Zeljko Ivanek / Blake Sterling

zeljko_ivanek.jpgZeljko Ivanek (pronounced JEL-ko EE-vah-NEK) was born August 15, 1957 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Ivanek's family moved to the United States in 1960 so that his father could complete his doctoral research in electronic engineering at Stanford University. Ivanek started his college career at Yale and later was excepted into the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, where he graduated in 1980.

Ivanek is becoming a very familiar face in the world of serialized drama/fiction, from one of his earlier roles on the X-Files to Lost, Heroes, True Blood, 24, and now The Event. Zeljko Ivanek seems to always find himself cast as the "bad guy", some who are just doing their job and others that really are corrupt and back-stabbing.

In 2008, Ivanek earned a Primetime Emmy Award for his role as Ray Fiske on the critically acclaimed FX series Damages.

Interesting facts about Zeljko Ivanek:

  • Ivanek appeared on ER on episode eight of the seventh season; along with current co-star Laura Innes.
  • When Ivanek left Slovenia it was still known as Yugoslavia.

Zeljko Ivanek stars in The Event as Blake Sterling, the Director of National Intelligence, who has long kept the secret of Mount Inostranka and its prisoners from President Martinez. While some of his tactics may seem shady, he has always had the best of interest of the United States in mind.

Interesting facts about Blake Sterling:

  • Sterling has had trust issues since he discovered his wife was a Russian spy.
  • Sterling likes classical music and has played the violin for most of his life. His most prized possession is his 16th Century Stradivarius Violin.