Relja Bašić (14 February 1930 – 7 April 2017) was a Croatian actor. With a career that lasted more than half a century, he is considered one of the most prolific performers of that country.

Biography

Bašić was born on 14 February 1930 in Zagreb, then Kingdom of Yugoslavia. He was born to a Jewish mother Elly (née Lerch) Bašić. Bašić was raised by his mother and stepfather Mladen Bašić. He first appeared on screen in 1954 classic film Koncert. Through the decades, he played many different roles, often in international co-productions. He never became a star, but remained one of the most recognisable and dependable character actors. His specialty were the roles of suave aristocratic villains, especially in historic films dealing with World War II, but he is best remembered for the role of Mr. Fulir in 1970 cult comedy Tko pjeva zlo ne misli. In the 1990s, Bašić was an enthusiastic supporter of the Croatian Social Liberal Party. During 1992 parliamentary elections he appeared as that party's candidate in one of Zagreb constituencies. He lost that race to Nedjeljko Mihanović of HDZ in controversial circumstances. A few months later, in the elections for upper house of the Croatian Parliament, he won the seat representing the City of Zagreb. In 1995, President Tuđman awarded him with the Order of Danica Hrvatska. Bašić also acted as a UNESCO Artist for Peace. Several years before his death, Bašić suffered a femur fracture which restrained his mobility. He died on 7 April 2017, in Zagreb.

Filmography