Photo: Greg2600 on Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Željko Ivanek is a masterclass in why character actors deserve the spotlight. A Slovenian immigrant who trained at Yale, conquered Broadway, and won an Emmy plus Tony nominations, he changes the molecular density of any scene the instant he enters it. His coiled, precise menace in Damages is some of the finest supporting work I have ever watched. I am drawn to performers who command attention without ever needing to be the lead, and Ivanek is the platonic ideal of that breed. When his name appears in the credits, I trust the production a little more.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Željko Ivanek
- Name (Japanese)
- ジェリコ・イヴァネク
- Reading
- じぇりこ・いゔぁねく
- Born
- August 15, 1957 (age 68)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Leo / Rooster
- Origin
- Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- actor / stage actor / television actor / film actor
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Ellwood P. Cubberley High School
- University
- Yale University
Awards & achievements
- 1982 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
- 2008 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Damages | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Željko Ivanek born?
Born August 15, 1957 (age 68).
Where is Željko Ivanek from?
Željko Ivanek is from Ljubljana, Slovenia.
What does Željko Ivanek do?
Željko Ivanek works as actor, stage actor, television actor, film actor.
What is Željko Ivanek known for?
Notable works include Damages.
Actor — see all → · Stage actor — see all → · More people from Slovenia →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.