Dan Ziskie (1944-2025)
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Actor Dan Ziskie died on July 21 at the age of 80. Dan began his career in Chicago, working early on with Del Close at Chicago Extension Improv Theatre, Dream Theatre and Second City. He eventually became a Second City mainstage company member, alongside John Belushi, Joe Flaherty and many others. Dan’s other Chicago credits include THE DUCK VARIATIONS (Body Politic); ¡CUBA SI! and MUZEEKA (Kingston Mines); and THE LOCAL STIGMATIC, CHICAGO and THREE PLAYS OF THE YUAN DYNASTY (Goodman Theatre Second Stage at Ruth Page Auditorium).
After moving to NYC, Dan appeared in several Broadway productions — I’M NOT RAPPAPORT, AFTER THE FALL, MORNING’S AT SEVEN (understudy), and I’M NOT READY. Other New York productions include FRANZ KAFKA’S THE CASTLE (Manhattan Ensemble Theatre); 37 POSTCARDS (Hudson Stage Company); and BREAKFAST WITH LES AND BESS (The Lamb’s Theatre). He also appeared in several regional productions, including at Actors Theatre of Louisville. However, Dan was best known for his roles in TV and film. His television credits include HOUSE OF CARDS, TREME, CHAPPELLE’S SHOW, PERSON OF INTEREST, THE BLACKLIST and 24. He also had small roles in REMINGTON STEELE, ST. ELSEWHERE, THE EQUALIZER, NEWHART and MURPHY BROWN, among many others. His film credits include ZEBRAHEAD and ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING. In addition to acting, Dan pursued his passion for photography. His photographic work has been featured in The New York Times, The Guardian and the Financial Times. In 2017, he also published a photo book called “Cloud Chamber.” Born in Detroit in 1944, Dan was an athlete throughout college and lettered in track and field at the University of Michigan, where he received a BA in English. In the few years following graduation, he delved into several occupations that fed his zest for new experiences, including serving as a crewman on a Great Lakes freighter. Dan is survived by his wife Cynthia; brother David; nephews Jesse, Brett, and Austin, and their six children. Per his family — “Dan's natural talent and dedication to his craft were evident in each role he played, earning him the admiration and respect of his peers. He was as vibrant and multifaceted as the characters he portrayed on stage and screen. His was a life lived with passion, a life that exemplified the beauty of pursuing one's dreams and the importance of cherishing every moment.” |