Velimir "Bata" Živojinović ( sr-Cyrl, Велимир "Бата" Живојиновић; 5 June 1933 – 22 May 2016) was a Yugoslav and Serbian actor and politician. He appeared in more than 340 films and TV series, and is regarded as one of the best actors in

former Yugoslavia The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (commonly abbreviated as SFRY or SFR Yugoslavia), known from 1945 to 1963 as the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia, commonly referred to as Socialist Yugoslavia or simply Yugoslavia, was a country ...

Early life

Živojinović (nicknamed ''Bata'') was born in the village of Koraćica under the

Kosmaj Kosmaj (Serbian Cyrillic: Космај, ) is a mountain south of Belgrade. With an elevation of 626 meters, it is the highest point of the entire Belgrade City area and is nicknamed one of two "Belgrade mountains" (the other being the mountain o ...

mountain near Mladenovac, at the time

Kingdom of Yugoslavia The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a country in Southeast Europe, Southeast and Central Europe that existed from 1918 until 1941. From 1918 to 1929, it was officially called the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes, but the term "Yugoslavia" () h ...

(now Serbia). His father, Dragoljub, was an

official An official is someone who holds an office (function or Mandate (politics), mandate, regardless of whether it carries an actual Office, working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority (eithe ...

and his mother Tiosava was a housewife. He had two sisters, Stanka and Nada, and grew up in a

patriarchal Patriarchy is a social system in which positions of authority are primarily held by men. The term ''patriarchy'' is used both in anthropology to describe a family or clan controlled by the father or eldest male or group of males, and in fem ...

household. A conflict between Dragoljub and the

Chetniks The Chetniks,, ; formally the Chetnik Detachments of the Yugoslav Army, and also the Yugoslav Army in the Homeland; and informally colloquially the Ravna Gora Movement, was a Kingdom of Yugoslavia, Yugoslav royalist and Serbian nationalist m ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

forced the family to move to

Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...

. The family lived in Crveni Krst. Young Bata often went with his friends to the cinema, which sparked his interest in acting. Loitering around the "20th October" cinema, he watched AKUD Branko Krsmanović, a Belgrade troupe, through the window for several days until he was welcomed inside. There he befriended Soja Jovanović, instrumental in the developing of Bata's love for acting, Rade Marković, Olivera Marković, Mića Tomić, and Bata Paskaljević. After graduating from acting schools in

Niš Niš (; sr-Cyrl, Ниш, ; names of European cities in different languages (M–P)#N, names in other languages), less often spelled in English as Nish, is the list of cities in Serbia, third largest city in Serbia and the administrative cente ...

and

Novi Sad Novi Sad ( sr-Cyrl, Нови Сад, ; #Name, see below for other names) is the List of cities in Serbia, second largest city in Serbia and the capital of the autonomous province of Vojvodina. It is located in the southern portion of the Pannoni ...

, he enrolled at the Drama Academy in Belgrade.

Career

Živojinović preferred acting in theatre to acting on screen, and made his screen debut in the 1955 film ''Pesma sa Kumbare''. He played both heroes and villains and switched between leading and supporting roles. The zenith of his popularity came with World War II-themed

Partisan film Partisan film ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, partizanski film, партизански филм, separator=" / ") is the name for a subgenre of war films made in Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Yugoslavia during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. In the broade ...

s in the 1970s. One of his best known films from that period was ''

Walter Defends Sarajevo ''Walter Defends Sarajevo'' (; ) is a 1972 Yugoslav partisan film, directed by Hajrudin Krvavac and starring Bata Živojinović, Ljubiša Samardžić and Rade Marković. The film centres around a mysterious figure named 'Walter', who is activ ...

'' (Valter brani Sarajevo), which gained major success and cult following in

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

Politics

In 1990 he was elected for the Serbian Parliament, as a member of the

Socialist Party of Serbia The Socialist Party of Serbia (, abbr. SPS) is a populist political party in Serbia. Ivica Dačić has led SPS as its president since 2006. SPS was founded in 1990 as a merger of the League of Communists of Serbia and Socialist Alliance ...

. He was a candidate in the September–October 2002 presidential election, receiving 3.27% of the popular vote.

Illness and death

Živojinović had a heart attack in October 2006 and suffered from

gangrene Gangrene is a type of tissue death caused by a lack of blood supply. Symptoms may include a change in skin color to red or black, numbness, swelling, pain, skin breakdown, and coolness. The feet and hands are most commonly affected. If the ga ...

in his right foot for about three years afterwards. Doctors initially wanted to amputate the limb, but he traveled to

Cuba Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...

, where his daughter lives, and within the 25 days that he spent being treated there, was cured of the gangrene by Doctor Montekin, who has also treated Venezuelan President

Hugo Chávez Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (; ; 28 July 1954 – 5 March 2013) was a Venezuelan politician, Bolivarian Revolution, revolutionary, and Officer (armed forces), military officer who served as the 52nd president of Venezuela from 1999 until De ...

. On 4 July 2012 he suffered a severe stroke and was transported to a hospital specializing in

cerebrovascular disease Cerebrovascular disease includes a variety of medical conditions that affect the blood vessels of the brain and the cerebral circulation. Arteries supplying oxygen and nutrients to the brain are often damaged or deformed in these disorders. Th ...

s called ''Sveti Sava'' in Belgrade. He was treated in the

intensive care unit An intensive care unit (ICU), also known as an intensive therapy unit or intensive treatment unit (ITU) or critical care unit (CCU), is a special department of a hospital or health care facility that provides intensive care medicine. An inten ...

and was reported to be in critical condition. Reports also stated that after the stroke he was in a coma for two days. He remained in critical condition in the hospital for about three weeks. After treatment for the stroke, he was discharged from the hospital, but reported to not be able to walk without assistance and that it was difficult for him to speak. On 6 May 2016, after being transferred from Sveti Sava hospital to "KBC Dedinje", he was subject of an emergency surgery which, in order to stop his gangrene, resulted in a leg amputation. He died on 22 May 2016 in Belgrade.

Personal life

Živojinović was married to Julijana "Lula" since 1960. They had a daughter, Jelena, and son, Miljko, and six grandchildren. His wife died on 20 December 2019 aged 80. Živojinović was a close friend with Croatian actor

Boris Dvornik Boris Dvornik (; 16 April 1939 – 24 March 2008) was a Croatian actor. Biography Born in Split to the family of a carpenter, Dvornik discovered acting talent at an early age, while performing in children's plays. After studying to become an el ...

until the Croatian War. In 1991 the two renounced each other in a series of open letters, which was a gesture often seen as symbolic of the

breakup of Yugoslavia After a period of political and economic crisis in the 1980s, the constituent republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia split apart in the early 1990s. Unresolved issues from the breakup caused a series of inter-ethnic Yugoslav ...

. In 2004 it was reported that the two men tried to reconcile. In 2006, the two men publicly reconciled on TV via a video link between

Split Split(s) or The Split may refer to: Places * Split, Croatia, the largest coastal city in Croatia * Split Island, Canada, an island in the Hudson Bay * Split Island, Falkland Islands * Split Island, Fiji, better known as Hạfliua Arts, enter ...

and

. The actor said that "In the last few years there hasn't been hatred between us", and Dvornik completed the sentence "only a misunderstanding". He was baptized as an infant in the

Serbian Orthodox Church The Serbian Orthodox Church ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Српска православна црква, Srpska pravoslavna crkva) is one of the autocephalous (ecclesiastically independent) Eastern Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodox Eastern Orthodox Church#Constit ...

and despite his association with communism, remained a believer until the end of his life.

Awards and honours

Živojinović was awarded Golden Arena for Best Actor at the

Pula Film Festival Pula Film Festival () is an annual Croatian film festival, established in 1954. It is held in a Roman amphitheater known as the Pula Arena. Pula Film Festival is the oldest Croatian film festival and is usually held in the summer, in July or Aug ...

, the most prestigious film award in the SFR Yugoslavia, three times: in 1965, 1967 and 1972. He won the award for Best Actor at the 11th Moscow International Film Festival in 1979 for his role in '' Moment''. In 1981 he was a member of the jury at the 12th Moscow International Film Festival. He was the recipient of the October Award of the City of Belgrade in 1972, and the 7th July Award of Serbia in 1981. In August 1993, he was awarded Life Achievement Award "Slavica". In 2016 he received the life achievement award ''Beogradski pobednik'' (Belgrade Victor).

Selected filmography

* ''Pesma sa Kumbare'' (1955) - Velja iz Belog Potoka * ''Klisura'' (1956) - Ajkin brat ... drvoseca * ''Poslednji kolosek'' (1956) - Sofer * ''Cipelice na asfaltu'' (1958) - Mladic (uncredited) * ''Subotom uvece'' (1957) - (segment "Doktor") * ''Mali covek'' (1957) - Mladic na zabavi * ''Rafal u nebo'' (1958) - Cetnik koljac * ''Te noci'' (1958) - Pijani slikar * '' Dubrowsky'' (1959) - Russian Soldier * '' Train Without a Timetable'' (1959) - Duje * ''Vetar je stao pred zoru'' (1959) - Agent policije * ''Dilizansa snova'' (1960) - Vasilije * '' Atomic War Bride'' (1960) * '' Signal Over the City'' (1960) - Toso * ''Uzavreli grad'' (1961) - Monter Luka * ''Pesma'' (1961) - Djordje * ''Dr'' (1962) - Dr. Milorad Cvijovic * '' Kozara'' (1962) - Sorga * ''Krst Rakoc'' (1962) - Beli * '' Double Circle'' (1963) - Pavle * ''Radopolje'' (1963) - Bozina * '' Thundering Mountains'' (1963) - Porucnik Kostic * ''Zemljaci'' (1963) - Jole * ''Muskarci'' (1963) - Lale * ''Covek iz hrastove sume'' (1964) - Profesor * ''Put oko sveta'' (1964) - Sava Cvetkovic * ''Narodni poslanik'' (1964) - Ivkovic * ''Dobra kob'' (1964) - Marko * '' Three'' (1965) - Milos Bojanic * ''Laznivka'' (1965) - Bonivan * '' Flaming Frontier'' (1965) - Jim Potter * ''Neprijatelj'' (1965) - Slobodan Antic * '' Looking Into the Eyes of the Sun'' (1966) - Mornar * ''Pre rata'' (1966) - G. Novakovic * '' The Dream'' (1966) - Lazar * ''Povratak'' (1966) - Al Kapone * ''Glineni golub'' (1966) - Kosta * '' I Even Met Happy Gypsies (Skupljači perja)'' (1967) - Mirta * ''Noz'' (1967) - Islednik Marko * ''Praznik'' (1967) - Major * '' The Birch Tree'' (1967) - Marko Labudan * (1967) - Djino * ''Diverzanti'' (1967) - Korcagin * '' Doctor Homer's Brother'' (1968) - Simon Petrović * ''Visnja na Tasmajdanu'' (1968) - Profesor * ''Uzrok smrti ne pominjati'' (1968) - Mitar Velimirovic * ''Bekstva'' (1968) - Viktor * ''Operacija Beograd'' (1968) - Pukovnik Vili Fuks * '' It Rains in My Village'' (1968) - Ispovednik * ''Ima ljubavi, nema ljubavi'' (1968) * ''Oseka'' (1969) - Kum * '' The Bridge'' (1969) - Tigar * '' Battle of Neretva'' (1969) - Stole * ''Krvava bajka'' (1969) - Marisav Petrovic * ''Zarki'' (1970) * ''Moja luda glava'' (1971) - Andrija * ''Dorucak sa djavolom'' (1971) - Bogoljub - Bata Radulaski * ''Opklada'' (1971) * ''Zvezde su oci ratnika'' (1972) - Ucitelj Mladen * ''

'' (1972) - Valter * ''I Bog stvori kafansku pevacicu'' (1972) - Ratomir Jovanic - Ratko * '' Traces of a Black Haired Girl'' (1972) - Sinter * '' The Master and Margaret'' (1972) - Korovjev * '' The Battle of Sutjeska'' (1973) - Nikola * ''Bombasi'' (1973) - Djoka * ''Mirko i Slavko'' (1973) - Komandant * ''

The Dervish and Death ''Death and the Dervish'' (Serbo-Croatian: ''Derviš i smrt'', Serbian Cyrillic: ''Дервиш и смрт'') is a 1974 Yugoslav film directed by Zdravko Velimirović based on the novel of the same name by Meša Selimović. The film won the ...

'' (1974) - Muselim * ''Kosava'' (1974) - Beli * '' Hell River'' (1974) - Braka * ''Crveni udar'' (1974) - Ico * ''Povest o dobrih ljudeh'' (1975) - Peter Kostrca * ''Crvena zemlja'' (1975) - Muzikant * ''

Anno Domini 1573 ''Anno Domini 1573'' (, ) is a 1975 Yugoslav/ Croatian feature film directed by Vatroslav Mimica. The film was selected for Directors' Fortnight section at Cannes Film Festival in 1976. It is a historical drama film depicting events surround ...

'' (1975) - Ilija Gregorić * ''Naivko'' (1975) - Zile Akademac * '' Beach Guard in Winter'' (1976) - Ljubicin otac * ''Vrhovi Zelengore'' (1976) - Boro * ''Povratak otpisanih'' (1976) - Cetnicki oficir * ''Gruppenbild mit Dame'' (1977) - Bogakov * '' Group Portrait with a Lady'' (1977) - Bogakov * ''Ljubavni zivot Budimira Trajkovica'' (1977) - Vozac GSP-a * ''Bestije'' (1977) - Bute * ''Hajka'' (1977) - Vojvoda Juzbasic * '' The Dog Who Loved Trains'' (1977) - Kauboj * ''Foolish Years'' (1977) - Dr. Nedeljkovic * ''Nije nego'' (1978) - Profesor matematike Herceg * ''Stici pre svitanja'' (1978) - Obren * '' Moment'' (1978) - Arsen * '' The Tiger'' (1978) - Direktor * ''Radio Vihor zove Andjeliju'' (1979) - Petrinja * ''Drugarcine'' (1979) - Kosta * ''Usijanje'' (1979) - Zandarm * ''Partizanska eskadrila'' (1979) - Vuk * ''Pozorisna veza'' (1980) - Milan, visi inspektor * '' Special Treatment'' (1980) - Direktor * ''Rad na odredjeno vreme'' (1980) - Milutin * ''Snovi, zivot, smrt Filipa Filipovica'' (1980) * ''Erogena zona'' (1981) - Pera 'Zver' * ''Crveniot konj'' (1981) - Boris Tusev * ''

High Voltage High voltage electricity refers to electrical potential large enough to cause injury or damage. In certain industries, ''high voltage'' refers to voltage above a certain threshold. Equipment and conductors that carry high voltage warrant sp ...

'' (1981) - Cukic * ''Dorotej'' (1981) - Dadara * ''Sesta brzina'' (1981) - Svetolik Trpkovic 'Pufta' * '' The Fall of Italy'' (1981) - Grgo Kusturin * ''Sok od sljiva'' (1981) - Uca * ''Lov u mutnom'' (1981) - Paja 'Glavonja' * ''Laf u srcu'' (1981) - Doktor * '' The Promising Boy'' (1981) - Masin otac * ''Idemo dalje'' (1982) - Sopenhauer * ''13. jul'' (1982) - Stevanov otac * ''Progon'' (1982) - Domacin Joca * (1982) - Dr. Dusan Arandjelovic * ''Moj tata na odredjeno vreme'' (1982) - Milutin Rakocevic * '' Balkan Express'' (1983) - Stojcic * ''Kakav deda takav unuk'' (1983) - Dr. Nedeljkovic * ''Stepenice za nebo'' (1983) - Komsija * ''Halo taxi'' (1983) - Suger * ''Jos ovaj put'' (1983) - Dzek * ''Igmanski mars'' (1983) - Badza * '' Great Transport'' (1983) - Kosta * ''Timocka buna'' (1983) - Kapetan Sibin * ''Idi mi, dodji mi'' (1983) - Dr. Nedeljkovic * ''Secerna vodica'' (1983) - Major Djuric * ''Pejzazi u magli'' (1984) - Ivanov otac * ''Maturanti (Pazi sta radis)'' (1984) - Funkcioner * '' Unseen Wonder'' (1984) - Otac Makarije * '' In the Jaws of Life'' (1984) - Trokrilni * ''Sta je s tobom, Nina'' (1984) - Miloje * ''Opasni trag'' (1984) - Inspektor Kosta Markovic * '' Balkan Spy'' (1984) - Palacinkar * '' The End of the War'' (1984) - Bajo Lazarević * '' Mala pljačka vlaka'' (1984) - Todor Strasni * ''

No problem ''No problem'' is an English expression, used as a response to '' thanks'' (among other functions). It is regarded by some as a less formal alternative to '' you're welcome'', which shares the same function. Informality In the culture of younger ...

'' (1984) - Brenin Menadzer * ''Groznica ljubavi'' (1984) - Jordan Cvetkovic * ''Cao inspektore'' (1985) - Boki * ''Nije lako sa muskarcima'' (1985) - Milos * ''I to ce proci'' (1985) - Kapetan Mika * ''Ada'' (1985) - Mladen * ''Zivot je lep'' (1985) - Visoko pozicionirani drug * ''Drzanje za vazduh'' (1986) - Buzdovan * ''Debeli i mrsavi'' (1986) - Aco Popara - Zver * ''Sest dana juna'' (1986) - Pilot 1 * ''Zikina dinastija'' (1986) - Dr. Nedeljkovic * ''U zatvoru'' (1986) - Upravnik * '' The Promised Land'' (1986) - Markan, predsjednik zadruge * ''Osveta'' (1986) - Milivoje Pekar * ''Sekula i njegove zene'' (1986) - Ceda * (1986) - Marko Mrgud * ''Druga Zikina dinastija'' (1986) - Dr. Nedeljkovic * ''Majstor i Sampita'' (1986) - Jova * ''Razvod na odredjeno vreme'' (1986) - Milutin Rakocevic * ''Miss'' (1986) - Kokos * ''Dobrovoljci'' (1986) - Vatrogasac * '' Days to Remember'' (1987) - Onkel Savo * ''

Oktoberfest Oktoberfest (; ) is the world's largest , featuring a beer festival and a travelling carnival, and is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, from mid- or late-September to the first Sunday in October. The annual event attracts more than seven milli ...

'' (1987) - Skoblar * ''Lutalica'' (1987) - Gazda Daca * '' The Felons'' (1987) - Preiskovalni * ''

Let's Fall in Love "Let's Fall in Love" is a song written by Harold Arlen (music) and Ted Koehler (lyrics) for the film ''Let's Fall in Love (film), Let's Fall in Love'' and published in 1933. In the film, it is heard during the opening credits and later sung by ...

'' (1987-1989, part 1, 2) - Komandir Milanovic * ''

Vuk Karadžić Vuk Stefanović Karadžić ( sr-Cyrl, Вук Стефановић Караџић, ; 6 November 1787 (26 October OS)7 February 1864) was a Serbian philologist, anthropologist and linguist. He was one of the most important reformers of the moder ...

'' (1987-1988, TV Series) - Jakov Nenadovic * '' A Better Life'' (1987-1991, TV Series) - Aleksandar 'Macola' Kostic * ''Vanbracna putovanja'' (1988) - Gerasim Miletic * ''Vikend na mrtovci'' (1988) - Generalen direktor * ''Tajna manastirske rakije'' (1988) - Abdullah the Great * ''Tesna koza 3'' (1988) - Sotir Milivojevic * ''Sulude godine'' (1988) - Dr. Nedeljkovic / Dr Smiljanic * ''Spijun na stiklama'' (1988) - Ruzic * ''Ransom'' (1988) * (1988) - Gospodin Mihailo * ''Balkan ekspres 2'' (1989) - Stojko * ''Atoski vrtovi - preobrazenje'' (1989) - Komesar * '' War and Remembrance'' (1989, TV Mini-Series) - Jewish Partisan Leader * '' The Fall of Rock and Roll'' (1989) - Krsta Klatic-Klaja * ''Vampiri su medju nama'' (1989) - Boki * ''

Battle of Kosovo The Battle of Kosovo took place on 15 June 1389 between an army led by the Serbian Prince Lazar Hrebeljanović and an invading army of the Ottoman Empire under the command of Sultan Murad I. It was one of the largest battles of the Late Middl ...

'' (1989) - Srbin Hamza * ''Sex-partijski neprijatelj br. 1'' (1991) - Ciganin Sekula * '' Aliens are to Blame for Everything'' (1991) - Boki * (1991) - Ceda * '' Holiday in Sarajevo'' (1991) - Inspektor Felini * '' The Original of the Forgery'' (1991) - Vujic * ''Bracna putovanja'' (1991) - Gerasim Miletic * ''Prokleta je Amerika'' (1992) - Kamiondzija Radovan * ''Velika frka'' (1992) - Sima * '' Dama koja ubija'' (1992) - Boki * '' Three Tickets to Hollywood'' (1993) - Mrgud * ''Pun mesec nad Beogradom'' (1993) - Aleksin otac * ''Slatko od snova'' (1994) - Baks * '' The End of Obrenović Dynasty'' (1995, TV Series) - Aleksa Novakovic * ''Tamna je noc'' (1995) - Komandant policijskog odreda * ''Treca sreca'' (1995) - Ujka Zivota * '' Pretty Village, Pretty Flame'' (1996) - Gvozden * ''Dovidjenja u Cikagu'' (1996) - Boki * ''Balkanska pravila'' (1997) - Sef * ''Ptice koje ne polete'' (1997) - Lugar Zdravko * '' The Wounds'' (1998) - Covek na tenku * ''Kupi mi Eliota'' (1998) - Adam Tabakera * ''

Barking at the Stars ''Barking at the Stars'' () is a 1998 Yugoslav film directed by Zdravko Šotra. Although it was filmed during a decade of war and hardship in the former Yugoslavia, the film was overall praised for its wholesomeness, as it does not contain any swe ...

'' (1998) - Bozovic * '' Cabaret Balkan'' (1998) - The Bosnian Serb Father, the Bus Driver * '' The Dagger'' (1999) - Nicifor Jugovic * '' The White Suit'' (1999) - Gospodin * ''Ranjena zemlja'' (1999) - Aleksic * '' Shadows of Memories'' (2000) - Ljuba Radovanovic * ''

War Live War Live may refer to: * ''War Live'' (film), a 2000 Yugoslavian film * ''War Live'' (album), a 1974 live album by War {{dab ...

'' (2000) - Tatula * ''Seljaci'' (2001) - Jeremija * ''Sve je za ljude'' (2001) - Jeremija * '' Frozen Stiff'' (2002) - Stanislav * ''Amir'' (2002) - Amirjev oce * '' Ivkova Slava'' (2005) - Mirko * '' Made in YU'' (2005) - Farfar * ''Princ od papira'' (2007) - Opasni cica * '' The Sisters'' (2011, TV Movie) - Deda Rade * '' My Beautiful Country'' (2012) - Special Guest * ''Led'' (2012) - Deda Zivotije

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Zivojinovic, Bata 1933 births 2016 deaths Politicians from Jagodina 20th-century Serbian male actors 21st-century Serbian male actors Serbian actor-politicians Male actors from Belgrade Golden Arena winners Members of the National Assembly (Serbia) Candidates for President of Serbia Politicians from Belgrade Serbian male film actors Serbian male stage actors Socialist Party of Serbia politicians Yugoslav male film actors Deaths from gangrene Burials at Belgrade New Cemetery