Velimir 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 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".

He was baptized as an infant in the Serbian Orthodox Church and despite his association with communism, remained a believer until the end of his life.

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 also received Golden Arena for Best Supporting Actor once in 1962. 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 The Knife (1967) - Islednik Marko Praznik (1967) - Major The Birch Tree (1967) - Marko Labudan (1967) - Djino Diverzanti (1967) - Korcagin Doctor Homer's Brother (1968) - Simon Petrović 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