Who Was Božidar Stošić

Božidar Stošić, better known as Bole Stošić, was a Serbian stage, television and film actor. He was born on 21 July 1937 in Skopje and died on 13 December 2018 in Belgrade. He worked as an actor for more than five decades and, over that time, played numerous roles both on the theatre stage and on the small screen.

Audiences remember him as Bole from the barrel in the children’s show “Hiljadu zašto?”, and according to some biographies, he has carried the nickname Bole ever since. Later he became recognizable as Srećko Šljivić in the series “Srećni ljudi” and as Đorđe Stamenković, nicknamed Mačak, in “Porodično blago”. He was a long-standing member of the Belgrade Drama Theatre, and biographies also list him as one of the founders of the Terazije Theatre.

Early Life and Childhood

Stošić was born in Skopje, then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. His father came from Vranje and his mother from Bela Palanka. His family was therefore tied to the south of Serbia, even though the boy grew up far from his parents’ home region.

During the Second World War the family moved. First, on 6 April 1941, they went to Niška Banja, and then in 1945 they settled in Belgrade. From then on, the capital became the city where Božidar Stošić grew up, went to school and built his entire career.

Education

After primary school, Stošić attended the Third Belgrade Gymnasium. There, in 1953, he joined the drama section, which was led by the renowned actor and teacher Slobodan Aligrudić. That experience, together with his later work in a youth theatre, awakened his love of the stage.

Acting was not his first choice, however. After finishing secondary school, he enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine in Belgrade, where he stayed for only a year. During that period he was a member of the “Lola Ribar” Youth Theatre, where he played several roles.

He then decided to devote himself fully to acting and enrolled at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade. After his studies, he received his first professional engagement, which took him to a theatre for young audiences.

Early Career

The First Years at the Boško Buha Theatre

After graduating from the Academy, Stošić joined the Boško Buha Theatre in Belgrade. It was there that he played his first role, together with the actress Jelisaveta Seka Sablić, with whom he later remained close. Their friendship lasted until his final farewell, when she joined his colleagues at the funeral.

Film Debut

He first appeared on film in 1960, in “Cveće i baloni” (“Flowers and Balloons”), where he played a shoe cleaner. He then took smaller roles in the films “Prozvan je V-3” (1962), “Bananin brat” and “Štićenik” (both 1966). Film was never his main field of work, but he left a noticeable mark in several productions.

Move to the Belgrade Drama Theatre

After the Boško Buha Theatre, Stošić moved to the Belgrade Drama Theatre, of which he remained a member until his retirement. According to some media reports, he also performed on the stages of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre and Atelje 212. Over the decades he thus built a reputation as a serious theatre professional.

Rise to Popularity

Bole from the Barrel in “Hiljadu zašto?”

His first great popularity came from the character of Bole from the barrel in the children’s television show “Hiljadu zašto?” (“A Thousand Whys”) from 1965. The word “Bole” was written on the barrel, and he would peek out of it, say his lines and duck back inside. As he once recalled, people over forty still recognize him by that role.

Television Series of the 1970s and 1980s

Over the following decades, Stošić became one of the most recognizable faces on Serbian television. He appeared in the series “Levaci” and “Diplomci”, and then in the comedy “Ću, ćeš, će” (1972). In the early 1970s he also appeared in the popular series “Pozorište u kući” (“Theatre at Home”).

A string of productions followed, such as “Dimitrije Tucović” (1974), “Život je lep” (1975), “Uspon i pad Žike Proje” (1976), “Profesionalci” (1978), “Bilo, pa prošlo” and “Vruć vetar” (both 1980), as well as “Svetozar Marković” and “Duvanski put” (both 1981). He played characters from everyday life: a car mechanic, a foreman, a waiter, a policeman and a drummer.

Younger Audiences and “Laku noć, deco”

The youngest television viewers also came to love him in the popular children’s programme “Laku noć, deco”. In this way the same actor remained close to the generations who grew up with “Hiljadu zašto?” and to those who met him much later.

Greatest Achievements

Srećko Šljivić in “Srećni ljudi”

One of Božidar Stošić’s best-known roles is Srećko Šljivić in the cult series “Srećni ljudi” (1993–1996), written by Siniša Pavić. Šljivić is the pedantic, perpetually anxious manager of a casino, and his relationship with Aranđel Golubović, played by Velimir Bata Živojinović, remains one of the series’ most memorable elements.

Stošić gave this character a Belgrade gentility mixed with comic authority. Viewers loved him despite his strictness toward the beloved grandfather Aranđel, and their dialogues are still repeated today.

Mačak in “Porodično blago”

Another great wave of popularity came with Đorđe Stamenković, nicknamed Mačak, in the series “Porodično blago”, which aired from 1998 to 2002. Like “Srećni ljudi”, this series has been rerun many times in the years since, so new generations got to know him precisely through Mačak.

Other Notable Television Roles

Among his other work, the following stand out: “Kraj dinastije Obrenović” and “Teatar u Srba” (both 1995), “Gore dole” (1996), “Ljubav, navika, panika” (2005), “Agencija za SIS” (2006–2007), “Kafanica blizu SIS-a” (2007–2008), “Kuku Vasa” (2010) and “Bela lađa” (2011). In the comedy “Jagoda u supermarketu” (2003) he played an older policeman.

The Terazije Theatre

A special part of his career is tied to the Terazije Theatre, the only musical theatre in the region. Biographies list him as one of the founders of that house. From 2014 until his death he served as president of the Terazije Theatre’s Board of Directors.

On that stage he appeared in the productions “Beograd nekad i sad” (1970), “Dundo Maroje” and “Bal lopova” (both 1973), and younger audiences especially loved him in the musical “Neki to vole vruće” (2007). He played his final role in the musical “Fantom iz Opere” (“The Phantom of the Opera”) in 2017, just a year before his death. The writer Bratislav Petković, Stošić’s godfather, is also named as the author of the play “Mitrovdan”, in which Stošić likewise performed.

Bolji život and the Conflict with Čkalja

Stošić once explained why he did not appear in the cult series “Bolji život”. According to him, Miodrag Petrović Čkalja kept a list of eight actors he did not want to work with, and Stošić’s name was on it. For that reason he did not want to come to the shoot, knowing what awaited him there.

The reason for the strained relations was an earlier argument at a meeting of the Belgrade Drama Theatre’s council. Even so, Stošić spoke of Čkalja with respect. He said that he was fond of him, but that he was an unhappy man, because his great popularity meant he could hardly go out into the street.

Personal Life

Family and Friends

Božidar Stošić was married to Vesna, with whom he had a son, Vukašin, and a daughter, Katarina. He rarely spoke about his private life in public, so there is little confirmed information about it. It is known that he was close to the writer Bratislav Petković, who was his godfather, as well as to his colleague Seka Sablić.

Death and Funeral

Božidar Bole Stošić died on 13 December 2018 in a hospital in Belgrade, after a long and serious illness. He was 81 years old. Some sources say he died “in his 82nd year”, which refers to the same age, since he was in his 82nd year of life.

He was buried on Tuesday, 18 December 2018, in the Alley of Distinguished Citizens at the Belgrade New Cemetery, in the presence of his wife Vesna, son Vukašin and daughter Katarina. His colleagues paid their last respects, among them Jelisaveta Seka Sablić, Goran Sultanović, Miodrag Krstović, Jovan Radovanović, Vladimir Lazić, Igor Bojović and Ljiljana Lašić.

His godfather Bratislav Petković spoke at the farewell. He reminded those present that Stošić was never merely a bit-part actor, but an actor of a special mould, who acted from the heart, socialized from the heart and loved his friends. A commemoration was held on Thursday, 20 December, at the Belgrade Drama Theatre.

Interesting Facts

• He began his film career in 1960 with the role of a shoe cleaner in “Cveće i baloni”.
• Before acting, he enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine but left after the first year.
• His parents came from the south of Serbia: his father from Vranje, his mother from Bela Palanka.
• He did not play in the series “Bolji život” because of disagreements with Miodrag Petrović Čkalja, as he explained himself.
• He last appeared on stage in the musical “Fantom iz Opere” in 2017.

Awards and Recognition

For his contribution to acting, Božidar Stošić received the “Miodrag Đukić” Award in 2008. In 2004 he was a member of the jury at the 41st Film Encounters in Niš. In addition, from 2014 until his death he served as president of the Terazije Theatre’s Board of Directors, which testifies to the trust his colleagues placed in him.

Legacy and Influence

Stošić never chased the front pages, but he earned what actors value most: longevity. His characters live on today through reruns of “Srećni ljudi” and “Porodično blago”, which regularly draw audiences to the screens of Radio Television of Serbia and other channels.

He is remembered as an actor who gave every role, however small, warmth, charm and a sense of humour. Colleagues remembered him as a top professional, and audiences as a face they were always glad to see return to the screen.

Biography – Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Božidar Bole Stošić?

Božidar Bole Stošić was a Serbian stage, television and film actor. He is best known for his roles in the series “Hiljadu zašto?”, “Pozorište u kući”, “Srećni ljudi” and “Porodično blago”.

When and where was Božidar Stošić born?

He was born on 21 July 1937 in Skopje, then in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. As a boy he moved with his family to Niška Banja, and in 1945 to Belgrade.

Why is he called Bole?

The nickname Bole has followed him since the role of Bole from the barrel in the children’s show “Hiljadu zašto?”. Bole is also a common short form of the name Božidar.

What are Božidar Stošić’s best-known roles?

The best known are Bole from the barrel in “Hiljadu zašto?”, Srećko Šljivić in “Srećni ljudi” and Đorđe Stamenković, nicknamed Mačak, in “Porodično blago”. He also played an older policeman in the comedy “Jagoda u supermarketu”.

Who did he play in the series “Srećni ljudi”?

He played Srećko Šljivić, the casino manager and superior to Aranđel Golubović, who was played by Velimir Bata Živojinović. The series was written by Siniša Pavić.

Which theatres did he perform in?

He was a member of the Boško Buha Theatre and the Belgrade Drama Theatre, where he stayed until retirement. He also performed at the Terazije Theatre, of which he was one of the founders.

When did Božidar Stošić die?

He died on 13 December 2018 in Belgrade, after a long and serious illness. He was 81 years old.

Where is Božidar Stošić buried?

He was buried on 18 December 2018 in the Alley of Distinguished Citizens at the Belgrade New Cemetery.

Which awards did he receive?

He received the “Miodrag Đukić” Award in 2008. In 2004 he was a member of the jury at the 41st Film Encounters in Niš.

What was the name of his family?

He was married to Vesna, and had a son, Vukašin, and a daughter, Katarina.

Conclusion

Božidar Stošić was an actor who wrote his life story through more than five decades of dedicated work. Born in Skopje and raised in Belgrade, he gave up medicine for the theatre and remained loyal to the stage until the end of his life. Audiences will remember him as Bole from the barrel, Srećko Šljivić and Mačak, and his colleagues as a top professional and a good friend. His legacy lives on through series that are regularly rebroadcast and through the theatre house on Terazije.