Top Ten Gifts for Fans of Tony-Nominated Actor Zeljko Ivanek

If you're reading the words "Zeljko Ivanek" and thinking: what the heck is that?" than either this article isn't for you or you are one of the many film, theatre and tv fans who just can't put the name to the face of the Tony-nominated actor but really do like his work. Zeljko Ivanek is best known perhaps to fans of the TV shows "Homicide" and "Oz" but he has a lengthy film and theatre career thanks to his great talent and everyman looks. If you're trying to get a theatre, TV, or film fan gifts that go beyond Al Pacino, Wicked, or some 80s sitcom retread dvds (Alf?) why not start with the work of a quality actor like Zeljko Ivanek and make your way down your holiday list. Here are ten good gifts related to this actor sure to be appreciated by his fans and those who appreciate good drama.

TV Performances:

Zeljko Ivanek has tons of TV performances dating back to the 1980s. No, not ALF. Here are some of the dvd collections currently available for show on which he regularly appeared.

1. Homicide: The Complete Season 1-7 Set. On TV, Ivanek seems to play two things a lot: killers and lawyers. As far as lawyers go, Zeljko Ivanek is maybe best known for his regualr role as State's Attorney Ed Danvers on the NBC drama "Homicide." "Homicide" of course, was widely touted as one of the best dramas of the 1990s. Star Andre Braugher won an Emmy for his work as intense Detective Frank Pembleton, the lead in an outstanding cast that also included, at various times, Yaphet Kotto, Kyle Secord, Ned Beatty, Richard Belzer and Callie Thorne (Rescue Me). This set gives you all 7 seasons. It's pricey when bought retail, but you can find copies for sale on places like Ebay for substantial discounts.

2. Oz: Season 1. If you're going to watch Zeljko Ivanek play a good guy in Tom Fontana's "Homicide", you'll probably want to see the flipside in Fontana's "Oz." Here, in this gritty and arty HBO penitentiary series, Ivanek plays a slimey mayor who doesn't necessarily have any more right to be out of prison than the lead characters of the show. Those stars, incidentally, include Christopher Meloni (SVU, Harold Perrineau (Lost), and Eammon Walker (Justice)

3. 24: Complete Season One. Before he was fighting the Chinese, Latin American drug lords, Arab terrorists, or corrupt American presidents, Jack Bauer was taking on the Drazen family. Without giving away the whole story, let's just say in 24, Season 1, the Drazens, played by Zeljko Ivanek and Dennis Hopper, were Serbians with a pretty nasty grudge against Jack and then-Senator Palmer. Twenty four hours of chaos ensues. Obviously. Fans of Zeljko Ivanek will note he himself was born in the former Yugoslavia, home of his fictional alter ego. Dennis Hopper, not so much, but the accent he pulls off is pretty amusing. As with any dvd set, Ebay and sites like Overstock.com offer the best prices.

4. The Reagans (Robert Allan Ackerman, 2003). Fans of Zeljko Ivanek may be frustrated that in films, his screen time is often limited and on TV, he's often relugated to guest killer roles. In this 2003 television movie, not only did Ivanek have quite a bit of screentime, but he also didn't have to kill anyone. Ironically, the movie, which stars James Brolin as Ronald Reagan and Judy Davis as Nancy Reagan, never aired on television as it was deemed too controversial. It's now available on dvd and is actually a fairly good film. While there's room to argue for a liberal slant, neither Reagn comes off all that badly and the behind-the-scenes tabloid element is really not that bad.

Plays

Mr. Ivanek , who studied drama at Yale and in London, has been nominated for a Tony Award in three different decades. He has appeared in the ensembles of many great plays. The thing about theatre actors is, once their run is over in a specific play, their performances are over, too, unless someone has a bootleg taped version, and that's not the same. The best you can do sometimes is read the play a favorite actor has appeared in, and imagine the drama for yourself.

5. Master Harold…And the Boys by Athol Fugard. (Penguin Books, 1984). . Zeljko Ivanek starred in the Yale Repetory Theatre's premiere of the classic South African play "Master Harold…And The Boys" back in the mid 1980s. He and fellow star Danny Glover are in fact on the front cover of the play. As you read and enjoy the story, you can also take note of the fact the playwright has a name almost as weird to the American ear as the star. This is an amazingly powerful short play that will appeal to adults and be accessible and engaging to teens as well.

6. The Caine Mutiny Court Martial by Herman Woulk. In 2006, Zeljko Ivanek was nominated for best actor in a play for his portrayal of the iconic Captain Queeg in Woulk's fifty year old play. The Broadway revial didn't last too long, but fans who missed the highly lauded performance can read the play and contemplate what Ivanek did with a role made famous on film by Humphrey Bogart. The book on which the play (and movie) were made won a Pulitzer Prize.

7. Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon. This play, later turned into a film that didn't include Ivanek, tells the story of a young man coming of age in late 1930s, in Brooklyn. Ivanek starred as the main character's older brother and received a Tony nominated in 1983. As for the kid playing the main character? Two actors actually played him. One was Jonathan Silverman. The other got nominated for a Tony as best actor, won, and grew up to be Matthew Broderick.

8. The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh. In 2005, Ivanek co-starred with Billy Crudup and Jeff Goldblum in this dark drama by respected contemporary Irish playwright McDonagh. Not for the squeamish, it tells a story of an author, his slow brother, and his controversial writings. Tony-nominated, the play won star Michael Stuhlberg a Drama Desk Award. Readers of the play, again, should be ready for some of what "Clockwork Orange" refers to as "the ultraviolence" Ivanek played Golberg's cop partner.

Films

9. Mass Appeal (1984, dir: Glen Jordan based on the play by Bill C. Davis) This film stars Jack Lemmon as a priest who's comfortable life as a pastor is unsettled and challenged by a young seminarian, Mark Dolson, played by Zeljko Ivanek, who has some controversial views. Dolson, despite his outspokenness, is still trying to find himself. In some ways, so is Lemmon's Fr. Farley. Charles Durning and Lousie Latham also star.

10. School Ties. (1992, dir: Robert Mandel). This film star Brendan Fraser (The Mummy) as a Jewish teenager who spends his senior year at an exclusive (in more ways than one…) prep school. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck also star, in some of their first film appearances. Ivanek plays a nasty French teacher in what is probably his most substantial post-Mass Appeal film role. The movie itself is well-written and overall well acted, with standout performances from Fraser and Damon. Teens as well as adults will probably enjoy it.

Other quality films where you will find Mr. Ivanek, but in smaller doses include the great John Travolta law thriller "A Civil Action", Ridley Scott's "Black Hawk Down", "Julian Po" which starred Christian Slater, and "Donnie Brasco" starring Johnny Depp.