One of the greatest actors in the former Yugoslavia is remembered for a series of brilliant roles, such as King Ibi, Radovan III, Trigorin in The Seagull, and Laza Kostić in Santa Maria della Salute.
The grandfather on his father’s side, this famous man from Zaječar, was Richard Lang, a German who married a woman from Serbia at the end of the 19th century and took the name Radmilo. The next generation carried the surname Radmilović.
Even in high school, he dabbled in acting, which he continued after moving to Belgrade. In the Cultural and Artistic Society “Ivo Lola Ribar,” he acted under Soja Jovanović, who persuaded him to apply to the Academy. His father was a lawyer and wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. So, Zoran first studied law, then architecture, followed by English, and finally, he enrolled in acting at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts (FDU).
He graduated in 1963, in the class of Mate Milošević, and from 1962, he was engaged at the Belgrade Drama Theatre. That same year, he debuted in film – playing in The Strange Girl by Jovan Živanović.
In 1964, he landed the leading role in King Ibi by Alfred Jarry, directed by Ljubomir Muci Draškić, which was performed at the Atelje 212 theatre. This was a turning point in Zoran’s career – it showcased his sense of comedy and improvisation. Although initially poorly received by critics for being too avant-garde, it gradually became beloved and eventually cult-like, largely thanks to Zoran’s involvement.
The play was successfully performed on numerous tours, in Moscow, Paris, Venice, and New York, and it lasted for 14 years, until 1978. It was common to see the play several times, as it was always different, thanks to Zoran’s improvisations, and could last anywhere from one to three hours.
In 1973, Duško Kovačević wrote the comedy Radovan III, which was directed by Muci Draškić at Atelje 212. He created a legendary cast: Radovan – Zoran Radmilović, Rumenka – Maja Čučković, Katica – Mira Banjac, Georgina – Tatjana Beljakova, Grandfather Svetislav – Milutin Butković, Jelenče – Milan Caci Mihajlović, and Kener – Taško Načić. The play is about a man from the countryside living in a city, on the 12th floor of a high-rise, trying to adapt… The performance was staged 299 times.
Once again, Zoran “carried” the show with his brilliant improvisations, adding comments on current events, and the play became a phenomenon.
For his role as Vuk Rsavac in the play Concrete and Fireflies, he won the Sterija Award, and for his role as Molière, the October Award.
In the early 1970s, Zoran had the idea to gather a group of actors, writers, and painters, and travel to small towns in the interior to perform plays. The initiative was called To the Village in March, and they would travel in an old bus to the most remote villages, offering people the opportunity to enjoy theater and other forms of art.
He acted in numerous TV series, from A Lifetime in One Year, through More Than a Game, to Stories from the Workshop. His acting brilliance in films such as Masters, Masters, Sixth Gear, The Marathon Family, Happy Family, and Sugar Water are still remembered.
He was awarded the lifetime achievement award Dobričin Prsten in 1983. In his hospital bed, he received the July 7th Award.
Overcome by a serious illness, Zoran passed away on July 21, 1985, in Belgrade, and his urn rests in the Alley of Distinguished Citizens.
