---
name: "Željko Ivanek"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/zeljko-ivanek"
fi1m_id: "zeljko-ivanek"
imdb_id: "nm0411964"
tmdb_id: 6752
wikidata_id: "Q382197"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "15 August 1957"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 20
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 20
updated: "2026-10-05T15:44:28.163297+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Željko Ivanek

## Identity

Željko Ivanek

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/zeljko-ivanek
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** zeljko-ivanek
- **IMDb ID:** nm0411964
- **TMDB ID:** 6752
- **Wikidata ID:** Q382197
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BDeljko_Ivanek, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q382197, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0411964/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6752

Actor. Born 15 August 1957 in Ljubljana, Yugoslavia [now Slovenia].

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 15 August 1957, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia [now Slovenia]
- **Active:** 1993–present
- **Frequently works with:** [Graham Broadbent](https://film.one/person/graham-broadbent.md), [Martin McDonagh](https://film.one/person/martin-mcdonagh.md), [Peter Czernin](https://film.one/person/peter-czernin.md), [Ridley Scott](https://film.one/person/ridley-scott.md), [Sam Rockwell](https://film.one/person/sam-rockwell.md), [Woody Harrelson](https://film.one/person/woody-harrelson.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 74, as actor, over 20 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 86 (2), 2000s 73 (10), 2010s 74 (6), 2020s 66 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 69 across 20 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 13 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 16, Crime 10, Thriller 8, Comedy 3, Action 2, History 2
- **Screen time:** 26 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,713m across 12 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BDeljko_Ivanek, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q382197, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0411964/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6752

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*John Adams*](https://film.one/tv/john-adams.md) (81), [*Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri*](https://film.one/film/three-billboards-outside-ebbing-missouri.md) (74)
- **Disney+:** [*Damages*](https://film.one/tv/damages.md) (78), [*Hannibal*](https://film.one/film/hannibal.md) (54)
- **Netflix:** [*Donnie Brasco*](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md) (84)
- **MUBI:** [*Dogville*](https://film.one/film/dogville.md) (74)
- **Apple TV:** [*Dancer in the Dark*](https://film.one/film/dancer-in-the-dark.md) (71)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Željko Ivanek

> Željko Ivanek makes professional authority look less reassuring than it ought to. We value his precision with dialogue and his feel for conflicted men, though repeated casting as the antagonist can make his arrival too easy to read.

Željko Ivanek is often the man with the professional title, and there is usually a reason to be wary of him. Lawyers and officials recur in his work; he is good at making calculation and doubt believable in people accustomed to being obeyed. The precision comes through in his handling of dialogue, a strength rooted in his stage work.

Television gave that skill recurring employment as Ed Danvers in *Homicide: Life on the Street* and Governor Devlin in *Oz*, both with writer and producer Tom Fontana. In *Donnie Brasco* (1997), his Tim Curley is a supporting part in a film carried by Al Pacino and Johnny Depp's uneasy friendship. We found the danger painful because Pacino and Depp make that friendship matter. Ivanek belongs to the surrounding ensemble, where his precision is useful without needing to become the attraction. The family story is thin, but the central relationship makes this the firmer recommendation.

In *Dancer in the Dark* (2000), Ivanek's District Attorney is a more direct example of his casting as an authority figure. Lars von Trier's punishing musical makes considerable demands on its audience, some earned by Björk and the songs, some imposed by a contrived script. It is worth enduring, but we resist some of the tears it demands. Von Trier has cast Ivanek in three films. His precision is welcome here, though no supporting performance could make all that suffering feel earned.

*Damages*, in which he played Ray Fiske from 2007 to 2010, raised his profile and gave the calculating professional more room for conflict. Later film parts such as Robert Pender in *Argo* (2012) and the Desk Sergeant in *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017) continued his supporting work. The reservation is that repeated authority roles can make us anticipate an antagonist before a character has had a chance to develop. We would like more parts that complicate that expectation. Try *Damages* for a fuller sense of what he can do.

## Biography

Željko Ivanek is a Slovenian-American actor born on 15 August 1957 in Ljubljana, then Yugoslavia. He was educated at Yale University and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

His film roles include Tim Curley in *Donnie Brasco* (1997), appearances in *Black Hawk Down* (2001), *Argo* (2012) and *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017), and parts in several films by Lars von Trier. On television he played Ray Fiske in *Damages* (2007–2010), for which he received the 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and has had recurring roles in series including *Homicide: Life on the Street*, *Oz*, *Madam Secretary* and *The Walking Dead: Dead City*.

Ivanek has also worked extensively in theatre, receiving a Drama Desk Award and three Tony Award nominations.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (20)

- *The Last Duel* (2021), Fi1m 65, as Le Coq — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-duel.md)
- *The Courier* (2020), Fi1m 67, as CIA Boss — [page](https://film.one/film/the-courier.md)
- *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017), Fi1m 74, as Desk Sergeant — [page](https://film.one/film/three-billboards-outside-ebbing-missouri.md)
- *Banshee* (2013), Fi1m 72, as Jim Racine — [page](https://film.one/tv/banshee.md)
- *The Americans* (2013), Fi1m 91, as John Skeevers — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-americans.md)
- *Argo* (2012), Fi1m 79, as Robert Pender — [page](https://film.one/film/argo.md)
- *Seven Psychopaths* (2012), Fi1m 72, as Paolo — [page](https://film.one/film/seven-psychopaths.md)
- *The Bourne Legacy* (2012), Fi1m 54, as Dr. Donald Foite — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-legacy.md)
- *In Bruges* (2008), Fi1m 83, as Canadian Guy — [page](https://film.one/film/in-bruges.md)
- *John Adams* (2008), Fi1m 81, as John Dickinson — [page](https://film.one/tv/john-adams.md)
- *Damages* (2007), Fi1m 78, as Ray Fiske — [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)
- *Live Free or Die Hard* (2007), Fi1m 65, as Asst. Deputy Director Molina — [page](https://film.one/film/live-free-or-die-hard.md)
- *Big Love* (2006), Fi1m 79, as JJ — [page](https://film.one/tv/big-love.md)
- *Heroes* (2006), Fi1m 68, as Emile Danko — [page](https://film.one/tv/heroes.md)
- *House* (2004), Fi1m 78, as Jason — [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md)
- *Dogville* (2003), Fi1m 74, as Ben — [page](https://film.one/film/dogville.md)
- *Hannibal* (2001), Fi1m 54, as Dr. Cordell Doemling — [page](https://film.one/film/hannibal.md)
- *Dancer in the Dark* (2000), Fi1m 71, as District Attorney — [page](https://film.one/film/dancer-in-the-dark.md)
- *Donnie Brasco* (1997), Fi1m 84, as Tim Curley — [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md)
- *Frasier* (1993), Fi1m 88, as Arnold Shaw — [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)

## Complete filmography (101)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Walking Dead: Dead City* (2023), series, as The Croat
- *Let the Right One In* (2022), series, as Arthur Logan
- *Now and Then* (2022), series, as Sullivan
- *The Last Duel* (2021), as Le Coq — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-duel.md)
- *The Courier* (2020), as CIA Boss — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-courier.md)
- *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017), as Desk Sergeant — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/three-billboards-outside-ebbing-missouri.md)
- *X-Men: Apocalypse* (2016), as Pentagon Scientist — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/x-men-apocalypse.md)
- *12 Monkeys* (2015), series, as Leland Goines
- *Madam Secretary* (2014), series, as Russell Jackson
- *Legends* (2014), series, as Founding Father
- *The Americans* (2013), series, as John Skeevers — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-americans.md)
- *Banshee* (2013), series, as Jim Racine — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/banshee.md)
- *Seven Psychopaths* (2012), as Paolo — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/seven-psychopaths.md)
- *Argo* (2012), as Robert Pender — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/argo.md)
- *Revolution* (2012), series, as Calvin Horn
- *The Mob Doctor* (2012), series, as Dr. Stafford White
- *The Words* (2012), as Joseph Cutler
- *The Bourne Legacy* (2012), as Dr. Donald Foite — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-legacy.md)
- *Tower Heist* (2011), as Director Mazin
- *Suits* (2011), series, as Eric Woodall
- *The Event* (2010), series, as Blake Sterling
- *White Collar* (2009), series, as Brett Forsythe
- *The Mentalist* (2008), series, as Dr. Linus Wagner — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md)
- *True Blood* (2008), series, as Magister — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/true-blood.md)
- *John Adams* (2008), series, as John Dickinson — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/john-adams.md)
- *In Bruges* (2008), as Canadian Guy — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/in-bruges.md)
- *Damages* (2007), series, as Ray Fiske — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)
- *Live Free or Die Hard* (2007), as Asst. Deputy Director Molina — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/live-free-or-die-hard.md)
- *The Hoax* (2006), as Ralph Graves
- *Heroes* (2006), series, as Emile Danko — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/heroes.md)
- *Shark* (2006), series, as Elliott Dasher — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/shark.md)
- *Big Love* (2006), series, as JJ — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/tv/big-love.md)
- *Bones* (2005), series, as Carl Decker — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/bones.md)
- *The Inside* (2005), series, as Teddy Bunch
- *Manderlay* (2005), as Dr. Hector
- *Numb3rs* (2005), series, as William Fraley
- *House* (2004), series, as Jason — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md)
- *Lost* (2004), series, as Edmund Burke — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/lost.md)
- *The Manchurian Candidate* (2004), as Vaughn Utly
- *The Reagans* (2003), as Michael Deaver
- *The Reagans* (2003), series, as Michael Deaver
- *Cold Case* (2003), series, as John Doe
- *Dogville* (2003), as Ben — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/dogville.md)
- *The Twilight Zone* (2002), series, as ER Chief
- *Unfaithful* (2002), as Detective Dean
- *Black Hawk Down* (2001), as Harrell — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/black-hawk-down.md)
- *24* (2001), series, as Andre Drazen — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/24.md)
- *Crossing Jordan* (2001), series, as Elliot McCafferty
- *Hannibal* (2001), as Dr. Cordell Doemling — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/hannibal.md)
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Andrew Melton
- *Dancer in the Dark* (2000), as District Attorney — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/dancer-in-the-dark.md)
- *Homicide: The Movie* (2000), as Ed Danvers
- *Sally Hemings: An American Scandal* (2000), as Thomas Mann Randolph
- *Sally Hemings: An American Scandal* (2000), series, as Thomas Mann Randolph
- *Snow Falling on Cedars* (1999), as Dr. Whitman
- *The West Wing* (1999), series, as Steve Atwood — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-west-wing.md)
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Everett Drake
- *Dash and Lilly* (1999), as Mel Berman
- *A Civil Action* (1998), as Bill Crowley
- *The Rat Pack* (1998), as Bobby Kennedy
- *From the Earth to the Moon* (1998), series, as Ken Mattingly
- *Nowhere to Go* (1998), as Principal Jack Walker
- *Ellen Foster* (1997), as Educational Psychologist
- *Ally McBeal* (1997), series, as Judge Marshal Pink — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/ally-mcbeal.md)
- *Julian Po* (1997), Actor
- *Oz* (1997), series, as Governor James Devlin — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/oz.md)
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as Assistant D.A. General Mark McGovern, U.S. Atty. Sanders, Matthew Davies
- *Donnie Brasco* (1997), as Tim Curley — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md)
- *Millennium* (1996), series, as Dr. Daniel 'Danny' Miller
- *The Associate* (1996), as SEC Agent Thompkins
- *Infinity* (1996), as Bill Price
- *After Jimmy* (1996), as Dr. Darren Walters
- *Courage Under Fire* (1996), as Banacek
- *White Squall* (1996), as Sanders
- *Truman* (1995), as Eddie Jacobsen
- *My Brother's Keeper* (1995), as Dr. Hill
- *ER* (1994), series, as Bruce Resnick — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as Eugene Ramsey
- *Frasier* (1993), series, as Arnold Shaw — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/frasier.md)
- *The X-Files* (1993), series, as Roland Fuller / Dr. Arthur Grable — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-x-files.md)
- *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Ed Danvers — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md)
- *School Ties* (1992), as Mr. Cleary
- *Our Sons* (1991), as Donald Barnes
- *Aftermath: A Test of Love* (1991), as Matt
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Richard Kaplan, Phillip Swann, Ed Danvers, Charles Banks — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Artificial Paradise* (1990), as Willy
- *Rachel River* (1989), as Momo
- *Echoes in the Darkness* (1987), as Vince Valaitis
- *Echoes in the Darkness* (1987), series, as Vince Valaitis
- *All My Sons* (1987), as George Deever
- *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Joel Lassen
- *Mass Appeal* (1984), as Mark Dolson
- *The Sun Also Rises* (1984), series, as Bill Gorton
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Eddie Saunders
- *Alice in Wonderland* (1983), as March Hare
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as Mark Dolson — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *The Sender* (1982), as John Doe #83
- *Tex* (1982), as Hitchhiker
- *The Soldier* (1982), as Bombmaker / Faux-Cleaning Lady
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as George Keller, Momo
- *Great Performances* (1971), series, as March Hare

## Gallery

- ![Željko Ivanek](https://film.one/media/person/87450/gallery-5e5e5d7f3e0e.jpg) Željko Ivanek — Greg2600 on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/92/%C5%BDeljko_Ivanek_%2833355599031_-_crop%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Željko Ivanek](https://film.one/media/person/87450/gallery-e3a59baefc3c.jpg) Željko Ivanek — Image via TMDB
- ![Željko Ivanek](https://film.one/media/person/87450/gallery-9a56fc1b62de.jpg) Željko Ivanek — Image via TMDB
- ![Željko Ivanek](https://film.one/media/person/87450/gallery-eb689dd7eda2.jpg) Željko Ivanek — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2008: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (won), for *Damages*

### Other awards — 1 won, 6 nominated

- Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film 2008: Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (nominated), for *Damages*
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play 2006: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 2006: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play 1992: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1992: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play 1983: Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (nominated)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play 1982: Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/zeljko-ivanek