Pavle "Paja" Vuisić (Serbian Cyrillic: Павле "Паја" Вуисић; 10 July 1926 – 1 October 1988) was a Serbian and Yugoslav actor, known as one of the most recognizable faces of former Yugoslav cinema.
Biography
He was born in Cetinje as Pavle Vujisić to father Mišo, a police force agent and mother Radmila. He was named after his grandfather Pavle, Montenegrinjurist and brigadier. His great-grandfather was Milosav Mišnin Vujisić, famous hero from Donja Morača and commander of the guard of Prince Danilo.[1] He joined the Yugoslav Partisans and fought at the Syrmian Front.[2] He studied law and literature, and worked as a journalist for Radio Belgrade before getting a small role in 1950 film Čudotvorni mač.[3] After that he tried to become a professional actor, but failed to complete his enrollment at the Drama Arts Academy in Belgrade.[4]
His first major role was in 1955 film Šolaja. He was never a star, but he quickly established himself as one of the most dependable and versatile character actors. In his long and prolific career he played many different roles, both dramatic and comical, and earned great respect from almost any director with whom he worked. He is arguably best known for his role in 1972 TV series Kamiondžije (Truck Drivers), where he was paired with comedian Miodrag Petrović Čkalja.
One of the acting awards in Serbia (for lifetime acting achievement in movies, awarded at film festival in Niš) is named after him.
Orson Welles said in interview for former Yugoslav television RTZ that he considered Pavle Vuisić as the best actor in the world.[5]
