Who is Dragan Nikolić

Dragan Nikolić was a Serbian and Yugoslav theatre, film, and television actor, born on August 20, 1943, in Belgrade. Over a career spanning half a century, he appeared in more than ninety film and television roles, achieving his greatest popularity through the character of Prle in the series Otpisani ("Written Off") and Povratak otpisanih ("The Return of the Written Off"). He was a longtime member of Atelje 212 and the husband of actress Milena Dravić, and he died on March 11, 2016, in Belgrade.

Early Life and Childhood

Dragan Nikolić, whose given name at baptism was Dragoslav, was born on August 20, 1943, in Belgrade, during the German occupation of Serbia. His father, Dušan, was originally from Berane, while his mother, Jelena, came from Jagodina. The family surname was originally Živković, but his grandfather Radonja changed it to Nikolić, after his own father, Nikola.Dragan grew up in Belgrade's Crveni Krst neighborhood, on Požarevačka Street, where he spent his childhood playing at a playground that his father and the fathers of neighborhood friends had built together. He had an older brother, Miroslav, whom he regarded as a role model from an early age and with whom he shared a close bond. According to available sources, his brother later died on Dragan's very birthday, which was one of the most difficult moments of his life and the reason the actor stopped celebrating birthdays.Growing up in postwar Belgrade also shaped his early love of theatre and film — in the neighborhood where he lived stood the "Božidar Adžija" Cultural Center, in whose cinema and on whose stage young Dragan spent much of his free time.

Education

After finishing elementary school, Dragan Nikolić enrolled at the Fourteenth Belgrade Gymnasium, but he did not complete his schooling there, transferring instead to a school of economics, where he spent the following two years. Even then it was clear he was drawn to the art of acting, so at seventeen he sat the entrance exam for the Academy of Theatre, Film, Radio and Television in Belgrade (today the Faculty of Dramatic Arts) and passed it successfully, becoming one of the youngest students in his class.At the Academy, he received the formal acting training that opened the door to his professional career, graduating in acting from this institution, which remains today one of the most respected acting schools in the region.

Beginning of His Career

Dragan Nikolić made his film debut in 1964, in the role of a military police officer in the film Pravo stanje stvari. In the credits of that film, he was billed under his baptismal name — Dragoslav Nikolić. The turning point in his career, which also determined the name under which he would become known, came the following year, 1965, when he was mistakenly credited as Dragan instead of Dragoslav in the closing credits of the series Dovoljno je ćutati. That accidental change stuck for good — from that moment on, the public knew him exclusively as Dragan.The true turning point in acting terms came with the role of Jimmy Barka in the 1967 film Kad budem mrtav i beo, directed by Živojin Pavlović. This work, now regarded as one of the high points of the Yugoslav "Black Wave," earned the young actor a notable diploma at the Pula Film Festival in 1968 and heralded a career that would last half a century.

Rise to Fame

In the 1970s, Dragan Nikolić became one of the most recognizable faces of Yugoslav film and television. The role that brought him his greatest and most lasting popularity was that of Prle, a resourceful member of the World War II resistance, in the cult series Otpisani (1974) and Povratak otpisanih. These series remained etched in the memory of generations of viewers, and the character of Prle is still regarded today as one of the most beloved characters in domestic television.Alongside his film and television career, Nikolić also established himself as one of the pillars of Belgrade theatre. He first performed at the "Boško Buha" Theatre, and later became a longtime member of Atelje 212, which he considered his artistic refuge, as well as of the Belgrade Drama Theatre and Zvezdara Theatre. At Atelje 212, according to available information, he delivered more than fifty roles over his decades-long collaboration with the theatre.Through the 1980s, the actor continued to build a reputation as a versatile artist, portraying characters across various genres — from drama to comedy — further cementing his status as one of the most sought-after and best-loved actors of his generation.

Greatest Successes

Dragan Nikolić's rich filmography includes dozens of titles from Yugoslav and Serbian cinema. Besides the already-mentioned Kad budem mrtav i beo, notable works include Who's Singin' Over There, in which he further developed his distinctive acting style, as well as Nešto između, Nacionalna klasa, Život je lep, Seobe (in which he played the character Pavle Isaković), Ni na nebu ni na zemlji, Kabare Balkan, Nož, Lavirint, Pljačka Trećeg rajha, and many others.On television, besides his role as Prle, he also left his mark in series such as Selo gori, a baba se češlja, in which he played the character Žota/Judge Velibor, as well as Ranjeni orao. Audiences also recognized him for his voice role in the Serbian dub of The Simpsons Movie, in which he lent his voice to one of the characters.From 2011 to 2013, Dragan Nikolić also hosted the Serbian version of the popular quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, showing his versatility beyond acting.More than 90 roles in feature films More than fifty stage roles at Atelje 212 The lead role of Prle in the series Otpisani and Povratak otpisanih Hosting the television quiz show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (2011–2013)

Private Life

Dragan Nikolić met actress Milena Dravić in 1969, during the filming of Horoskop, directed by Bora Drašković. Their romance grew into marriage in 1971, and audiences followed their harmonious family life, free of public scandal, including through their joint hosting of the television show Obraz uz obraz during the 1970s. The couple remained married until the actor's death in 2016.According to available sources, the actor's private life was also marked by three difficult personal tragedies — the death of his older brother, Miroslav, who had been his role model; the death of his mother, whom he mourned for a long time; and finally the passing of his longtime friend and colleague, actor Bora Todorović, with whom he had nurtured a close friendship for decades. Despite his status as one of the most popular actors and sex symbols of domestic film, he was described as a modest and dignified man.In his final years, he was working on writing an autobiography, and also planned a film about his own life, a project he did not manage to complete, according to publicly available information.Dragan Nikolić died on March 11, 2016, in a Belgrade hospital, after a long and serious illness whose nature has not been officially disclosed in publicly available sources. A memorial service in his honor was held on March 14, 2016, on the "Mira Trailović" Main Stage at Atelje 212, and he was buried that same day in the Alley of Distinguished Citizens at New Cemetery in Belgrade, next to his wife, Milena Dravić, who died several years later. Alongside family and friends, numerous colleagues from the world of acting also attended the farewell.

Trivia

His baptismal name was Dragoslav, and he "acquired" the name Dragan through an accidental error in the credits of the series Dovoljno je ćutati in 1965. The family once carried the surname Živković, which his grandfather changed to Nikolić, after his own great-grandfather, named Nikola. He stood 185 centimeters tall and was regarded as one of the greatest charmers of Yugoslav film. Together with his wife, Milena Dravić, he co-hosted the television show Obraz uz obraz. He lent his voice to the Serbian dub of The Simpsons Movie.

Awards and Recognition

Over the course of his decades-long career, Dragan Nikolić received numerous honors for his acting work. For his role in Kad budem mrtav i beo, he received a diploma at the Pula Film Festival in 1968, and at the same festival in 1981 he won the Golden Arena for Best Actor. In 1985, the City of Belgrade awarded him the October Award, one of the city's most important honors for contribution to culture. In 2000, he received the "Pavle Vujisić" Award for lifetime achievement, given to actors for their overall artistic contribution.Note: sources differ on the exact years of some of the Pula honors, so the information given here reflects what most commonly appears in available, verifiable sources.

Legacy and Influence

The character of Prle from Otpisani is still regarded today as one of the most beloved television heroes in the former Yugoslavia, and Dragan Nikolić, through his body of acting work, left his mark on several generations of viewers. His work at Atelje 212 contributed to the theatre's reputation as one of the most significant in the Balkans, while his filmography of more than ninety titles has made his contribution an indispensable part of the history of Yugoslav and Serbian cinema.Critics and colleagues often described him as an actor of Belgrade charm and a "smooth operator with the character of a gentleman" — a label that has outlived his career and become synonymous with his acting style and persona. His marriage to Milena Dravić, one of the best-known in the domestic acting community, is still cited today as an example of a harmonious, long-lasting partnership between two artists.

Biography — Frequently Asked Questions

When was Dragan Nikolić born? Dragan Nikolić was born on August 20, 1943, in Belgrade.When did Dragan Nikolić die? Dragan Nikolić died on March 11, 2016, in Belgrade, after a long illness, and was buried in the Alley of Distinguished Citizens at New Cemetery.What is Dragan Nikolić best known for? He is best known for the role of Prle in the series Otpisani and Povratak otpisanih, as well as for his long-standing acting career in theatre and film.Who was Dragan Nikolić's wife? Dragan Nikolić's wife was actress Milena Dravić, to whom he was married from 1971.Where did Dragan Nikolić study acting? He studied at the Academy of Theatre, Film, Radio and Television in Belgrade, today the Faculty of Dramatic Arts.Which theatre was most important in Dragan Nikolić's career? The most important theatre house in his career was Belgrade's Atelje 212, of which he was a longtime member.Did Dragan Nikolić have children? Information about children has not been publicly confirmed in reliable sources, and is therefore not stated as fact.What was Dragan Nikolić's real name? His baptismal name was Dragoslav Nikolić, and he began using the name Dragan after an error in the credits of a television series in 1965.What awards did Dragan Nikolić win? Among others, he won the Golden Arena at the Pula Film Festival, the October Award of the City of Belgrade, and the "Pavle Vujisić" Award for lifetime achievement.Where is Dragan Nikolić buried? He is buried in the Alley of Distinguished Citizens at New Cemetery in Belgrade, next to his wife, Milena Dravić.

Conclusion

Dragan Nikolić is remembered as one of the most important and best-loved actors of twentieth-century Serbian and Yugoslav cinema. From modest beginnings in Belgrade's Crveni Krst neighborhood, through his acting studies and first film roles in the 1960s, to the status of a national acting legend, his path was defined by roles that became part of the collective memory — above all, the character of Prle from Otpisani. With a rich filmography of more than ninety titles, decades of work at Atelje 212, and a harmonious marriage to actress Milena Dravić, Dragan Nikolić built a legacy that remains an indispensable part of the history of domestic film and theatre today.