Rade Šerbedžija

Croatian actor, director, and musician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rade Šerbedžija

Rade Šerbedžija (Serbian Cyrillic: Раде Шербеџија, pronounced [rǎːde ʃerbědʒija]; born 27 July 1946) is a Croatian actor, director and musician. He is known for his portrayals of imposing figures on both sides of the law. He was one of the best known Yugoslav actors in the 1970s and 1980s. He is internationally known mainly for his role as Boris the Blade in Snatch (2000), his supporting roles in such Hollywood films as The Saint (1997), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Mission: Impossible 2 (2000), X-Men: First Class (2011), Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010), and Taken 2 (2012); and for his recurring role as former Soviet Army General Dmitri Gredenko in Season 6 of TV action series 24.

Quick Facts Born, Other names ...
Rade Šerbedžija
Раде Шербеџија
Thumb
Šerbedžija at the 12th Satellite Awards in December 2007
Born (1946-07-27) 27 July 1946 (age 78)
Other namesRade Sherbedgia
Citizenship
  • Croatia
  • North Macedonia
  • Slovenia
OccupationActor
Years active1967–present
Spouses
Ivanka Cerovac
(m. 1969; div. 1987)
(m. 1991)
Children5, including Danilo and Lucija
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Šerbedžija is a four-time recipient of the Golden Arena for Best Actor, Croatia’s highest filmmaking honors. He won the Critics Award for Best Actor at the 51st Venice International Film Festival for his performance in Before the Rain (1994). He was awarded the International Press Academy’s Mary Pickford Award, an honorary award “for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to the Entertainment Industry”, in 2019.

Early life

Rade Šerbedžija was born on 27 July 1946 in the village of Bunić in the Lika region of Croatia, then part of Yugoslavia.[1] His parents were ethnic Serbs[2] who fought in the Second World War as Partisans. Šerbedžija was raised as an atheist.[3]

Career in Yugoslavia

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In 1969, he graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Arts of the University of Zagreb and then worked as a theatre actor in the City Drama Theatre Gavella and at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.[4] While still a student, Šerbedžija started to play leading roles in films and theatre productions.[5] His stage roles included Oedipus and Richard III.[6] His performance as Hamlet in 1974 in Dubrovnik catapulted him into stardom.[5]

Šerbedžija landed his first major film role in 1968 in the Branko Ivanda-directed Gravitation.[7][8] He had various notable roles in Yugoslav films, among others in Bravo maestro (1978), Journalist (1979), Banović Strahinja (1981), Kiklop (1982) and San o ruži (1986).[7] He was also among the leading actors in several TV series, such as in Prosjaci i sinovi (1971), U registraturi (1976), and Putovanje u Vučjak (1986).[7]

Šerbedžija taught as a professor at the University of Zagreb from 1979 to 1981 and at the University of Novi Sad from 1987 to 1991.[7]

Šerbedžija was one of the most well-known actors in Yugoslavia,[9][10] in addition to being one of the most beloved.[11] Prior to leaving his home country, Šerbedžija had starred in over 40 films.[5] He was also one of the main supporters of the KPGT Yugoslav theater,[10] a project initiated to unite the different Yugoslav state theaters into a single troupe.[12]

Šerbedžija is a four-time recipient of the Golden Arena for Best Actor at the Pula Film Festival; in 1978 for Bravo maestro,[13] in 1986 for Evening Bells (Večernja zvona),[14] in 2010 for 72 Days (Sedamdeset i dva dana),[14] and Fishing and Fishermen's Conversations (2020).[15]

In 2000, Šerbedžija founded the Ulysses Theater with Borislav Vujčić on the Brijuni islands.[10][16] In a co-production between the Ulysses Theatre and the National Theatre in Belgrade, for his role in the 2019 adaptation of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Šerbedžija received the Zoran Radmilović Award,[17] the Croatian Theatre Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role,[18] and the Orlando Award.[19] The same year, he won his second Vladimir Nazor Award for “Lifetime Achievement - Film Art”.[20]

International career

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Šerbedžija at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival.

In 1988, Šerbedžija appeared in two films that were released in the West; Hanna's War and Manifesto.[5]

As war broke out in Yugoslavia, Šerbedžija initially moved to Serbia in 1992, then Slovenia before eventually spending some time in London, England at the invitation of actor and friend Anthony Andrews.[5] While in London, Šerbedžija met with Macedonian-American director Milcho Manchevski who cast him in his 1994 film Before the Rain.[10] The performance earned him a Critics Award for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival.[21]

Šerbedžija has had supporting roles in Hollywood films such as Mission: Impossible 2, Mighty Joe Young, The Saint, Eyes Wide Shut, Snatch, and Space Cowboys among others.[22] He is usually known for playing villains.[8][23]

He had a cameo in Batman Begins; he was asked to reprise his cameo role in The Dark Knight, but declined.[citation needed]

In 2001, he starred in a television production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical South Pacific as French plantation owner Emile de Becque.[24] He also appeared in the BBC spy-thriller show Spooks for one episode as a villain. In 2005 he played Captain Blake in Rupert Wainwright's remake of The Fog,[25] and had a supporting role in the NBC science fiction series Surface.[26] In 2007 he played Athos Roussos in Jeremy Podeswa's feature film adaptation of Anne Michaels' novel Fugitive Pieces.[27]

His performance in the Canadian film Fugitive Pieces (2007) was nominated for a Genie Award[28] and Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor.[29]

He portrayed Dmitri Gredenko on the sixth season of the hit Fox show 24.[30]

In 2009 Šerbedžija was cast in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 as the famous foreign wandmaker Gregorovitch.[31] In 2014, Šerbedžija appeared in six episodes of Downton Abbey as Prince Kuragin,[32] a Russian exile and long-ago lover of the Dowager Countess Violet Crawley, portrayed by Dame Maggie Smith.

In 2019, Šerbedžija was awarded the International Press Academy’s Mary Pickford Award, an honorary award “for Outstanding Artistic Contribution to the Entertainment Industry”.[33]

Other work

Šerbedžija is also known for his poetry readings and music. He has released four poetry books and four music albums.[34] He recorded the award-winning ballad "Ni u tvome srcu" with Bosnian vocalist Kemal Monteno.[35] While in London, Šerbedžija stayed at actress Vanessa Redgrave's residence and the two became friends.[5] With Redgrave, Šerbedžija founded the Moving Theatre Company.[11]

In 2017, Šerbedžija signed the Declaration on the Common Language of the Croats, Serbs, Bosniaks and Montenegrins.[36]

Personal life

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Šerbedžija married Ivanka Cerovac in 1969.[37] They have a son, film director Danilo (b. 1971), and a daughter, actress Lucija (b. 1973).[37] The couple divorced in 1987.[37]

Šerbedžija met his second wife, Lenka Udovički, the sister of Serbian politician Kori Udovički, in Subotica in 1990 and they married in 1991.[38] With his second wife, he has three daughters: Nina, Vanja, and Mimi. The girls grew up in London during their early years, then moved to California due to their father's acting career.[10]

Šerbedžija's parents left Vinkovci as Serb refugees for Belgrade in 1991, due to the Croatian War of Independence.[39]

In 1992, while at a club in Belgrade, an intoxicated youth swore at Šerbedžija, calling him "Serb traitor", then shot his gun in the air.[40] The youth himself was from Lika, as was Šerbedžija.[40] Šerbedžija took his wife and at the time, only daughter Nina, and left Zagreb and Belgrade, and settled in Ljubljana, Slovenia.[41][39] Šerbedžija has called himself "Yugo-nostalgic",[42] and in 2011, said that times were better in Socialist Yugoslavia than now.[40] Šerbedžija owns property in London, Hollywood, California, Rijeka, and Zagreb. As of January 2011, he reportedly spends most of his time in Rijeka together with his wife Lenka.[39]

Šerbedžija is a citizen of Croatia, North Macedonia, and Slovenia.[43]

Filmography

Film

More information Year, Title ...
YearTitleRoleNotes
1967IluzijaMladic koji ubija Branka
1967Black Birds
1968OsvetaShort film
1968Seansa
1968GravitationBoris Horvat
1969Dio è con noi
1969Sedmina - Pozdravi MarijoNiko
1970PapagajMladić
1970Passing Days
1970Red WheatJužek Hedl
1970Kainov znakMilan
1971Putovanje na mjesto nesrećeVlatko
1971 Beggars and the sons Matan Špalatrin
1971The Pine Tree in the MountainDomobran kicoš
1972Poslijepodne jednog fazanaObijesni mladić
1972Rođendan male Mire
1972Zvezde su oči ratnikaUčitelj Rade
1973Pelikani
1973Živjeti od ljubaviDavor
1973BegunecIvan
1974 In the registrature Ivica Kičmanović
1974Acting Hamlet in the Village of Mrdusa DonjaHamlet
1974Tojota Korola 1000
1974Obešenjak
1974NocturnoLucio
1974The Republic of UžiceČetnički oficir Kosta Barac
1977Noćna skela
1977HajkaLado
1978Bombaški procesJosip Broz Tito
1978Bravo maestroVitomir Bezjak
1979JournalistVlado Kovač
1979Živi bili pa vidjeli
1979The ReturnKomandir milicije
1979UsijanjeTomo
1980Gospodjica
1981Tuga
1981Duvanski putTomo
1981Banović StrahinjaAbdulah
1982Variola VeraDoktor Grujić
1982CyclopsUgo
198213. julKapetan Mitrović
1982Tamburaši
1982Život i priča
1983Zadah telaPančo Vila
1983Kvit posaoJozo
1983Noć poslije smrtiLucio Klarić
1984In the Jaws of LifeIntelektualac
1984Pejzaži u magliLelin otac
1984UnaProfessor Mišel Babić
1985Life Is BeautifulHarmonikaš
1985Horvatov izborKrešimir Horvat
1986San o ružiValent
1986Večernja zvonaTomislav K. Burbonski
1987Die VerliebtenDušan
1987HudodelciRaka
1988Zagrljaj
1988Tartif
1988ManifestoEmile
1988Hanna's WarCaptain Ivan
1989Čovjek koji je volio sprovodeHinko
1989Seobe IIDe Ronkali
1990Karneval, anđeo i prah
1990Majstori mraka
1992DezerterPavle Trušić
1993Kontesa DoraKarlo Armano
1994Magareće godineNarrator
1994Before the RainAleksandar
1995Urnebesna tragedijaKosta
1995Two DeathsColonel George Lapadus
1995BelmaJosip Papac
1996MementoThe Officer
1996Broken EnglishIvan
1997Nečista krvGazda Marko
1997Balkan Island: The Last Story of the CenturyRusty
1997The SaintIvan Tretiak
1997The TruceMardenou the Greek
1998Mighty Joe YoungAndrei Strasser
1998Polish WeddingRoman
1998Prague DuetJiri Kolmar
1999Eyes Wide ShutMr. Milich
1999The Sweet Sounds of LifeBruno Maier
1999StigmataFather Marion Petrocelli
2000Space CowboysGeneral Vostow
2000Mission: Impossible 2Dr. Nekhorvich
2000SnatchBoris 'The Blade' Yurinov
2000Je li jasno prijatelju?Milan Rajić
2002The Quiet AmericanInspector Vigot
2003QuicksandOleg Butraskaya
2003The Cruelest DayMiran Hrovatin
2004EuroTripTibor
2004Golemata vodaOld Lem
2004Rade Šerbedžija Live in BudvaHimself
2004The FeverDiplomat
2005The Keeper: The Legend of Omar KhayyamImam Muaffak
2005Batman BeginsHomeless Man
2005The FogCaptain William Blake
2005Short OrderPaulo
2005Go WestLjubo
2006Moscow ZeroSergei
2006The Elder SonMaxim Sarafanov
2007Balkanski sindromOld Alen
2007HermanoCarlos Avileda
2007TeslaNarrator
2007ShooterMikhayo Sczerbiak / Michael Sandor
2007Fugitive PiecesAthos Roussos
2007Battle in SeattleDr. Marić
2007Say It in RussianRaf Larin
2007Pravo čudoToma
2007L... Kot ljubezenBig Daddy
2007Love LifeArie
2008QuarantineYuri Ivanov
2008The EyeSimon McCullough
2009Middle MenNikita Sokoloff
2009Thick as ThievesNicky Petrovich/Victor Korolenko
2010Lonesdale
2010Kao Rani MrazStari Vasa Ladački
201072 DaysMane Paripović
2010Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1Gregorovitch
20115 Days of WarCol. Demidov
2011TatankaVinko
2011X-Men: First ClassRussian General
2011Shun Li and the PoetBepi
2011In the Land of Blood and HoneyGen. Nebojsa Vukojevich
2012The Fourth StateOnjegin
2012Taken 2Murad Krasniqi
2012The Third HalfDon Rafael Cohen
2012Ustanicka ulicaVraneš
2013Cry of the ButterflyRay
2013The DoubleFrightening Old Man
2014The Legend of HerculesChiron
2014Tekken 2: Kazuya's RevengeThe Minister
2015Tesla: Iznad masteMilutin Tesla
2015SparrowsTomislav
2016The PorcupineStoyo Petkanov
2016TeslaProfessor Petrov
2016The PromiseStephan
2016The Liberation of SkopjeGjorgjijaAlso director and writer
2017AnkaBiljeznik
2017Hedgehog's HomeNarratorShort film; Serbo-Croatian version
2017The ExecutrixArthur
2017The Last ProseccoDesiderio Ancillotto
2018Proud MaryLuka
2018Murderous TranceDr. Dabrowski
2018What's This Country Called Now?Ismet TabakovicShort film
2019CaviarPappy
2020Fishing and Fishermen's ConversationsPetar Hektorović
2024Air Force One DownRodinov
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Television

More information Year, Title ...
YearTitleRoleNotes
1966Prikupljanje hrabostiSkalperTV film
1966Sedam sati i petnaest minutaTomicaTV film
1968MaratonciTV series; 1 episode
1969MeteorTV film
1969Čamac za kron-princaTV film
1970Sam čovjekTV miniseries; 3 episodes
1971Prosjaci i sinoviMatan ŠpalatrinTV series
1974Obraz uz obrazHimselfTV series; 1 episode
1974U registraturiIvica KicmanovićTV series; 7 episodes
1975PesmaMića RanovićTV series; 6 episodes
1976The Republic of UžiceČetnički oficir Kosta BaracTV series; 1 episode
1977Nikola TeslaNikola TeslaTV series; 9 episodes
1979Ivan Goran KovačićIvan Goran KovačićTV film
1980Sedam plus sedamHimselfTV series; 1 episode
1982Nepokoreni gradTV series; 1 episode
1983KiklopUgoTV series; 4 episodes
1986Putovanje u VučjakKrešimir HorvatTV series; 14 episodes
2001South PacificEmile De BecqueTV film
2003SpooksViktor SchvitkoyTV series; 1 episode
2005SurfaceDr. Aleksander CirkoTV series; 6 episodes
200724Dmitri GredenkoTV series; 8 episodes
2007FallenDr. Lukas GrasicTV miniseries
2008My Own Worst EnemyYuri VolkalovTV series; 2 episodes
2009CSI: MiamiAlexander SharovaTV series; 2 episodes
2014Downton AbbeyPrince KuraginTV series; 6 episodes
2016The FiveJâkob MarosiTV miniseries; 6 episodes
2017Mata HariEmil GuimetTV series; 2 episodes
2017The BlacklistDr. Bogdan KrilovTV series; 2 episodes
2017Better ThingsArnold HallTV series; 1 episode
2018–2019Strange AngelProfessor Filip MesulamTV series; 12 episodes
2020Strike BackKalmediTV series; 1 episode
2022Slow HorsesNikolai KatinskyTV series
2022The Old ManOld Suleyman PavlovicTV series
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Awards and nominations

More information Year, Group ...
YearGroupAwardResultNotes
1979Pula Film FestivalBest ActorWonBravo maestro
1986Pula Film FestivalBest ActorWonEvening Bells
1994Venice Film FestivalBest actorWonBefore the Rain
1996New Zealand Film and TV AwardsBest Foreign PerformerWonBroken English
2006Monaco International Film FestivalBest ActorWonShort Order
2007Rome Film FestBest actorWonFugitive Pieces
2008Satellite AwardsBest Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated
2008Vancouver Film Critics CircleBest Supporting Actor in a Canadian FilmNominated
2009Genie AwardsBest Performance by an Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated
2012Tetouan International Mediterranean Film FestivalBest ActorWonIo sono Li
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References

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