Who Is Aleksandar Dunić?

Aleksandar Dunić (born in Belgrade on 1 February 1967) is a Serbian stage and television actor. Audiences remember him best for playing Dr. Goran Popac in the cult series “Srećni ljudi,” a role that made him hugely popular in the early 1990s.

Besides Popac, viewers recognize him as Konstantin “Kokan” Prodanović in “Porodično blago,” Bogosav in the series “Stižu dolari” and Ćirko, Šojić’s butler in “Bela lađa.” Most of these television roles came out of his collaboration with screenwriter Siniša Pavić.

Alongside television, Dunić has built a stage career. Since 1994 he has been a permanent member of the drama ensemble of the Terazije Theatre, and outside his home theatre he also performs monodramas based on texts by Milovan Vitezović. Although he is well known to the wider public, he rarely speaks about his private life.

Early Life and Education

Belgrade and a First Choice of Studies

Aleksandar Dunić was born in Belgrade on 1 February 1967, in what was then SFR Yugoslavia. There is no reliable, publicly available information about his childhood, parents or upbringing, so this part of the biography is limited to confirmed facts.

By his own account on the show “Klapa” on Informer television, he was an unsuccessful civil engineering student before turning to acting. He later described that period as the lead-up to a chance meeting that changed the course of his life.

Studying Acting under Branko Pleša

Dunić graduated in acting from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, in the class of Professor Branko Pleša. As he once revealed, he learned a great deal from Pleša, and it was an honor to be his student.

He has kept his professor’s words with him later in life. According to Dunić, Pleša used to say that we are never human enough and that there is always room to be better.

Start of the Career

Meeting Siniša Pavić

The turning point in Dunić’s life was his meeting with Siniša Pavić. The actor recalled that he moved into the building where Pavić lived. Pavić noticed that the young man seemed rather lost and one day asked whether he was interested in how a film is made.

Dunić said yes, and Pavić sent him to the set of the film “Poltron.” That was when, in his own words, his love of acting began. He still calls Pavić extremely important to his career, because he gave him a chance many times.

First Television and Film Roles

He took his first television role in 1987 in the children’s series “Sazvežđe belog duda,” playing a suitor at a fair. The following year he appeared in the film “Tesna koža 3” as Đole’s henchman and in the television film “Novogodišnja priča” as a waiter.

In 1989 he played a journalist in the film “Poltron.” Dunić has rarely appeared on the big screen, and these early, smaller parts were his main film work before he became widely famous.

Rise to Fame

A few years later, Pavić began working on “Srećni ljudi” and was looking for a new, young actor. He asked Dunić whether he wanted to play Dr. Popac, and Dunić agreed. The series began airing in 1993, with Dunić as Dr. Goran Popac.

The screenplay for “Srećni ljudi” was written by Ljiljana and Siniša Pavić. The series ran until 1996 with 56 episodes, followed by a New Year’s special. Many of its lines are still quoted today, such as those delivered by Radmila Savićević as Riska.

Thanks to Popac, Dunić was regarded in those years as one of the most desirable young actors. He himself, however, has said that his fees at the time did not go far and that, figuratively speaking, he could afford only a winter jacket. The series has been rerun many times since, so Popac has stayed present with new generations of viewers.

In 1995 Dunić also played Major Vojislav Blaznavac in the series “Kraj dinastije Obrenović,” which showed that he could handle historical characters as well.

Greatest Achievements

Porodično blago

After Popac came the role of Konstantin “Kokan” Prodanović in “Porodično blago,” which aired from 1998 to 2002 and ran for 45 episodes. Audiences took Kokan to their hearts, and his lines, along with those of his wife Biseniđa, are still remembered.

Dunić played the same character in the 2000 film “A sad adio.” That same year he appeared in the television film “Stari vruskavac” as Vojin.

Stižu dolari and Bela lađa

In the comedy “Stižu dolari,” directed by Mihailo Vukobratović and written by Siniša and Ljiljana Pavić, Dunić played Bogosav, Danilo’s son-in-law, from 2004 to 2006. The series also brought together actors such as Milenko Zablaćanski, Nela Mihailović, Aleksandar Berček and Mirjana Karanović.

Next came “Bela lađa,” in which he played Ćirko, the right-hand man of Srećko Šojić. According to IMDb, he appeared in 77 episodes, making it his longest-running series. Dunić believes that Ćirko defined his career.

Junaci našeg doba, Nemanjići and Recent Roles

In the series “Junaci našeg doba” he plays the police officer Živorad Žika. According to him, Živorad and his family disgrace themselves badly in the continuation of the series, which escalates the whole problem.

In the series “Nemanjići, rađanje Kraljevine” he appeared as Vuk, a nobleman of Zeta, who in the fifth episode, “Monah Simeon,” opposes Vukan, played by Nebojša Glogovac. Dunić described the role as a great pleasure and praised RTS for turning to Serbian history.

In recent years he has also appeared in the series “Igra sudbine” (television director, 2020–2022), “Vučje bobice” (Milojko, 2022) and “Zakopane tajne” (Želimir Laudanović, 2023). In 2019 he appeared in the television film “Srećan put, komšija” as Siniša.

Terazije Theatre

Although the wider public mostly associates him with television, Dunić is first and foremost a stage actor. Since 1994 he has been a permanent member of the drama ensemble of the Terazije Theatre, a company known for nurturing the musical.

The productions he has appeared in include “Prestaće vetar,” “Briljantin,” “Jubilej,” “Alan Ford,” “Cigani lete u nebo,” “Golje,” “La strada,” “Mister Dolar” and “Žene na ivici nervnog sloma.” He regards the last of these as a kind of sociological study of life in big cities.

The musical “Cigani lete u nebo,” which premiered in 2004, holds a special place. In an interview from August 2026, Dunić noted that the production had recently reached its 400th performance, a significant achievement for a musical, which is a large and costly form. He also performs in “Sa druge strane jastuka,” based on the songs of Bajaga i Instruktori.

Monodramas about Serbian History

Besides his home theatre, Dunić performs monodramas, the best known being “Mudri i junačni vojvoda Janko Katić” (“The Wise and Valiant Duke Janko Katić”), based on a text by Milovan Vitezović. It is a short life story of one of the most important dukes of the First Serbian Uprising. Dunić knew Vitezović personally and received the text from him.

The monodrama has been performed for years in schools and cultural centers, at fortresses, in churchyards and at historic sites across Serbia, as well as abroad. Dunić performs in an authentic costume of Serbian dukes made by costume designer Boris Čakširanin. Sources give the number of performances differently: earlier reports mention about 800, while more recent ones mention more than 900.

The monodrama was also performed at the 33rd Belgrade Summer Festival (BELEF) on 24 August 2026 at the Residence of Princess Ljubica. The performance has also been supported by the Cultural and Educational Association of Serbia, which values its authentic approach to promoting Serbian tradition and culture.

Also based on Vitezović’s text, Dunić performs the monodrama “Miloš Veliki – knjaz srpski” (“Miloš the Great – Prince of Serbia”), which he presented at the 39th Gathering of Serbian Fife Players in Prislonica. His repertoire also includes a program built around Dučić’s treatises on happiness and love from “Blago cara Radovana,” combined with a selection of Serbian love poetry.

Personal Life

Dunić is married to journalist and writer Dragana Litričin Dunić. According to media reports, they fell in love at first sight, and their marriage rests on an open relationship and trust. They have a son, Dušan.

The family lives in Belgrade. The actor has never exposed his private life to the public much, and he has marked his birthdays discreetly. Further details about his private life are not publicly known.

Interesting Facts

• Before devoting himself to acting, he studied civil engineering.
• By his own account, it was Siniša Pavić who brought him into acting by sending him to the set of “Poltron.”
• He believes that Ćirko from “Bela lađa” defined his career.
• In his own words, his height made him unsuitable for many roles, so his physical appearance did not always work in his favor.
• He has rarely appeared on film, having built most of his career on television and in the theatre.
• He believes a person should stick to what he knows how to do and be careful with hastily made statements.

Legacy and Influence

The characters Dunić created have become part of popular culture. Dr. Popac, Kokan and Ćirko are still recognized today, and the series he starred in are often shown again. As a result, he remains present among viewers who are discovering them for the first time.

When his colleague Milan Lane Gutović died in 2021, Dunić spoke about him with great emotion on TV Prva’s morning program. He said Gutović was authentic and would live on as long as the memory of those who loved him lasts.

His contribution is not limited to television. Through his long work at the Terazije Theatre and his performances of historical monodramas, he has helped keep the musical alive and bring history closer to audiences, especially young people in schools.

Biography – Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Aleksandar Dunić?

Aleksandar Dunić is a Serbian stage and television actor, best known for playing Dr. Goran Popac in the series “Srećni ljudi.” He has been a member of the Terazije Theatre since 1994.

When and where was Aleksandar Dunić born?

Aleksandar Dunić was born on 1 February 1967 in Belgrade, then part of SFR Yugoslavia.

How old is Aleksandar Dunić?

Since he was born on 1 February 1967, Aleksandar Dunić is 59 years old in 2026.

What role did Aleksandar Dunić play in Srećni ljudi?

In the series “Srećni ljudi” he played Dr. Goran Popac. The series aired from 1993 to 1996, followed by a New Year’s special.

Where did Aleksandar Dunić study acting?

He graduated in acting from the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, in the class of Professor Branko Pleša.

Which theatre does Aleksandar Dunić perform in?

Dunić has been a permanent member of the drama ensemble of the Terazije Theatre in Belgrade since 1994.

Who is Dunić’s wife?

He is married to journalist and writer Dragana Litričin Dunić. They have a son, Dušan.

Which series has Aleksandar Dunić appeared in?

The best known are “Srećni ljudi,” “Porodično blago,” “Stižu dolari,” “Bela lađa,” “Junaci našeg doba” and “Nemanjići, rađanje Kraljevine.” He has also appeared in “Igra sudbine” and “Zakopane tajne.”

Who is Ćirko from Bela lađa?

Ćirko is Šojić’s butler and the right-hand man of Srećko Šojić in the series “Bela lađa.” The character is played by Aleksandar Dunić, who considers it the role that defined his career.

Which monodramas does Aleksandar Dunić perform?

He performs the monodramas “Mudri i junačni vojvoda Janko Katić” and “Miloš Veliki – knjaz srpski,” both based on texts by Milovan Vitezović. He also has a program built around Dučić’s treatises on happiness and love and Serbian love poetry.

Conclusion

Aleksandar Dunić is an actor who went from a chance meeting with Siniša Pavić to roles that defined Serbian television. Dr. Popac, Kokan, Bogosav and Ćirko have stayed in the memory of generations of viewers. At the same time, he built a stage career at the Terazije Theatre, and through his historical monodramas he has brought the figures of Duke Janko Katić and Prince Miloš closer to audiences.