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Željko Ivanek
Close-up photograph of a thin bespectacled man, mostly bald with short gray hair around
Ivanek in 2017
Born (1957-08-15) August 15, 1957 (age 67)
Nationality American
Education
Occupation Actor
Years active 1981–present
Parent(s) Ferdo Ivanek

Željko Ivanek (/ˈʒɛlk ɪˈvɑːnɪk/; Slovene: [ˈʒɛːlkɔ iˈʋaːnək]; born August 15, 1957) is a Slovenian-American actor. Known for his work in film, television, and theatre, he is the recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Drama Desk Award, as well as three Tony Award nominations.

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), and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017). He has appeared in several films by Lars von Trier: Dancer in the Dark (2000), Dogville (2003), and Manderlay (2005).

On television, Ivanek is known for playing Ray Fiske on the FX 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.

Early life and education

Ivanek was born in Ljubljana, PR Slovenia, FPR Yugoslavia, to the family of Ferdo Ivanek, originally from Varaždin, Croatia, and Vojka, née Šimić. In 1960, Željko, his younger brother Ivan, and his mother immigrated to Palo Alto, California, United States, where his father was working as a research assistant at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University. His mother also worked at Stanford University as a project manager.

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. In 1978, Ivanek graduated from Yale University, majoring in theater. He later attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

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.

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.

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.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1982 Soldier, TheThe Soldier Bombmaker/Cleaning lady
Tex Mark Jennings Credited as "Hitchhiker"
Sender, TheThe Sender John Doe #83 / The Sender
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
1996 White Squall Coast Guard Captain Sanders
Courage Under Fire Ben Banacek
Infinity Bill Price
Associate, TheThe Associate SEC Agent Thompkins
1997 Donnie Brasco Tim Curley
Julian Po Tom Potter
1998 Nowhere to Go Principal Jack Walker
Civil Action, AA Civil Action Bill Crowley
1999 Snow Falling on Cedars Dr. Whitman
2000 Dancer in the Dark District Attorney
2001 Hannibal Dr. Cordell Doemling
Black Hawk Down Lieutenant Colonel Gary Harrell
2002 Unfaithful Detective Dean
2003 Dogville Ben
2004 Manchurian Candidate, TheThe Manchurian Candidate Vaughn Utly
2005 Manderlay Dr. Hector
2006 Hoax, TheThe Hoax Ralph Graves
2007 Ascension Day Master Travis
Live Free or Die Hard Molina
2008 In Bruges Canadian Guy
2011 Tower Heist FBI Director Mazin
2012 Bourne Legacy, TheThe Bourne Legacy 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
1983 Great Performances March Hare Episode: "Alice in Wonderland"
1986 American Playhouse George Deever Episode: "All My Sons"
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 X-Files, TheThe X-Files Roland Fuller / Dr. Arthur Grable Episode: "Roland"
1995 Murder, She Wrote Eddie Saunders Episode: "Home Care"
Truman Eddie Jacobsen Television movie
1997–1999 Law & Order ASA Ed Danvers 2 episodes
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
1998 From the Earth to the Moon Ken Mattingly Episode: "The Original Wives Club"
Rat Pack, TheThe Rat Pack Robert F. Kennedy Television movie
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"
2002 The Practice Matthew Davies Episode: "Neighboring Species"
24 Andre Drazen 15 episodes
The Twilight Zone ER chief Episode: "The Lineman"
2003 The West Wing Steve Atwood 2 episodes
The Reagans Michael Deaver TV movie
2004 Law & Order Mr. Capplin Episode: "Gov Love"
Touching Evil Ronald Hinks Episode: "Pilot"
2005 NYPD Blue Justin Deroos Episode: "Stoli With a Twist"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Andrew Melton Episode: "Nesting Dolls"
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"
2008 Numbers William Fraley Episode: "When Worlds Collide"
John Adams John Dickinson 2 episodes
House Jason Episode: "Last Resort"
2008–2014 Mentalist, TheThe 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 Event, TheThe Event Blake Sterling 22 episodes
2013 White Collar Brett Forsythe Episode: "Digging Deeper"
2012–2013 Mob Doctor, TheThe Mob Doctor Dr. Stafford White 13 episodes
2013–2014 Revolution Dr. Calvin Horn 5 episodes
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
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
TBA Death by Lightning Doctor Willard Bliss Upcoming miniseries

Stage

Year Title Role(s) Notes
1978 Idiot's Delight Palota
Design for Living Photographer
The School for Wives Notary
A Month in the Country Matvey
1979 Hay Fever Sandy Tyrell
Charley's Aunt Charley Wykeham
Children of the Sun Rioter
1980 The Front Page Earl Williams
1981 The Survivor Yankele, understudy Rudy Broadway debut
Cloud 9 Betty/Gerry Winner: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
1982 "Master Harold"...and the Boys Hally
1983 Brighton Beach Memoirs Stanley Jerome Nomination: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play
1985 A Map of the World Stephen
1986 Loot Hal
1988 The Cherry Orchard Trofimov
Hamlet Hamlet
1990 Ivanov Lvov
1991 Two Shakespearean Actors John Ryder 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
1994 The Glass Menagerie Tom Wingfield
2001 The Dumb Waiter Ben
The Zoo Story Peter
2002 Blue/Orange Robert Smith
2005 The Pillowman Ariel
2006 The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Lt. Com. Philip Francis Queeg Nomination: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play
Nomination: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play
2012 Slowgirl Sterling

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Željko Ivanek para niños

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