical repertoire including Shakespeare and Moliere; his creations of Hamlet at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival - directed by Oscar winner Jiri Menzel, and his interpretations of Don Juan and Amadeus are well-known. He appeared in many productions of plays by local writers such as Ducan Kovacevic, Aca Popovic, Stevan Koprivica, Sinisa Kovacevic, Radoslav Pavlovic. He delivered more than 4,000 performances. He also appeared in more than 80 films, TV series, and TV dramas - mostly in leading roles. His memorable roles are those in Podzemlje (Underground), Tito i ja, Do koske, Tako se kalio celik, Bure baruta, Balkanska pravila, Boomerang, Pad u raj, Mali svet, Sveti Georgije ubiva azdahu. He also appeared in Hollywood productions: The November Man, Casino Royale, and Along the Roadside. He starred in several European movies as well. As a producer, he completed thirteen feature films and has directed two: The White Suit and Beli Lavovi. The White Suit - his fully authored project - had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999 and was the Yugoslav candidate for the Academy Award. He made one of the most significant movie roles in his directorial debut with his son, Petar Ristovski, in "King Peter I". He is the recipient of numerous national and international prizes and recognitions. The Sterija Award, The October Prize of the city of Belgrade, the Zivojin Zika - Pavlovic Award, the Sergey Bondarchuk Award, three Grand Prix at the Nis Film Encounters, the Crystal Prism, the Zoran Radmilovic Award, the Golden Orlando at the Dubrovnik Festival, the Best Actor prize at the Valladolid Festival, as well as many others... He is the honorary citizen of Zemun. He has also written two novels, one collection of poems, and two storybooks. In collaboration with his two sons - Petar and Jovan, Lazar is the owner of the production company Zillion film.- Zarko Lausevic was born on 19 January 1960 in Cetinje, Montenegro, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for A Stinking Fairytale (2015), Better Than Escape (1993) and The Battle of Kosovo (1989). He was married to Anita Lausevic and Maja Lausevic. He died on 15 November 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia.
- Actor
- Music Department
Miodrag Petrovic-Ckalja was born on 1 April 1924 in Krusevac, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for Truckers (1973), Kamiondzije opet voze (1984) and Kamiondzije (1972). He died on 20 October 2003 in Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro.- Actor
- Director
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Nikola-Kole Angelovski was born on 14 March 1943 in Skoplje, Macedonia, Yugoslavia. He is an actor and director, known for Oh My Love (2017), Uciliste za klovnovi (1987) and A Weekend of Deceased Persons (1988).- Actor
- Director
Meto Jovanovski was born on 17 January 1946 in Pancarevo near Berovo, Macedonia, Yugoslavia. He was an actor and director, known for Istreli vo sonot na Marija (1997), Happy New Year (1986) and Before the Rain (1994). He died on 16 November 2023 in Skopje, North Macedonia.- Actor
- Music Department
One of the most busy, talented and famous Serbian actors. After studying law, Mija Aleksic turned to acting, becoming a member of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre and the Yugoslav Drama Theatre in Belgrade. As of the 1950s, Aleksic added movies and - later on television - to his numerous activities.. At ease in drama, Mija Aleksic is best remembered for his talent in the register of comedy.- Born in 1949. in Belgrade, but he spent his childhood and teenage period in a small city Valjevo, where he was a child-actor in amateur theatre company. At year 2006 was Minister of Culture in Republic of Serbia. Now he is a President's Consultant for culture. His second wife is Milica Mihajlovic, an actress. He's a proud father of Iskra Brajovic,an actress
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Irfan Mensur was born on 19 January 1952 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. He is an actor, known for Jelena (2004), The Day That Shook the World (1975) and TV teatar (1956).- Petar Bozovic was born on 22 May 1946 in Zemun, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He is an actor and director, known for The Secret Life of Nikola Tesla (1980), Reflections (1987) and Svetozar Markovic (1980).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Srdjan 'Zika' Todorovic was born on 28 March 1965 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He is an actor, known for A Serbian Film (2010), Black Cat, White Cat (1998) and Underground (1995). He has been married to Ana Todorovic since 2004. They have one child.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Ljubisa Samardzic was born into a miner's family. His acting talent was discovered very early and he won a scholarship with respected director Bojan Stupica. After graduating Belgrade Drama Arts Academy and playing a few theater roles, Ljubisa Samardzic was given the part in Igre na skelama (1961). After that experience, he decided to quit theater and try his luck in movies. In a few years he got the leading roles in some of the most popular or influential movies ever made in former Yugoslavia and soon became one of the movie icons in that country, together with 'Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic', Milena Dravic and Boris Dvornik. In the 1980s and during the break-up of Yugoslavia his acting star began to fade but he managed to switch careers by founding his own movie production company together with his son Dragan Samardzic. The company not only survived the harsh times of UN sanctions against rump Yugoslavia, but managed to produce few successful movies that became popular in many of the former Yugoslav republics. Ljubisa Samardzic now lives and works in Belgrade, is married and has two children and two grandchildren.- Actor
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Boris Dvornik was born to the family of a carpenter. His acting experience started at the age of 8 when he took parts in plays for children. In his high school days he was learning to be electrician, but soon decided to pursue full-time acting career instead. After finishing National Acting School in Novi Sad he enrolled in Drama Academy in Zagreb. While on the first academic year, he began his movie career in The Ninth Circle (1960). His film debut was instant success, and in his second movie, Martin u oblacima (1961), he proved his abilities in comic roles. Dvornik soon became on of the movie icons of former Yugoslavia, together with 'Bata Zivojinovic', Milena Dravic and Ljubisa Samardzic. However, the zenith of popularity was reached by his role in humorous cult series "Malo misto" (mini) and some other light pieces that followed in the 1970s. However, although still being one of the most prolific actors in history of former Yugoslav and Croatian cinema and TV, Boris Dvornik in 1980s mostly used to work in the Croatian National Theatre in Split. In 1992, due to the friendship with Antun Vrdoljak, he flirted with politics for a couple of months. Dvornik is married, has a daughter and four granchildren, while two of his sons - Dean Dvornik and 'Dino Dvornik', who used to cameo as children in his movies - are now major pop stars in Croatia.- Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic was born on 5 June 1933 in Koracica near Mladenovac, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for Walter Defends Sarajevo (1972), I Even Met Happy Gypsies (1967) and Moment (1978). He was married to Julijana 'Lula' Zivojinovic. He died on 22 May 2016 in Belgrade, Serbia.
- Sergej Trifunovic was born on 2 September 1972 in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. He is an actor, known for A Serbian Film (2010), Next (2007) and War, Inc. (2008).
- Radko Polic was born on 18 August 1942 in Crnomelj, Slovenia, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for Idealist (1976), Balkan ekspres (1983) and Balkan Express 2 (1989). He was married to Rozalija Hace, Milena Zupancic and Barbara Levstik. He died on 15 September 2022 in Slovenia.
- Actor
- Producer
Frano Lasic was born in Rijeka.
Elementary and high school in Dubrovnik, where he completed the music school, the department for guitar. From an early age, he has been a collaborator of the Dubrovnik theater, to the same post-secondary employment as a freelancer and later as permanent member.
After high school he enrolled in marine engineering, and graduated in 1978. 1978 he appears as actor in his first feature film "Occupation in 26 Pictures" by Lordan Zafranovic. That same year, the movie goes to the festival in Cannes, as well as many other festivals, and F. L. received the award at the Actor's Festival in Nis, for the best male role realized.
Since then, he was actor in more than 60 films and TV series, domestic and foreign, and received numerous awards and honors.
In 1984 he recorded with composer Djelo Jusic an LP, with which it in the former Yugoslavia he won the silver, gold and platinum record , and the following year he received an award as the most popular person in show-business in Yugoslavia. After successfully passing the rigorous exam in English language skills, (American Language Institute Georgetown University), in 1984 he received a Fulbright scholarship for the movie, and he went to Los Angeles and the UCLA (University of California Los Angeles) University, attending film production, but also goes to the specialization in acting.
Resides in the USA in the schools and practice for six years, met many people from the show business and founded the firm "Euro-film Production Services' (providing production services for film and television companies), and then returns to his homeland where he continued with film business. With the "Euro-Film" he provides services for films and TV series for the national TV, but also produces films. The film "The Harms case"', with which he represented Yugoslavia at the Cannes Film Festival in the late eighties, received numerous awards at festivals around the world, such as Berlin, Mannheim, Belgrade, Jerusalem, Montreal, Toronto, San Francisco, Chicago, Hong Kong ... On all journeys, recordings and festivals, he met many people from the world of film, with which remains in business.
In recent years, he recorded in his production, and with the foreign licenses, various TV shows (Flying Start, willy-nilly, Modelle, That's my stuff,etc..) for local TV stations, both in Croatia and in neighboring countries (Serbia and Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina ,Slovenia and Macedonia).
He is member of DFRH (Croatian Film Workers) since 1978, and 35 years of service with the status of independent artist in ZUH (Society of Croatian Artists)- Zvonko Lepetic was born on 17 November 1928 in Berane, Montenegro, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for Crazy Days (1977), Balkan Spy (1984) and Kapelski kresovi (1974). He was married to Terezija Dadic-Lepetic. He died on 4 January 1991 in Zagreb, Croatia, Yugoslavia.