Goran Visnjic
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
Tall, with dark matinee idol looks, Croatian actor Goran Visnjic garnered much attention with his first major English-language role in Michael Winterbottom's "Welcome to Sarajevo" (1997). Drawing on his own experiences, he delivered a strong supporting turn as Risto, the driver and translator for a British news team covering the war in the former Yugoslavia.
Born in the small coastal town of Sivinik on the Adriatic, Visnjic began his acting studies while still a teenager. After completing the required military service in the Yugoslavian army, the Balkan war broke out and he briefly served in the Croatian army.
Leaving the military, Visnjic joined the Croatian National Theatre. Cast as Laertes in a production of "Hamlet," the 21-year old actor assumed the title role when the actor originally cast fell ill. He scored a success with his performance and went on to play the role in throughout Croatia. He found work in local TV productions and landed a Tuborg beer commercial that aired in Europe.
Small roles in the American TV-movie "Alistair MacLean's 'Night Watch'" (USA Network, 1995) and in the feature "The Peacemaker" (1997) followed before Winterbottom cast him as Risto. Subsequently, he appeared as Nicole Kidman's abusive boyfriend in "Practical Magic" (1998) before joining the cast of NBC's hit medical drama "ER" in fall 1999 as pediatrician Dr. Luka Kovac.
Following his "ER" breakthrough, Visnjic appeared in a succession of small films, including "Committed" (2000), "The Deep End" (2001), the UK thriller "Doctor Sleep" (2002) and the Croatian-made films "The Last Will/Posljednja volja" (2001) and "Duga Mracna Noc" (2004), also serving as a producer on the latter two. He also took on the role of "Spartacus" for a 2004 TV remake of the classic film, and received his first major US starring role on the big screen, playing Jennifer Garner's potential love interest in the comic book actioner "Elektra" (2005).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1994
Played the title role in a production of "Hamlet"
1995
Made U.S. television debut in Alistair MacLean's "Night Watch"
1997
Landed breakthrough role in "Welcome to Sarajevo"
1997
Made his American film debut in "The Peacemaker"
1998
Cast opposite Nicole Kidman in "Practical Magic"
1999
Portrayed pediatrician Dr. Luka Kovac on the NBC medical drama "ER"
2000
Played a lusty artist interested in a married Heather Graham in the comedy "Committed"
2001
Had supporting role as a blackmailer in "The Deep End"
2002
Provided voice of the character Soto in the animated feature "Ice Age"
2004
First starring role in a feature, "Close Your Eyes"
2004
Starred as titular gladiator in the USA Network remake of "Spartacus"
2005
Cast opposite Jennifer Garner in the "Daredevil" spin-off "Elektra"
2009
Played Ashley Judd's husband in "Helen"
2009
Appeared alongside Carla Gugino in a segment of the upcoming film "New York, I Love You"
2009
Co-starred in the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of "The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler" (CBS)
2010
Cast in the role of Samson in the miniseries "The Deep," which aired on BBC One
2011
Cast in a four-episode arc on the 1960s-set airline drama "Pan Am" (ABC)
2011
Joined the cast of the David Fincher-directed "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," based on the novel by Stieg Larsson
2013
Played a recurring character on the TV series "Red Widow"
2014
Was a recurring character on the sci-fi series "Extant"
2016
Joined the cast of the time-travel series "Timeless"
2018
Starred in Croation war drama "General"
Family
Companions
