Relja Bašić (14 February 1930 – 7 April 2017) was a
Croatian actor. With a career that lasted more than half a century, he is considered one of the most prolific performers of that country.
Biography
Bašić was born on 14 February 1930 in
Zagreb
Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...
, then
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 ...
. He was born to a
Jewish
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
mother Elly (
née
The birth name is the name of the person given upon their birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name or to the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a births registe ...
Lerch) Bašić.
Bašić was raised by his mother and stepfather Mladen Bašić. He first appeared on screen in 1954 classic film ''Koncert''. Through the decades, he played many different roles, often in international co-productions. He never became a star, but remained one of the most recognisable and dependable character actors. His specialty were the roles of suave aristocratic villains, especially in historic films dealing with
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 ...
, but he is best remembered for the role of Mr. Fulir in 1970 cult comedy ''
Tko pjeva zlo ne misli''.
In the 1990s, Bašić was an enthusiastic supporter of the
Croatian Social Liberal Party
The Croatian Social Liberal Party ( or HSLS) is a conservative-liberal political party in Croatia.
The HSLS were established in May 1989 in Zagreb
Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#Li ...
. During
1992 parliamentary elections he appeared as that party's candidate in one of Zagreb constituencies. He lost that race to
Nedjeljko Mihanović of
HDZ in controversial circumstances. A few months later, in
the elections for upper house of the Croatian Parliament, he won the seat representing the City of Zagreb.
In 1995, President
Tuđman awarded him with the
Order of Danica Hrvatska.
Bašić also acted as a
UNESCO Artist for Peace UNESCO Artists for Peace are international celebrity advocates for the United Nations agency UNESCO. This category of advocate is intended to heighten public awareness in addition to the categories UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador and UNESCO Champion for ...
.
Several years before his death, Bašić suffered a
femur fracture which restrained his mobility. He died on 7 April 2017, in Zagreb.
Filmography
References
Bibliography
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External links
*
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Bašić's best remembered role is Mr. Fulir in 1970 cult musical comedy ''Tko pjeva zlo ne misli'' ''(One Song a Day Takes Mischief Away)''Bašić died at the age of 88
{{DEFAULTSORT:Basic, Relja
1930 births
2017 deaths
Male actors from Zagreb
Croatian male actors
Jewish Croatian male actors
Croatian Theatre Award winners
Croatian actor-politicians
Croatian Social Liberal Party politicians
Representatives in the modern Croatian Parliament
Golden Arena winners
Croatian Jews
Burials at Mirogoj Cemetery