One of the greatest Serbian and Yugoslav actors Mihailo Miša Janketić died today in
Belgrade aged 80. During his long and extraordinary career, he appeared in over one hundred
theatre productions, mainly at Yugoslav Drama Theatre. He was also renowned for his roles in film, television and radio. Janketić won all the most prestigious acting and achievement awards, Dobričin prsten lifetime achievement award, October award, four Sterijino pozorje awards, Pavle Vujisić lifetime achievement award. His first appearance in a Yugoslav Drama Theatre production was in Richard III in 1961. He was a member of YDT ensemble between 1962 and 1998. During that time he appeared in over sixty productions. Miša Janketić’s last role was that of Krnec in The King of Betajnova (2018) which opened on Yugoslav Drama
Theatre’s 70th anniversary.
Born in Novi Sad on 24 th May, 1938, Janketić completed his secondary education in Belgrade. Initially studied literature at the Faculty of Philosophy in Belgrade but three years later, in 1958, became a drama student at the Theatre, Film and Television Academy. He graduated in 1962 from the class of Professor Mata Milošević.
His roles in Yugoslav Drama Theatre productions include Hugo in Dirty Hands by J. P. Sartre, Uroš V in The Death of Uroš V by S. Stefanović, Ljuba Vrapče in When Pumpkins Blossomed by D. Mihailović, Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment by F. M. Dostoyevsky, Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire by T. Williams, Horvat in Wolfhound by Miroslav Krleža, Alexander de Medicis in Lorenzaccio by Alfred de Musset, Field Marshal Mišić in The Battle of Kolubara and Valjevo Hospital by D. Ćosić, Blagoje in The Travelling Troupe Šopalović by Lj. Simović, Gavrilović in Patriots by Jovan Sterija Popović (1986) and Mayor in The Government Inspector by Gogol, Jevrem Prokić in People’s Deputy and Obrad Đorđević in It Had to Be So by B. Nušić…
Recipient of Yugoslav Drama Theatre Annual Awards for his portrayal of Boris Annenkov (The Just Assassins), Bradley in (Buried Child), Jesus (January), Field Marshal Mišić (The Battle of Kolubara), Gavrilović (Patriots), Major Božić (Migrations), Mayor (The Government Inspector), Jevrem Prokić (People’s Deputy).
Janketić also appeared in a number of productions in other theatres (Atelje 212, National Theatre in Belgrade, Belgrade Drama Theatre, Serbian National Theatre, Zvezdara Teatar…).
He received the City of Belgrade October Award for his portrayal of Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment in 1971. He won Sterijino Pozorje awards for his portrayals of Jagoš Kralј (Claustrophobic Comedy, 1987, Zvezdara teatar), Jevrem Prokić (People’s Deputy, 1991), Duke Nikola (Princess Xenia of Montenegro, 1994, Montenegrin National Theatre) and Uncle Dragi (Deadly Motor-ism, 2005, Atelјe 212). Recipient of Joakim Vujić award, Milivoje Živanović award, Raša Plaović award, Ljubiša Jovanović award, Ćuran award, Zoran’s Moustache award, Branislav Nušić award (lifetime achievement).
He received the Pavle Vujisić lifetime achievement award from the Film Artists Association in 2014. He received the most prestigious theatre award, Dobričin prsten, in 2003.
On film he worked with all the most prominent film directors in the country. His filmography includes The Dream directed by Puriša Đorđević, How Romeo and Juliet Loved Each Other directed by Jovan Živanović, The Nun and the Commissar directed by Gojko Šipovac, Horoscope directed by Boro Draškovića, Murder Commited in a Sly and Cruel Manner and from Low Motives directed by Žika Mitrović, Girl from the Mountains directed by Dragovan Jovanović, The Wedding directed by Radomir Šaranović, Wintering in Jakobsfeld directed by Branko Bauer, Svetozar Marković directed by Eduard Galić, How I Was Systematically Destroyed by an Idiot directed by Slobodan Šijan, The First Blow directed by Darko Bajić, Sex – Party Enemy Nº1 directed by Dušan Sabo, Fifth Butterfly directed by Milorad Milinković…
Also appeared in TV dramas and series: Dimitrije Tucović, Otpisani, Salaš u Malom Ritu, Nepokoreni grad, Grey Home, Vuk Karadžić, Better Life, The Forgotten Ones, Happy People, Family Treasure, My Father’s Murderers, Hide and Seek…
Mihailo Janketić also taught acting at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad.
Details on funeral and memorial service will be announced in due course.
