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Goran Visnjic Profile |
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Birth Date: September 9, 1972
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Birth Place: Sibenik, Croatia
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Birth Name: Goran Višnjić
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Height: 6'4"
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Biography |
Goran Višnjić is a Croatian actor who has appeared in many
American film and television productions. His most prominent
role has been that of Dr. Luka Kovač in the hit television
series ER.
Born in the Croatian coastal city of Šibenik, Višnjić
appeared in plays throughout his childhood. He made his
screen debut in the controversial Yugoslavian film Braća po
materi (1988), playing a young Croatian extremist.
As Yugoslavia began to dissolve, Višnjić was serving a
year-long tour of duty with the Yugoslav People's Army
(JNA). He left the JNA and returned to Šibenik, where he
joined the nascent Croatian Army in defending his hometown
against JNA-supported Krajina Serbs. After leaving the
Croatian Army he moved to Zagreb to study at the Academy of
Dramatic Arts.
Prior to ER, Višnjić had small speaking roles in films like
The Peacemaker, Welcome to Sarajevo and Practical Magic. In
1998 he also appeared in Madonna's music video The Power of
Goodbye, and had a cameo in the movie Rounders.
He joined ER in the sixth season (late 1999) and as of 2006
remains in the cast, now as the show's lead character. He is
currently contracted through Season 13, and has not ruled
out further extension of the role beyond that time.
In the meantime he co-starred in the movie The Deep End,
voice-acted in Ice Age, and starred in Posljednja volja and
Doctor Sleep.
More recently, he starred in the mini-series Spartacus and
the Croatian movie and television series Duga mračna noć. He
appeared with Jennifer Garner in the movie Elektra.
During the summer of 2005, Višnjić was frequently mentioned
as a candidate to play James Bond in the upcoming Casino
Royale. He is known to have auditioned for the role, and was
at one point regarded as a "finalist" [1], although the role
ultimately went to British actor Daniel Craig.
Recently, he announced that he is going to produce a movie
about Croatian war hero and indicted war criminal general
Ante Gotovina, in which he would play Gotovina. This film
would be directed by Antun Vrdoljak.
Višnjić is married to Ivana Vrdoljak, the daughter of
Croatian director Antun Vrdoljak. |
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Other Information |
The younger of two sons.
Father was a bus driver; mother worked in a food market.
Trained as a paratrooper in the Croatian army at age 18, and
volunteered to stay on for an additional three months during
the war with Serbia.
Appeared in Madonna's 1998 music video, "The Power of
Goodbye."
Named People magazine's Sexiest Import (1999)
Last name is pronounced 'VISH-nyich'
Trained at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb.
The youngest actor to be chosen for the coveted title role
in Shakespeare's Hamlet, he portrayed the doomed Prince for
6 years from 1993 to 2000, at the internationally acclaimed
Dubrovnik Summer Theatre Festival in Croatia, winning
several coveted Orlando Awards (the equivalent of the Tony
Award). During an episode of "ER," "Luka" demonstrated his
expertise in the part of Hamlet, by reciting the, "To be or
not to be," soliloquy in Croatian. In the same episode,
demonstrated his skill in one of his hobbies, by "Luka"
fencing with "Carter."
Hobbies are fencing, swimming, and diving.
Is married to a Croatian sculptor named Ivana, daughter of
film director Antun Vrdoljak.
Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful
people in the world [2000]
When word came through that he had been accepted in the
Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, his brother volunteered
to take his place in the Army so he could study his craft.
At age 18, he trained during peacetime for basic crowd
control and as a paratrooper in the Yugoslavian People's
Army (YNA). He ended up fighting in Slovenia, which
proclaimed independence, when the YNA was ordered to attack
this now former republic within the federation Yugoslavia.
When Goran's tour of duty was done (by the time of his
return, Croatia had declared their independence), the
Serbian fraction of the YNA was already fighting the
Croatian fraction in a civil war. He volunteered to join the
new Croatian Army, breaking his own promise to himself never
to pick up a gun again.
Appeared in an anti-fur billboard campaign for People for
the Ethical Treatment of Animals with his dog, Bugsy,
beginning in January 2003. The ads read: "If you wouldn't
wear your dog, please don't wear any fur." The campaign was
PETA's first in eastern Europe.
Wind surfs and practices kung fu.
Has a large scar on his stomach from gastric ulcer surgery.
May 26, 2002 - Donated 1000 pounds in prize money that he
won on a Croatian quiz show, giving it to the country's
theatres. At the time, he had never been on a TV quiz show.
In a full-page article entitled, "Goran Visnjic Dr. Do Good"
in the February 2005 issue of In Style magazine, he
announced his support for, and collaboration with, the
IFAW's (International Fund for Animal Welfare) efforts to
save wildlife and the environment, by becoming a
spokesperson for that organization's efforts to protect
whales and fur bearing seals.
Named as the Best Croatian actor in 2004 according to the
votes of the visitors of internet magazines.
Named as the Best Croatian actor in 2004 (for role in the
movie _"Duga mracna noc" (2004)_ ) according to the votes of
the famous Croatian newspaper "Vecernji list".
Named "One of TV's Sexiest Men" in June 5-11 2005 TV Guide.
On June 19, 2005 he received Croatia's highest cultural
honor, the Vladimir Nazor award for "Best Realization of a
Theatrical Performance - Film" for his performance in the
Pula Film Festival award-winning film, Duga mracna noc
(2004). Each year the "Vladimir Nazor" is awarded to the
nation's top artists in the areas of: literature, music,
painting and sculpture, theater, film and architecture. The
awards ceremony took place at the Dverce Palace in Zagreb
where the Minister of Culture handed out the awards.
Croatian citizen.
Shares birthday with writer Leo Tolstoy, Italian writer
Cesare Pavese, French officer Alfred Dreyfus, singer Michael
Bublé, actors Michelle Williams, Adam Sandler and Hugh
Grant.
Graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. Dated
actress Lucija Serbedzija (daughter of Rade Serbedzija) for
four years while they were there.
Is a huge fan of the show, "Stargate SG-1"
Ranked #18 in Croatian-based monthly film magazine
"Hollywood" in «Best Croatian Male Movie Stars of All Time»
list. (November 2005)
Ranked #1 in Croatian Internet IskonPortal Magazine's "Top
10 Sexiest Croatian Movie Stars of 2005" list. (January,
2005)
Adopted a baby boy born 19 April 2007 in Los Angeles,
California. They have named him Tin Visnjic.
His last name was derived of both Croatian and Serbian word
"visnja", which means cherry. Therefore Visnjic means "of
the cherry".
Visnjic is common Serbian surname (i.e. famous Serbian
popular poet of Serbian epic poetry from 19th century was
Filip Visnjic). |
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