Milan 'Lane' Gutovic(1946-2021)

Milan Gutovic was a Serbian and Yugoslav actor, cabaret performer, and television personality. He graduated from the High School of Electrical Engineering "Nikola Tesla" in Belgrade, where he earned the nickname "Lane". Initially, Gutovic wanted to study at the Faculty of Mathematics, although he later enrolled in the Belgrade Academy for theater, cinema, radio, and television, from which he graduated in 1967. Later that year, he became a member of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre. After becoming a member of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre in 1967, he and other now-prominent actors became members of the so-called "Bojan's babies" club which included actors that were part of a permanent engagement in the Yugoslav Drama Theatre. Gutovic's film career began in 1968, in the movie "Bekstva". His first main role in a movie was in Mica Milosevic's movie "Drugarcine", which was recorded in 1979. Two years later, Gutovic was contacted by Milosevic to act in "Laf u srcu" where he played Srecko Sojic. Gutovic continued his role as Srecko Sojic in "Tesna koza", which was recorded in 1982. His first major role on television was in the comedy series "Diplomci", although, he earned more popularity in "Bolji zivot" and "Otvorena vrata". Between 2006 and 2011, he again portrayed Srecko Sojic in "Bela ladja", which was a loose continuation of "Tesna koza". After leaving "Bela ladja", he retired. Gutovic is also widely known around the world for his "An usual evening" cabaret, which he performed from the 1990s until his death. His cabaret was the first show played in Serbian in the Broadway theatre. Besides performing in the National Theatre in Belgrade, he also performed in the Montenegrin National Theatre, Zvezdara Theatre, Slavija Theatre, BITEF, and many theatres. Between 2020 and July 2021, he performed in the "Putujuce pozoriste Sopalovic" show, in the Yugoslav Drama Theatre. On 19 August 2021, Gutovic's health suddenly deteriorated and he was transported to the Military Medical Academy for treatment. A day later, multiple unreliable tabloids published incorrect information that Gutovic had passed away. He actually died on 25 August 2021, 14 days after his 75th birthday.