Biography

Serbian actor and singer, initially trained for an engineering career in Prague, Budapest and Belgrade. Changed his mind after serving in the Serb army during World War I. Became an opera singer, chiefly performing in France and Germany during the 1920's. Already established as a star of European silent films from 1918 (he was fluent in German, English and French), he had a spell in Hollywood, acting in three films of the director Rex Ingram. His singing voice enabled him to make the transition to sound pictures and he continued to be in demand in operatic productions in Germany and Hungary during the 30's and 40's.

After the end of World War I he decided to enter a complete new professional way and he went to Paris where he was able to appear as an opera singer. His singing career led him from France to Germany and finally to the USA.

The sound film era offered him a new challenge and thanks to his singing talent he soon became interesting offers for musicals and entertainment movies.

Ivan Petrovich moved self-confident on the international parquet. In France he appeared in the movie "La femme nue" (1926), in the USA in "The Garden of Allah" (1927) and in Germany in "Alraune" (1928).

He made his first experiences in the film business in Hungary and Austria.