Ivo Gregurević (; 7 October 1952 – 1 January 2019) was a Croatian film, theatre and television actor. Throughout over a quarter of a century, Gregurević played rural bullies and arrogant
nouveau riche
; ), new rich, or new money (in contrast to old money; ) is a social class of the rich whose wealth has been acquired within their own generation, rather than by familial inheritance. These people previously had belonged to a lower social cla ...
and became one of Croatia's best known and most lauded character actors.
Biography
Born in the village of Donja Mahala, Ivo was the child of Marko and Jela Gregurević. He graduated from the
Zagreb Academy of Dramatic Art
The Academy of Dramatic Art ( or ADU) is a Croatian drama school. Since its inception in 1896, the institution grew in prominence resulting in its successful affiliation with the University of Zagreb in 1979, along with the Academy of Music, Univ ...
, and has worked in over 90 movies and television programs since the late 1970s; in particular, he acted in almost all of Croatian movies after gaining independence in 1991. He also had few starring roles, best known being in 1991 film '' Čaruga''. Croatian film director
Snježana Tribuson
Snježana Tribuson (born 8 February 1957) is a Croatian screenwriter and film director. She directed more than ten films since 1981. In 1998 she won the Golden Arena for Best Screenplay for the film '' The Three Men of Melita Žganjer''.
Select ...
has stated that she had intentionally cast Gregurević in almost all of her movies.
Besides movie roles, he made the successful appearances in popular Croatian TV series, '' Velo misto'', playing the Netjak, and Marko Kosmički in '' Odmori se, zaslužio si''. He has won two Croatian Actors' Association Awards for ''Šokica'' (1998) and '' Duga mračna noć'' (2006). In 2005 he was ranked second in the Croatian-based film magazine ''Hollywood'' in the "Best Croatian Male Movie Stars of All Time" list.
Personal life
Gregurević was in a relationship with Croatian actress Dubravka Ostojić, with whom he had a son Marko, born in 1978. Following their rupture, Gregurević reported he has been in a relationship with the actress
Dolores Lambaša
Dolores Lambaša (29 March 1981 − 23 October 2013) was a Croatian actress.
Death
Lambaša died of injuries sustained in traffic collision on 23 October 2013, aged 32, at the Dr. Josip Benčević Hospital in Slavonski Brod.Croatian Ministry of the Interior.
Gregurević was found dead in his own home in Zagreb on 2 January 2019, but he died the day before. He was 66. He was buried at Karaula Cemetery in his hometown of Donja Mahala, on 8 January.
Vladimir Nazor Award
The Vladimir Nazor Award () is a Croatian prize for arts and culture established in 1959, and awarded every year by the country's Ministry of Culture.
Named after the writer Vladimir Nazor (1876–1949), the prize is awarded to Croatian artists ...