Zorica Sumadinac

About Zorica Sumadinac

Zorica Sumadinac was a Serbian actress known for her debut performance in the acclaimed Yugoslav Black Wave film When I Am Dead and Gone (1967), as well as her work in theater and television during the 1970s.

Born on November 2, 1946, in Belgrade, she overcame severe childhood health challenges, including chronic respiratory issues, tuberculosis, and hepatitis, before pursuing acting studies at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts alongside notable contemporaries.

Her talent extended to dance and music in her youth, though health limitations redirected her toward acting, where she gained early recognition through amateur theater and her breakthrough film role.

Sumadinac built a prolific career in Yugoslav television and theater, appearing in series such as Građani sela Luga and TV movies, while continuing stage work that showcased her versatility. 1 Her final theater performance came in Don Juan on June 28, 1981.

She was married to Zoran and had two young daughters, Marija and Isidora. 2 Her promising trajectory ended tragically on September 3, 1981, at age 34, following complications from surgery for a spinal tumor, including severe blood loss.

Despite her early death, colleagues remembered her as a resilient and fulfilled artist who maintained grace amid lifelong struggles.