Who is Janko Milivojević

Janko Milivojević is a Serbian actor, born in 1987 in Belgrade, who won the affection of audiences across the former Yugoslavia at just six years old, playing Nebojša "Neca" Golubović in the cult television series "Srećni ljudi" ("Happy People"). Although his debut role turned out to be his only significant acting engagement, the character of little Neca left a lasting mark on a generation of viewers and remains a memorable part of Serbian television history. Today, Janko Milivojević has left acting behind — he has continued the family tradition and runs an art gallery in Banovo Brdo, Belgrade, founded decades ago by his father.

Early life and childhood

Janko Milivojević was born in 1987 in Belgrade. Little public information is available about his earliest childhood, family home, or education before he began acting — in the rare interviews he has given over the decades since, he has consistently said he prefers not to discuss his private life in detail and does not consider himself a public figure, despite the popularity his childhood role brought him.What is known from available sources is that Janko has two brothers, Stojan and Aleksa, who both live abroad today — one in Dubai and the other in the United States. As he has explained, this was one of the reasons he stayed in Belgrade and continued the family business.

Start of his career — the role in "Srećni ljudi"

Janko Milivojević began his acting career in 1993, at six years old, playing Nebojša, or "Neca," Golubović, the youngest member of the Golubović family in "Srećni ljudi." The series was created for Radio Television Belgrade (RTB) by Milovan Vitezović, with a screenplay by Siniša Pavić. The first episode aired on September 12, 1993, and the series ran for a total of 70 episodes across two seasons, with the final episode airing on June 30, 1996."Srećni ljudi" follows the everyday life of the three-generation Golubović family during the sanctions and economic hardship of the 1990s, using humor, irony, and satire to portray a difficult period. Alongside Janko Milivojević, the series starred some of the biggest names in Serbian acting — Velimir Bata Živojinović as grandfather Aranđel Golubović, Radmila Savićević as grandmother Ristana "Riska" Golubović, Desimir Stanojević as father Vukašin "Vule" Golubović, and Tanja Bošković as mother Lola Golubović, while the role of his sister, Đurđina "Đina," was played by Dubravka Mijatović and Jugoslava Drašković. The series also featured Svetislav "Bule" Gončić as the eccentric uncle, Časlav "Čarli" Marjanović.Janko later admitted that acting was not something he particularly enjoyed at the time, and that filming sometimes felt tedious to him as a child, but that looking back three decades later, he holds only positive memories. He also revealed that the pay he earned during the three years of filming was symbolic — not even enough to cover a family summer vacation — since the period was marked by high inflation, and that participation in the show was driven not by financial interest but by the enthusiasm of the crew involved.

Rise to popularity

Thanks to his near-daily presence on television during the mid-1990s, the character of little Neca became one of the most recognizable child roles in Serbian television history. "Srećni ljudi" was the first domestic television series produced after the breakup of the SFR Yugoslavia and enjoyed exceptional viewership, making Janko Milivojević, despite being a child, practically a household name overnight across the region.Despite predictions that a serious acting career awaited him, Janko did not pursue that path. After the series ended in 1996, his acting work was limited to a supporting role in the film "Deca filma" (2002), after which he stepped away from acting entirely.

Life after acting — the family business

Instead of continuing his acting career, Janko Milivojević chose to carry on his father's business — an art gallery in Banovo Brdo, Belgrade, founded more than three decades ago. He has worked at the gallery for about fifteen years, dealing in the sale, framing, and preparation of artwork, as well as transport and packaging. In one of his rare interviews, he explained that it was a natural outcome for him to remain in Serbia and take over the family business, given that his brothers live abroad.Although he has largely withdrawn from public and media life, the repeated reruns of "Srećni ljudi" on Radio Television of Serbia occasionally bring him back into the media spotlight, reminding audiences of the role that defined his childhood.

Personal life

Janko Milivojević lives in Belgrade and is married to his wife, Jelena. He has said in earlier interviews that he has been a father for more than a decade, and in more recent statements has mentioned watching the series he once filmed together with his own children. In one of his rare public appearances, he also shared some personal details — that he owns a raft on the Sava River where he runs a small hospitality business in the summer, and that he grows fruit on his land, which he tends together with his wife. He has also said that he is quite handy around the house.Janko has repeatedly stated that he does not consider himself a public figure and that it still feels strange to him when people recognize him on the street or when journalists reach out about a role he played as a child more than three decades ago.

Interesting facts

• He was cast as Neca in "Srećni ljudi" at just six years old, marking his acting debut.
• His only other recorded acting role after the series was in the 2002 film "Deca filma."
• His two brothers, Stojan and Aleksa, live abroad — in Dubai and the United States.
• He has worked at the family gallery in Banovo Brdo for about fifteen years, continuing the business his father started more than three decades ago.
• He owns a raft on the Sava River, where he occasionally runs a small hospitality venture in the summer.

Legacy and influence

Although his acting career lasted only a few years and was confined to childhood, the role of Neca Golubović remains permanently etched in the collective memory of the generation that grew up watching "Srećni ljudi" in the 1990s. The series is still occasionally rerun on Radio Television of Serbia, and the character of little Neca, alongside the rest of the Golubović family, continues to be regarded as a symbol of domestic television production from that era. Thanks to the show's periodic reruns, Janko Milivojević's name still resurfaces in the media from time to time, as outlets revisit what "little Neca" looked like then — and how he looks now.

Biography — frequently asked questions

Who is Janko Milivojević?

Janko Milivojević is a Serbian actor, born in 1987 in Belgrade, best known for playing Nebojša "Neca" Golubović in the series "Srećni ljudi," which he filmed as a child. He no longer acts and now runs a family art gallery in Belgrade.

How old was Janko Milivojević when he filmed "Srećni ljudi"?

He was only six years old when filming for "Srećni ljudi" began in 1993, in which he made his acting debut as little Neca.

Is Janko Milivojević still an actor?

No. After "Srećni ljudi" ended in 1996 and a supporting role in the film "Deca filma" (2002), he stepped away from acting and never returned to it.

What does Janko Milivojević do now?

He works at his family's art gallery in Banovo Brdo, Belgrade, founded by his father, handling the sale, framing, preparation, and transport of artwork.

Is Janko Milivojević married?

Yes, he is married to his wife, Jelena.

Does Janko Milivojević have children?

Yes, he is a father, and by his own account now watches shows like "Srećni ljudi" together with his own children.

Who played the other members of the Golubović family in "Srećni ljudi"?

Alongside Janko Milivojević, the Golubović family was played by Velimir Bata Živojinović, Radmila Savićević, Desimir Stanojević, Tanja Bošković, and Svetislav "Bule" Gončić, while his sister was played by Dubravka Mijatović and Jugoslava Drašković.

How many episodes does "Srećni ljudi" have?

The series has a total of 70 episodes across two seasons, airing from September 12, 1993, to June 30, 1996.

Does Janko Milivojević have siblings?

He has two brothers, Stojan and Aleksa, one living in Dubai and the other in the United States.

Conclusion

Janko Milivojević is remembered as an actor whose on-screen career, though limited to childhood, left a lasting mark on Serbian television history through his role as Neca Golubović in "Srećni ljudi." After a childhood spent filming alongside some of the biggest names in Serbian acting, he chose a very different path in life — continuing the family tradition and now running an art gallery in Belgrade with his wife and children. Though he has largely avoided the spotlight for decades, the show's continued reruns regularly bring him back into public focus, as audiences fondly recall little Neca and follow with interest how his life looks today.