Ivo Gregurević Passes Away

(Patria) - One of the most famous Croatian actors, Ivo Gregurević, has passed away at the age of 67. 

HRT reminds that Ivo Gregurević was born in Donja Mahala (Orašje), in 1952. After finishing high school, he enrolled in the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. He debuted in film in 1977 ("Ne naginji se van", B. Žižić) with the leading role of a provincial working in Germany. In the same year, he filmed Antun Vrdoljak's cult film Mećava, in which he played the character of Ivan.

He excelled at portraying rough and crude "folk characters" such as the kidnapper in "Osuđeni" (1978) by Z. Tadić, the conductor in "Kraljeva završnica" (1987) by Ž. Tomić, and the investigator in "Život sa stricem" (1988) by K. Papić. In Velo misto, a television series filmed from 1979-1981, directed by Joakim Marušić based on the screenplay by Miljenko Smoje, Gregurević gained great popularity playing the role of Netjak. In 1986, he became a member of the Drama ensemble of the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb.

He filmed Čaruga in 1991, a film that cemented his status among the top actors. In it, besides the leading role, he also played the female character of snaša. Throughout the 80s and 90s, he had a series of exceptionally notable major roles in film. In theatre, he performed in plays by: Shakespeare, Chekhov, Gogol, Krleža, Držić, Smoje... He worked on films and series with Rajko Grlić, Branko Šmit, Antun Vrdoljak, Lukas Nola.

He won the Croatian Society of Dramatic Artists Award in 1998 for the film Šokica and in 2006 for his role in the film and the eponymous series Duga mračna noć. He is also the recipient of the most prestigious Vladimir Nazor Award. In 1995, he initiated the Days of Croatian Film festival in Orašje.

Ivo Gregurević has over 90 films, 19 television series, and about 30 theatre performances to his name.