Zeljko Ivanek's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) True Blood The Magister 24 Andre Drazen Damages Ray Fiske The Event Blake Sterl… Big Love JJ Percy Wa… The Mob Doctor Dr. Staffor… Homicide: Life on the Street ASA Ed Danv… If Not for You Elliot (2) Total Security Ronald Ducote Trinity Tim Holloway

Main Movie Roles 2008 - In Bruges 2007 - Live Free or Die Hard 2005 - Manderlay 2004 - The Manchurian Candidate 2003 - Dogville 2002 - Unfaithful 2001 - Hannibal 2001 - Black Hawk Down 2000 - Dancer in the Dark 1999 - Snow Falling on Cedars 1998 - A Civil Action 1997 - Donnie Brasco 1996 - Infinity 1996 - The Associate 1996 - Courage Under Fire 1996 - White Squall 1992 - School Ties 1982 - Tex

BIOGRAPHY:

Željko Ivanek (IPA: [ˈʒɛʎko iˈʋanɛk]; born 15 August 1957) is an Emmy-award winning Slovenian American actor.

Early life, education, and training
Ivanek was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia (then a part of former Yugoslavia) and emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1960, when he was 3 years old. After a two-year stay, the family moved back to Slovenia for five years and then returned again to the United States in 1967. He graduated from Yale University in 1978 and afterward attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Career
In 1982, he originated the role of Hally in Athol Fugard's play Master Harold...and the Boys. He has also appeared in the U.S. premieres of such notable plays as Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine (for which he won the 1981 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play) and Martin McDonagh's The Pillowman. He would later work again with McDonagh, playing a minor role as a Canadian tourist in the film In Bruges.

He frequently appears on Broadway and has been nominated for three Tony Awards including one for his performance in the original production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, one as a featured actor in Two Shakespearean Actors, and one for his lead performance as Captain Queeg in a revival of The Caine Mutiny Court Martial alongside David Schwimmer and Tim Daly.

He is perhaps best known for his supporting roles in the television series The X Files (Roland), Homicide: Life on the Street (as prosecuting attorney Ed Danvers), Damages (Ray Fiske), Oz (Governor James Devlin), 24 (Andre Drazen), and Heroes (Emile Danko).

In his screen appearances, he often plays professional men such as lawyers or government functionaries, sometimes of an evil nature.

Ivanek played John Dickinson, who represented Pennsylvania in the Second Continental Congress, in the HBO miniseries John Adams. He was again seen on HBO in November 2008 in the series True Blood, in which he played the role of the Magister.

On September 21, 2008 he was awarded an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in the role of Ray Fiske on Damages.

Ivanek appeared in the third season of Big Love, as Nicki Grant's first husband, J.J.

He appeared as a gun-wielding patient in the episode "Last Resort" on House.


TRIVIA:

• He is frequently cast as political or business middlemen of corrupt, shady natures who often end up stabbing somebody in the back.
• Drama Desk Awards: 1992, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Two Shakespearean Actors (nom;)
• His name is pronounced Zhel-ko Ee-Vah-nek.
• Drama Desk Award, 1982, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Cloud 9. Villager Award, 1982, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Cloud 9.
• Tony award nominations: 1983, Featured Actor in a Play, Brighton Beach Memoirs (nom); 1992, Featured Actor in a Play, Two Shakespearean Actors (nom.) Drama Desk Awards: 1992, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, Two Shakespearean Actors (nom;)
• The Yugoslavian-born actor graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 1980.
• Twice nominated for Broadway's Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play): in 1983 for "Brighton Beach Memoirs," and in 1992 for "Two Shakespearean Actors."
• In an interview for AOL television, Zeljko said his first name is pronounced Jel-ko.