Bata Živojinović

Bata Živojinović
Velimir "Bata" Živojinović (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.
Early life
Živojinović (nicknamed Bata) was born in the village of Koraćica under the Kosmaj mountain near Mladenovac, at the time Kingdom of Yugoslavia (now Serbia). His father, Dragoljub, was an official and his mother Tiosava was a housewife. He had two sisters, Stanka and Nada, and grew up in a patriarchal household. A conflict between Dragoljub and the Chetniks during World War II forced the family to move to Belgrade. 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 and Novi Sad, 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 films in the 1970s. One of his best known films from that period was Walter Defends Sarajevo (Valter brani Sarajevo), which gained major success and cult following in China.
Politics
In 1990 he was elected for the Serbian Parliament, as a member of the Socialist Party of Serbia. 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 in his right foot for about three years afterwards. Doctors initially wanted to amputate the limb, but he traveled to Cuba, 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.
On 4 July 2012 he suffered a severe stroke and was transported to a hospital specializing in cerebrovascular diseases called Sveti Sava in Belgrade. He was treated in the intensive care unit 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 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. 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 and Belgrade. The actor said that "In the last few years there hasn't been hatred between us", and Dvornik completed the sentence "only a misunderstanding".
Awards and honours
Živojinović was awarded Golden Arena for Best Actor at the Pula Film Festival, 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
Brat doktora Homera (1968) - Simon Petrovic
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
Walter Defends Sarajevo (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 (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 (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 (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 (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 (1987) - Skoblar
Lutalica (1987) - Gazda Daca
The Felons (1987) - Preiskovalni
Let's Fall in Love (1987-1989, part 1, 2) - Komandir Milanovic
Vuk Karadžić (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 (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 (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 (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
See also
List of Yugoslavian films
Politics of Serbia
References
External links
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