Goran Višnjić

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Image:Dr. Luka Kovač.jpg Goran Višnjić (born September 9, 1972, Šibenik, Croatia, then known as Yugoslavia) is a Croatian actor who has appeared in many American film and television productions. His most prominent role has been that of Dr. Luka Kovač in the hit television series ER.

Born in the city of Šibenik (along the coast of Croatia), Višnjić appeared in plays throughout his childhood. He made his screen debut in the controversial Yugoslavian film Braća po materi (1988), playing a young Croatian extremist.

As Yugoslavia began to dissolve, Višnjić was serving a year-long tour of duty with the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA). He left the JNA and returned to Šibenik, where he joined the nascent Croatian Army in defending his hometown against JNA-supported Krajina Serbs.

Prior to ER, Višnjić had small speaking roles in films like The Peacemaker, Welcome to Sarajevo and Practical Magic. In 1998 he also appeared in Madonna's music video "The Power of Goodbye", and had a cameo in the movie Rounders.

He joined ER in the sixth season (late 1999) and as of 2006 remains in the cast. He is currently contracted through Season 13, and has announced on E! news that he'll be leaving the show sometime this season.

In the meantime he co-starred in the movie The Deep End, voice-acted in Ice Age, and starred in Posljednja volja and Doctor Sleep.

More recently, he starred in the mini-series Spartacus and the Croatian movie and television series Duga mračna noć. He appeared with Jennifer Garner in the movie Elektra.

Recently, he announced that he is going to produce and star in a movie about Croatian war general Ante Gotovina, whom most of Croatia sees as a war hero. Gotovina is currently awaiting trial at The Hague on war crimes charges. This film would be directed by fellow Croatian Antun Vrdoljak, Višnjić's father-in-law.

He is currently navigating legal issues arising from a lawsuit brought in Croatia by his former reps for non-payment of commission. His salary claims in the Croatian press didn't match the commission paid.

Višnjić is married to Ivana Vrdoljak.

[edit] Trivia

Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)

Hobbies are fencing, swimming, diving, windsurfing, and kung fu.

The younger of two sons, Višnjić's father was a bus driver and mother worked in a food market.

Trained as a paratrooper in the Croatian Army at age 18, and volunteered to stay on for an additional three months during the Croatian War of Independence.

Named People magazine's Sexiest Import in 1999.

Last name is pronounced /'ʋiʃ.ɲiʨ/ ('VISH-nyich').

Trained at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb.

The youngest actor to be chosen for the coveted title role in Shakespeare's Hamlet at the internationally acclaimed Dubrovnik Summer Theatre Festival in Croatia. He portrayed the doomed prince for six years from 1993 to 2000, winning several coveted Orlando Awards (the equivalent of the Tony Award). During an episode of ER, Luka demonstrated his expertise in the part of Hamlet, by reciting the "To be or not to be" soliloquy in Croatian. In the same episode, he demonstrated his skill in one of his hobbies, by Luka fencing with Carter.

Has a large scar on his stomach from gastric ulcer surgery.

Named as the Best Croatian actor in 2004 according to the votes of the visitors of internet magazines, for his role in the movie Duga mračna noć, according to the votes of the famous Croatian newspaper Večernji list.