Lazar Ristovski was born in Ravno Selo, a small town in the Vojvodina province, where his journey to stardom began. After graduating from the Teacher College in Sombor, he went on to complete the prestigious Belgrade Academy of Dramatic Arts, earning a degree in acting. He has since made Belgrade his home and continues to work in the city's vibrant arts scene.
Ristovski's career early was marked by his dedication to theater performance, where he showcased his mastery of classical repertoire, including Shakespeare and Moliere. His performances in productions of Hamlet at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, directed by Oscar-winning director Jiri Menzel, and his interpretations of Don Juan and Amadeus, are still widely remembered and admired.
He has appeared in numerous productions of plays by local writers, including Ducan Kovacevic, Aca Popovic, Stevan Koprivica, Sinisa Kovacevic, and Radoslav Pavlovic, delivering over 4,000 performances throughout his career. His extensive filmography includes over 80 films, TV series, and TV dramas, with many leading roles to his credit.
Some of his most memorable roles include those in Podzemlje (Underground),Tito i ja, Do koske, Tako se kalio celik, Bure baruta, Balkanska pravila, Boomerang, Pad u raj, Mali svet, Sveti Georgije ubiva azdahu, and several Hollywood productions, including The November Man, Casino Royale, and Along the Roadside.
As a producer, Ristovski has completed thirteen feature films and has directed two, including The White Suit, a fully authored project that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 1999 and was the Yugoslav candidate for the Academy Award. His directorial debut, King Peter I, featured his son Petar Ristovski in a significant role.
Throughout his illustrious career, Ristovski has received numerous national and international awards and recognitions, including the Sterija Award, The October Prize of the city of Belgrade, the Zivojin Zika - Pavlovic Award, the Sergey Bondarchuk Award, three Grand Prix at the Nis Film Encounters, the Crystal Prism, the Zoran Radmilovic Award, the Golden Orlando at the Dubrovnik Festival, and the Best Actor prize at the Valladolid Festival, to name a few.
In addition to his work in film and theater, Ristovski is also an accomplished writer, having penned two novels, one collection of poems, and two storybooks. He is the owner of the production company Zillion film, which he founded in collaboration with his two sons, Petar and Jovan.
