Goran Visnjic joined the cast of NBC’s “ER” in 1999, playing the role of Dr. Luka Kovac, a Croatian doctor who immigrated to the United States after the violent deaths of his wife and children.

Visnjic grew up in Sibenik, Croatia, a port town on the Adriatic Sea, where he decided at an early age that he wanted to be an actor. He first performed in local theater groups and then entered the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. He gained popularity in Croatia when, at the age of 21, he was cast as Hamlet in the prestigious Dubrovnik Summer Festival’s staging of Shakespeare’s play. The production received rave reviews, with Visnjic’s own performance earning him three national Best Actor awards, including an Orlando (the Croatian equivalent of a Tony).

Visnjic’s additional theater credits include “Les Fourberies de Scapin,” “L’Ecole des Femmes,” “Miss Julie,” “Ivanov,” “The Brothers Karamazov” and “Le Baruffe Chiozotte.”

During his recent summer hiatus, Visnjic completed the independent film “The Deep End” directed by Scott McGhee, in which he starred opposite Tilda Swinton. He appeared with Heather Graham in Miramax 2000 film “Committed,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, and will star in the upcoming independent film “Doctor Sleep.”

Among Visnjic’s other film credits are “Practical Magic,” in which he starred alongside Nicole Kidman, and “The Peacemaker,” also with Kidman and former “ER” star George Clooney.

Visnjic also starred in three Croatian features, and made his American motion-picture debut in the critically acclaimed drama, “Welcome to Sarajevo,” directed by Michael Winterbottom.

In his leisure time, Visnjic enjoys fencing, swimming and diving. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Ivana Vrdoljak (They were married May 8, 1999), and his birthday is September 9.

Goran is the youngest of two sons. His father was a bus driver, and his mother worked in a food market. Ivana, his wife, is a Croatian sculptor. Their last name is pronounced 'VISH-nik.' To say his last name, just rhyme with 'fish stick.' Goran trained as a paratrooper in the Croatian army at age 18, and volunteered to stay on for an additional three months during the war with Yugoslavia. He also trained at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb. When word came through that he had been accepted in the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, his brother volunteered to take his place in the Army so he could study his craft.

Credit: fan-sites.org