Who Are Those Guys? ~ Bekim Fehmiu

 

Bekim Fehmiu was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina on June 1, 1936. He was recognized as one of the most popular actors in the former Yugoslavia. Fehmiu was the first Eastern European actor to star in Hollywood during the Cold War, and one of the internationally best-known ethnic Albanian actors.

His father Ibrahim adopted his high-school nickname Fehmiu as a surname replacing the original Imer Halili. The family moved to Shkodër, Albania, where they spent three years, and in 1941 returned to Prizren where Bekim spent his childhood. He was part of the acting club at his high school in Prizren, and after graduation he became a member of County Popular Theatre in Pristina, the only professional Albanian language theatre in Yugoslavia. He graduated from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts (FDU) in Belgrade in 1960.

In 1960, Fehmiu became a member of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre in Belgrade, which he left in 1967, citing bad treatment, to become a free artist.

Fehmiu's big break was the 1967 film “I Even Met Happy Gypsies”, a subtle portrayal of Roman life which won two awards in Cannes and was nominated for an Oscar. Known for his macho appearance and mild manner, Fehmiu was then wooed by Western filmmakers and signed a contract with the Academy Award-winning producer Dino De Laurentiis. It was De Laurentiis who, in 1968, cast him as Odysseus in the acclaimed mini-series of ‘The Odyssey.Odyssey’. It was the first blockbuster of Italian television and made Fehmiu an icon in parts of Europe.

Fehmiu seemed poised for stardom in Hollywood as well, but his first American film, “The Adventurers”, was a critical and financial disaster which "ruined any chances for Fehmiu to achieve similar stardom in Hollywood". Bekim then starred in the Euro-western action drama “The Deserter”, directed by Burt Kennedy. Among his other well-known films was “The Executioner” (1975), “Salon Kitty” (1976) and his only Euro-western “The Deserter” (1971) directed by Burt Kennedy and also starring John Huston and Richard Crenna. He worked extensively in Italy with Dino De Laurentis.

Fehmiu was married to Serbian actress Branka Petrić. The couple had two sons, Hedon and Uliks, and resided in the Zvezdara area of Belgrade. Uliks Fehmiu is also an actor.

On June 15, 2010, Bekim was found dead in his apartment in Belgrade. Initial reports stated he committed suicide. Interior Minister Ivica Dačić said Fehmiu was found shot in his apartment and the gun was registered in Fehmiu's name. He was 74 years old.

Fehmiu’ autobiography was published in 2001 which he had written in 1985 entitled Blistavo i straÅ¡no ("Brilliant and Terrifying")

FEHMIU, Bekim (Bekim Halili) [6/1/1936, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina - 6/15/2010, Zvezdara, Serbia (suicide)] – author, film, TV actor, married to actress Branka Petric [1937-    ] (1968-2010) father of actor Uliks Femiu [1968-    ], baker Hedon Fehmiu [1969-    ].

The Deserter - 1971 (Captain Victor Kaleb)