Goran Višnjić Biography: Height, Ethnicity, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Kids, Wife, Films, Awards

Goran Višnjić is a Croatian–American actor who first drew international attention for his portrayal of Dr. Luka Kovač on NBC’s long-running medical drama ER, a role he held from 1999 to 2008.

His move into Hollywood was helped by a small but memorable turn in Madonna’s 1998 music video “The Power of Good-Bye,” which opened doors to roles in films such as The Peacemaker and Practical Magic.

Profile

• Full name: Goran Višnjić
• Nickname: Sime
• Date of birth: September 9, 1972
• Age: 52 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Šibenik, SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia
• State of origin: SR Croatia
• Nationality: Croatian; American (since 2013)
• Profession: Actor
• Height: 6′ 4″ (1.93 m)
• Weight: 87 kg (191 lbs)
• Eye color: Green
• Hair color: Dark brown
• Parents: Željko Višnjić (father), Milka Višnjić (mother)
• Siblings: Joško Višnjić (brother)
• Spouse: Eva Višnjić (formerly Ivana Vrdoljak; m. May 8, 1999–present)
• Children: Lana Lourdes Rupić, Vigo Višnjić, Tin Višnjić, Vivien Sofia Višnjić
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Raised Roman Catholic  
• Ethnicity: Croat
• Net worth: $2 million

Early Life and Education

Goran Višnjić (53 years old) was born on September 9, 1972, in Šibenik, then part of SR Croatia in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. His father, Željko, worked as a bus driver, and his mother, Milka, sold goods at the local market.

He has one elder brother, Joško. As a teenager, he appeared in school plays and at age 16 made his screen debut in the Yugoslav film Braća po materi (1988).

In 1990, at 18, he completed one year of mandatory service in the Yugoslav People’s Army as a paratrooper, then joined the Croatian Ground Army during the nation’s struggle for independence.

After military service, he moved to Zagreb to study acting at the Academy of Dramatic Art at the University of Zagreb, later winning the title role in Shakespeare’s Hamlet at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival—the youngest actor ever to do so.

Personal Life

Višnjić met Croatian actress and sculptor Ivana Vrdoljak (who took the name Eva) in the late 1990s; the couple married on May 8, 1999. They have four children: their biological daughter Lana Lourdes Rupić (born 2006), and three children—Vigo, Tin, and Vivien—whom they adopted during their marriage. The family lived primarily in Los Angeles until 2021, when they relocated to Cornwall, England.

Career

Višnjić’s early work in Croatian television and film led to a European commercial for Tuborg beer and small parts in Hollywood projects such as The Peacemaker (1997) and Practical Magic (1998).

His breakout came in 1999 when producer John Wells cast him as Dr. Luka Kovač on ER, replacing George Clooney’s character and eventually becoming the show’s male lead.

While on ER, he balanced film roles including the voice of Soto in Ice Age, and starred in Close Your Eyes and Duga mračna noć. He was also among four finalists for the role of James Bond in 2005.

From 2016 to 2018, he starred as Garcia Flynn in NBC’s Timeless, and in 2020, he portrayed Nikola Tesla in Doctor Who. In 2024, he returned to the stage in Ivo Vojnović’s Ekvinocijo at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival and joined the cast of Vikings: Valhalla as Erik the Red.

Awards and Nominations

• Screen Actors Guild Awards, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (ER), 2000 – Nominated
• Screen Actors Guild Awards, Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (ER), 2001 – Nominated
• Satellite Awards, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Drama (The Deep End), 2002 – Nominated
• Festival du Film de Paris, Best Actor (Close Your Eyes), 2004 – Won
• Pula Film Festival, Best Actor (Duga mračna noć), 2004 – Won
• Gotham Awards, Best Ensemble Performance (Beginners), 2011 – Won
• Croatian Theatre Awards, Best Artistic Achievement by an Actor in a Leading Role (Ekvinocijo), 2024 – Won

Net worth

Goran Višnjić’s net worth is estimated at $2 million, earned through decades of acting in television and film, as well as work in theatre and voice roles in major animations.

Social Media

• Instagram: @goran_visnjic
• Twitter/X: @goranvisnjic

Filmography

• Braća po materi (1988)
• Paranoja (1993)
• Prepoznavanje (1996)
• Puška za uspavljivanje (1997)
• The Peacemaker (1997)
• Welcome to Sarajevo (1997)
• Rounders (1998)
• Practical Magic (1998)
• Committed (2000)
• The Deep End (2001)
• Posljednja volja (2001)
• Ice Age (2002)
• Close Your Eyes (2002)
• Duga mračna noć (2004)
• Elektra (2005)
• Apocrypha (2009)
• Helen (2009)
• Beginners (2010)
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
• K-11 (2012)
• The Counselor (2013)
• 95 Decibels (2013)
• Dark Hearts (2014)
• Asthma (2014)
• The Journey Home (2014)
• Never Here (2017)
• The Tribes of Palos Verdes (2017)
• General (2019)
• Fatima (2020)
• The Accursed (2021)
• Hellraiser (2022)
• Transformers One (2024)