Željko Ivanek

{{Infobox person

| name = Željko Ivanek

| image = Željko Ivanek (33355599031 - crop).jpg

| alt = Close-up photograph of a thin bespectacled man, mostly bald with short gray hair around

| caption = Ivanek in 2017

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|8|15|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = Ljubljana, PR Slovenia, FPR Yugoslavia

|nationality=American

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = Actor

| yearsactive = 1981–present

| education ={{ubl|Yale University (BA)|London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art}}

| parents = Ferdo Ivanek

}}

Željko Ivanek ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ʒ|ɛ|l|k|oʊ|_|ɪ|ˈ|v|ɑː|n|ɪ|k}};{{YouTube|hJpp-smJTsA|"SLOWGIRL: Interview with Željko Ivanek"}} {{IPA|sl|ˈʒɛːlkɔ iˈʋaːnək|lang}}; born August 15, 1957) is a Slovenian-American actor.

Ivanek's film credits include Courage Under Fire (1996), Donnie Brasco (1997), Hannibal, Black Hawk Down (both 2001), Unfaithful (2002), The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Live Free or Die Hard (2007), The Bourne Legacy, Argo, Seven Psychopaths (all 2012). He has appeared in several films by Lars von Trier, including Dancer in the Dark (2000), Dogville (2003), and Manderlay (2005). In 2017, he appeared in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, receiving a Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance.

Ivanek portrayed Ray Fiske on the FX television series Damages (2007–2010), for which he won the 2008 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor. He also appeared as Ed Danvers on Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1999) and Russell Jackson on the CBS drama Madam Secretary (2014–2019), and has had recurring roles on series such as Oz (1997–2003), 24 (2002), True Blood (2008), Heroes (2009), Big Love (2009–2010), Banshee (2014), and 12 Monkeys (2015–2017). Since 2023, he has starred as "The Croat" on AMC's The Walking Dead: Dead City.

As a result of his theater work, he has been nominated for three Tony Awards.

Early life and education

Ivanek was born in Ljubljana, PR Slovenia, FPR Yugoslavia,{{cite news|title=Željko Ivanek profile|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/zeljko-ivanek/bio/686239|access-date=August 6, 2017|work=TV Guide}} to the family of Ferdo Ivanek, originally from Varaždin, Croatia.{{cite news | language = hr | newspaper = Regionalni Tjednik | publisher = Regionalni Tjednik d.o.o. | location = Varaždin, Croatia | first = Nevenka | last = Suhić | url = https://issuu.com/regionalnitjednik/docs/rt_387/11 | title = Ponosan na svoje korijene! | trans-title = Proud of his roots! | issue = 387 | date = October 18, 2011 | page = 11 | access-date = February 24, 2022}} In 1960, Željko, his younger brother Ivan, and his mother immigrated to Palo Alto, California, where his father was working as a research assistant at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University.Voislava Simic-Ivanek, Ivan Simic-Ivanek, and Željko Šimic-Ivanek; arrived New York, New York, US, aboard Queen Elizabeth, destination Palo Alto, California; New York State, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1917-1966{{cite journal |last1=Hausner |first1=Jerry |title=In Memoriam: Dr. Ferdo Ivanek |journal=IEEE Microwave Magazine |date=January 10, 2022 |volume=23 |issue=2 |page=101 |doi=10.1109/MMM.2021.3126823|s2cid=245871920 |doi-access=free }} His mother also worked at Stanford University as a project manager.{{cite web |title=Ferdo Ivanek |url=https://mtt.org/profile/ferdo-ivanek/ |website=mtt.org |publisher=IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society |access-date=February 21, 2022}}

In 1962, Ivanek and his family moved back to Slovenia for five years; they returned to Palo Alto in 1967. Having performed in numerous community theater plays in the San Francisco Bay Area, Ivanek graduated from Ellwood P. Cubberley High School in Palo Alto in 1975.{{Cite web|url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/news/1996_Feb_14.around_town.html|title=Around Town|date=February 14, 1996|website=Palo Alto Online|access-date=June 29, 2017}} In 1978, Ivanek graduated from Yale University, majoring in theater. He later attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800094065/bio|title=Željko Ivanek Biography|work=Yahoo! Movies|access-date=March 17, 2008}}

Acting career

Ivanek has worked extensively on the stage. In 1982, he originated the role of Hally in Athol Fugard's play "Master Harold"...and the Boys. He appeared in the U.S. premieres of Cloud Nine (for which he earned the 1981 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play), and The Pillowman. He performs frequently on Broadway and has been nominated for three Tony Awards for his performances in the original production of Brighton Beach Memoirs, in Two Shakespearean Actors, and in a revival of The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, alongside David Schwimmer and Tim Daly.

However, Ivanek is perhaps best known for his supporting roles in a number of well-known television series. His first television role was as Sammie Wheaton on the soap opera The Edge of Night. Other roles include Emile Danko in Heroes; Roland in The X-Files; prosecuting attorney Ed Danvers in Homicide: Life on the Street; Ray Fiske in Damages; J.J. in Big Love; the Magister in True Blood; Governor James Devlin in Oz; Serbian terrorist Andre Drazen in 24; and Blake Sterling, the Director of National Intelligence in the NBC drama series The Event.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/05/07/nbc-picks-up-three-new-series-for-2010-11-season-with-the-event-outsourced-and-love-bites/20100507nbc01|title=NBC Picks Up Three New Series for 2010-11 Season with "The Event", "Outsourced" and "Love Bites"|date=May 7, 2010|work=The Futon Critic|access-date=May 16, 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/05/nbc-fall-schedule-2010-11.html|title=NBC's fall schedule, upfront revealed|date=May 16, 2010|last=Hibberd|first=James|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=May 16, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716190610/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/live-feed/nbcs-fall-schedule-upfront-revealed-53650|archive-date=July 16, 2012}}

Most recently, Ivanek played Russell Jackson in the TV series Madam Secretary. He portrayed John Dickinson, the Pennsylvania representative to the Second Continental Congress, in the miniseries John Adams. He has guest-starred on such shows as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and House. He has appeared several times on Law & Order, both as one-off characters and as Ed Danvers in crossover episodes with Homicide: Life on the Street.

In addition to his stage and television work, Ivanek has appeared in more than 20 feature films, including The Sender, in which he made his feature film debut as the unnamed title character; School Ties; Black Hawk Down; In Bruges; Dogville; The Bourne Legacy; Donnie Brasco; Argo; Seven Psychopaths; and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.

In 2012, he portrayed Dr. Stafford White in the drama The Mob Doctor. As of 2014, he had supporting roles in several shows on broadcast and cable television, including the series Revolution, where he plays the recurring roles of Dr. Calvin Horn and an illusory nanotech avatar of Horn; Suits; Banshee; and The Americans.

In the documentary That Guy... Who Was in That Thing, Ivanek states that his contract includes a rider to ensure that the first letter in his name, Ž, has its caron properly rendered in any credits sequence where his name appears.

Awards

Ivanek has received recognition for his on-screen work. In 2008, he was awarded the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in the role of Ray Fiske on Damages.Levin, Gary (January 5, 2009). {{"'}}Damages' returns in all its complexity." USA Today. p. 01D. Retrieved via Biography In Context database, November 25, 2018.

Personal life

As of 2018, Ivanek resided in New York City with his partner, Greg Pierce. Pierce is the nephew of actor David Hyde Pierce.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoremagazine.com/section/community/actor-zeljko-ivanek-hosts-35th-anniversary-nami-event/|title=Actor Željko Ivanek Hosts 35th Anniversary NAMI Event|date=September 24, 2018|website=Baltimore Magazine}}

Filmography

=Film=

Year	Title	Role	Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
rowspan=3\| 1982	{{sortname\|The\|Soldier\|dab=1982 film}}	Bombmaker/Cleaning lady
Tex	Mark Jennings	Credited as "Hitchhiker"
{{sortname\|The\|Sender}}	John Doe #83 / The Sender
rowspan=2\| 1984	Mass Appeal	Mark Dolson
The Sun Also Rises	Bill Gorton
1987	Rachel River	Momo
1990	Artificial Paradise	Willy
1991	Our Sons	Donald Barnes
1992	School Ties	Mr. Cleary
rowspan=4\| 1996	White Squall	Coast Guard Captain Sanders
\| Courage Under Fire	Ben Banacek
\| Infinity	Bill Price
\| {{sortname\|The\|Associate\|The Associate (1996 film)}}	SEC Agent Thompkins
rowspan=2\| 1997	Donnie Brasco	Tim Curley
\| Julian Po	Tom Potter
rowspan=2\| 1998	Nowhere to Go	Principal Jack Walker
\| {{sortname\|A\|Civil Action\|dab=film}}	Bill Crowley
1999	Snow Falling on Cedars	Dr. Whitman
2000	Dancer in the Dark	District Attorney
rowspan=2\| 2001	Hannibal	Dr. Cordell Doemling
\| Black Hawk Down	Lieutenant Colonel Gary Harrell
2002	Unfaithful	Detective Dean
2003	Dogville	Ben
2004	{{sortname\|The\|Manchurian Candidate\|dab=2004 film}}	Vaughn Utly
2005	Manderlay	Dr. Hector
2006	{{sortname\|The\|Hoax}}	Ralph Graves
rowspan=2\| 2007	Ascension Day	Master Travis
\| Live Free or Die Hard	Molina
2008	In Bruges	Canadian Guy
2011	Tower Heist	FBI Director Mazin
rowspan=4\| 2012	{{sortname\|The\|Bourne Legacy\|dab=film}}	Dr. Donald Foite
\| Argo	Robert Pender	Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble
\| Seven Psychopaths	Paulo	Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cast Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble
\| The Words	Cutler
2016	X-Men: Apocalypse	Pentagon Scientist
2017	Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri	Desk Sergeant Cedric Connoly	Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2020	The Courier	John A. McCone
2021	The Last Duel	Le Coq

=Television=

Year	Title	Role	Notes
class="wikitable sortable"
1983	Great Performances	March Hare	Episode: "Alice in Wonderland"
1986	American Playhouse	George Deever	Episode: "All My Sons"
rowspan=2\| 1987	St. Elsewhere	Mark Dolson	Episode: "You Again?"
\| Echoes in the Darkness	Vince Valaitis	Television movie
1990	L.A. Law	Joel Lassen	Episode: "Bound for Glory"
1993	Law & Order	Phillip Swann	Episode: "American Dreams"
1993–1999	Homicide: Life on the Street	Ed Danvers	37 episodes
1994	{{sortname\|The\|X-Files}}	Roland Fuller / Dr. Arthur Grable	Episode: "Roland"
rowspan=2\| 1995	Murder, She Wrote	Eddie Saunders	Episode: "Home Care"
\| Truman	Eddie Jacobsen	Television movie
1997–1999	Law & Order	AUSA Ed Danvers	2 episodes
rowspan=4\| 1997	Frasier	Dr. Arnold Shaw	Episode: "Death and the Dog"
\| The Practice	DA Mark McGovern	Episode: "The Civil Right"
\| Millennium	Dr. Daniel "Danny" Miller	Episode: "Walkabout"
\| Ally McBeal	Judge Marshal Pink	Episode: "One Hundred Tears Away"
1997–2003	Oz	Governor James Devlin	27 episodes
rowspan=2\|1998	From the Earth to the Moon	Ken Mattingly	Episode: "The Original Wives Club"
\| {{sortname\|The\|Rat Pack\|dab=film}}	Robert F. Kennedy	Television movie
rowspan=2\|2000	ER	Bruce Resnick	Episode: "The Dance We Do"
\| Homicide: The Movie	Ed Danvers	TV film
2001	The Practice	AUSA Steven Sanders	Episode: "The Confession"
rowspan=3\| 2002	The Practice	Matthew Davies	Episode: "Neighboring Species"
\| 24	Andre Drazen	15 episodes
\| The Twilight Zone	ER chief	Episode: "The Lineman"
rowspan=2\| 2003	The West Wing	Steve Atwood	2 episodes
\| The Reagans	Michael Deaver	TV movie
rowspan=2\| 2004	Law & Order	Richard Kaplin	Episode: "Gov Love"
\| Touching Evil	Ronald Hinks	Episode: "Pilot"
rowspan=2\| 2005	NYPD Blue	Justin Deroos	Episode: "Stoli With a Twist"
\| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	Andrew Melton	Episode: "Nesting Dolls"
rowspan=4\| 2006	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Everett Drake	Episode: "Taboo"
\| Bones	Carl Decker	Episode: "The Woman in the Car"
\| Shark	Eliot Dasher	2 episodes
\| Cold Case	John Doe	Episode: "One Night"
2007–2010	Damages	Raymond "Ray" Fiske	16 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film
2007	Lost	Edmund Burke	Episode: "Not in Portland"
rowspan=3\|2008	Numbers	William Fraley	Episode: "When Worlds Collide"
\| John Adams	John Dickinson	2 episodes
\| House	Jason	Episode: "Last Resort"
rowspan=2\|2008–2014	{{sortname\|The\|Mentalist}}	Dr. Linus Wagner	2 episodes
\| True Blood	Magister	5 episodes
2009	Heroes	Emile "The Hunter" Danko	13 episodes
2009–2010	Big Love	J.J.	12 episodes
2010–2011	{{sortname\|The\|Event}}	Blake Sterling	22 episodes
2013	White Collar	Brett Forsythe	Episode: "Digging Deeper"
2012–2013	{{sortname\|The\|Mob Doctor}}	Dr. Stafford White	13 episodes
2013–2014	Revolution	Dr. Calvin Horn	5 episodes
rowspan=2\| 2014	Banshee	FBI Special Agent Jim Racine	3 episodes
\| The Americans	John Skeevers	Episode: "Stealth"
2014–2015	Suits	Eric Woodall	4 episodes
2014–2019	Madam Secretary	Russell Jackson	102 episodes
2015–2017	12 Monkeys	Leland Goines	3 episodes
rowspan="2" \| 2022	Now and Then	Detective Sullivan	8 episodes
Let the Right One In	Arthur	Recurring
2023–present	The Walking Dead: Dead City	"The Croat"	Main cast
2024–2025	Law & Order	Defense Attorney Charles Banks	2 episodes
{{TableTBA}}	Death by Lightning	Doctor Willard Bliss	Upcoming miniseries

Stage

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role(s)

!Notes

rowspan="4" |1978

|Idiot's Delight

|Palota{{Cite web|title=Idiot's Delight|url=https://wtfestival.org/main-events/idiots-delight/|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=Williamstown Theatre Festival|language=en-US}}

Design for Living

|Photographer{{Cite web|title=Design for Living|url=https://wtfestival.org/main-events/design-for-living/|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=Williamstown Theatre Festival|language=en-US}}

The School for Wives

|Notary{{Cite web|title=School for Wives, The|url=https://wtfestival.org/main-events/school-for-wives-the/|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=Williamstown Theatre Festival|language=en-US}}

A Month in the Country

|Matvey{{Cite web|title=Month in the Country, A|url=https://wtfestival.org/main-events/month-in-the-country-a/|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=Williamstown Theatre Festival|language=en-US}}

rowspan="3" |1979

|Hay Fever

|Sandy Tyrell{{Cite web|title=Hay Fever|url=https://wtfestival.org/main-events/hay-fever/|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=Williamstown Theatre Festival|language=en-US}}

Charley's Aunt

|Charley Wykeham{{Cite web|title=Charley's Aunt|url=https://wtfestival.org/main-events/charleys-aunt-3/|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=Williamstown Theatre Festival|language=en-US}}

Children of the Sun

|Rioter{{Cite web|title=Children of the Sun|url=https://wtfestival.org/main-events/children-of-the-sun/|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=Williamstown Theatre Festival|language=en-US}}

1980

|The Front Page

|Earl Williams{{Cite web|title=Front Page, The|url=https://wtfestival.org/main-events/front-page-the/|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=Williamstown Theatre Festival|language=en-US}}

rowspan="2" |1981

|The Survivor

|Yankele, understudy Rudy{{Cite web|title=The Survivor – Broadway Play – Original {{!}} IBDB|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-survivor-4099#OpeningNightCast|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=www.ibdb.com}}

|Broadway debut

Cloud 9

|Betty/Gerry{{Cite web|title=Cloud 9|url=http://www.iobdb.com/production/614|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=www.iobdb.com}}

|Winner: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

1982

|"Master Harold"...and the Boys

|Hally{{Cite book|last=Fugard|first=Athol|title="Master Harold" … and the boys|publisher=Penguin|year=2009|isbn=9780307475206}}

1983

|Brighton Beach Memoirs

|Stanley Jerome{{Cite web|title=Brighton Beach Memoirs – Broadway Play – Original {{!}} IBDB|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/brighton-beach-memoirs-4212|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=www.ibdb.com}}

|Nomination: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play

1985

|A Map of the World

|Stephen{{Cite web|title=David Hare's 'A Map of the World' Opens Off-Broadway|url=https://apnews.com/article/d79f64028dde7ebe2b3d0cf44cdf0c5e|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=AP NEWS}}

1986

|Loot

|Hal{{Cite web|title=Loot – Broadway Play – 1986 Revival {{!}} IBDB|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/loot-4405#OpeningNightCast|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=www.ibdb.com}}

rowspan="2" |1988

|The Cherry Orchard

|Trofimov{{Cite news|last=Rich|first=Frank|date=January 25, 1988|title=Stage: Brook's 'Cherry Orchard'|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/25/theater/stage-brook-s-cherry-orchard.html|access-date=April 20, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}

Hamlet

|Hamlet{{Cite news|date=July 29, 1988|title=Guthrie Theater flourishing in its 25th year. Moli'ere play on stage, 'Hamlet' in the wings|work=The Christian Science Monitor|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1988/0729/lguth.html|access-date=April 20, 2021|issn=0882-7729}}

1990

|Ivanov

|Lvov{{Cite news|last=Rich|first=Frank|date=September 25, 1990|title=Review/Theater; Early Chekhov in a Cross-Cultural Exercise|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/25/theater/review-theater-early-chekhov-in-a-cross-cultural-exercise.html|access-date=April 20, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}

1991

|Two Shakespearean Actors

|John Ryder{{Cite web|title=Two Shakespearean Actors – Broadway Play – Original {{!}} IBDB|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/two-shakespearean-actors-4656|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=www.ibdb.com}}

|Nomination: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play
Nomination: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

1992

|It's Only a Play

|Peter Austin{{Cite book|last=McNally|first=Terrence|title=It's Only a Play|publisher=Dramatists Play Service|year=1992|isbn=0822205823|pages=4}}

1994

|The Glass Menagerie

|Tom Wingfield{{Cite web|last=League|first=The Broadway|title=The Glass Menagerie – Broadway Play – 1994 Revival {{!}} IBDB|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-glass-menagerie-4273|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=www.ibdb.com|language=en}}

rowspan="2" |2001

|The Dumb Waiter

|Ben{{Cite web|title=Dumb Waiter & The Zoo Story, The|url=https://wtfestival.org/main-events/dumb-waiter-the-zoo-story-the/|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=Williamstown Theatre Festival|language=en-US}}

The Zoo Story

|Peter

2002

|Blue/Orange

|Robert Smith{{Cite news|last=Weber|first=Bruce|date=November 25, 2002|title=THEATER REVIEW; Psychiatrists Do Battle, Mental Illness In the Middle|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/25/theater/theater-review-psychiatrists-do-battle-mental-illness-in-the-middle.html|access-date=April 20, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}

2005

|The Pillowman

|Ariel{{Cite web|title=The Pillowman – Broadway Play – Original {{!}} IBDB|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-pillowman-392093#OpeningNightCast|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=www.ibdb.com}}

2006

|The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial

|Lt. Com. Philip Francis Queeg{{Cite web|title=The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial – Broadway Play – 2006 Revival {{!}} IBDB|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-caine-mutiny-court-martial-395623|access-date=April 20, 2021|website=www.ibdb.com}}

|Nomination: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
Nomination: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play

2012

|Slowgirl

|Sterling{{Cite news|last=Isherwood|first=Charles|date=June 19, 2012|title=Filling the Silence With the Voice of Youth|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/theater/reviews/slowgirl-by-greg-pierce-at-the-claire-tow-theater.html|access-date=April 20, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}

References

External links

{{IMDb name|411964}}
{{IBDB name}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20121006012553/http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&keyword=name&first=Zeljko&last=Ivanek&middle= Željko Ivanek] at Internet Off-Broadway Database

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Category:1957 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century American LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people

Category:Male actors from Ljubljana

Category:Yugoslav emigrants to the United States

Category:American expatriate male actors

Category:American expatriates in England