Actor Bata Živojinović passed away in Belgrade

The legend of Serbian and Yugoslav acting, Velimir Bata Živojinović (83), passed away last night at 10:45 PM at the Sveti Sava hospital in Belgrade, Serbian media report, Patria reports.

The eighty-two-year-old actor suffered a severe stroke in early July 2012, from which he recovered. In October 2006, he had a heart attack, and he also suffered from gangrene, which he treated several times in Cuba, where his daughter lives.

He spent the last few months recovering at home, with his wife Lulu and granddaughter Dina. However, his condition worsened again a few weeks ago, so he was hospitalized and his leg was amputated.

A Rich Career

Živojinović played the most roles in the entire region, and he is known worldwide primarily for his role in the film "Walter Defends Sarajevo," which achieved mega-popularity in China.

He was born on June 5, 1933, in the village of Koraćica near Belgrade.

As a fifteen-year-old, he worked as a stagehand and extra at the Academic Theatre "Branko Krsmanović" in Belgrade. He then attended secondary acting schools in Niš and Novi Sad. After finishing high school, he enrolled in the theatre academy in Belgrade.

He acted in the Belgrade Drama Theatre for several years and during that period had up to 300 engagements annually.

He debuted in film, to which he completely dedicated himself, in 1955 in Radoš Novaković's "Pesma sa Kumbare."

According to Živojinović, he got his first significant role in 1957 in Veljko Bulajić's film, "Vlak bez voznog reda."

Živojinović acted in more than 340 films and TV series.

Audiences remember him for his roles in partisan films made in the sixties and seventies, as Walter in Hajrudin Krvavac's "Walter Defends Sarajevo," in Veljko Bulajić's films "The Battle of Neretva" and "Kozara," as the drunk Zagorac from Anto Babaja's "Breza," as well as his role in Rajko Grlić's "U raljama života."

There are also the anthological films of Serbian cinematography "The Maestro and Margarita," "I Even Met Happy Gypsies," "Tri."

His roles in light comedies are also remembered.

He is the recipient of the "Slavica" lifetime achievement award, the "Golden Arena" of the Yugoslav Film Festival in Pula twice, and numerous other accolades.

A Venture into Politics

After the introduction of the multi-party system in Serbia, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Socialist Party of Serbia in several parliamentary terms, and in 2002 he was their candidate for President of Serbia, when he won about 120,000 votes.

Živojinović was among the founders, and for a time president, of the Association of Film Actors.

He is also one of the founders of the Film Festival in Sopot.

At this year's Fest, he was awarded the Belgrade Victor award for lifetime achievement.