At at age 18, Goran trained during peacetime for basic crowd control and as a paratrooper in the Yugoslavian People's Army.   He ended up fighting in Slovenia when the Serbian forces led by Slobidan Milosevic attacked this now former province of Yugoslavia, planning to cleanse their Slavic homeland of "unwanted ethnicities," Croats being one of them.   When Goran's tour of duty was done he returned home where the Serbian forces had begun their attacks on Croatia (by the time of his return, Croatia had declared their independence).   He volunteered to join the new Croatian Army, breaking his own promise to himself to never pick up a gun again.

When word came through that he had been accepted in the Academy of Dramatic Arts in Zagreb, his brother volunteered to take his place in the Army so he could study his craft.

He then dedicated himself to his first love...acting.  At twenty-one he was cast as Laertes in a traveling production of "Hamlet", with the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, beginning a six year cross-country stint that would expose him to audiences throughout his country. It would also go on to earn him three national Best Actor awards, including the Orlando (the Croatian equivalent of a Tony). 

Goran spent many years in Croatian theatre and making international movies.   In 1997, director Michael Winterbottom cast him as a translator-driver for a British news team in the highly acclaimed drama "Welcome To Sarajevo".   He has continued to make both U.S. and International films, and stars on the ever popular U.S. television show ER as Dr. Luka Kovac.

Goran is married to Ivana Vrdoljak, they were wed on May 8, 1999.  They reside mainly in Los Angeles, California with their pet pug, Bugsy.

IN-LAWS [THE BACKGROUND OF IVANA VRDOLJAK]
FATHER: ANTUN VRDOLJAK [Born June 04, 1931 In Imotski, Split-Dalmatian County, Croatia].  Vice-President Of Croatia From May To December 1990.  Elected In The Croatian Parliament In 1992 And 1995.   Married Twice - To ANKA PETRICEVIC and BRANKA VRDOLJAK [Born November 27, 1944].  Directed Goran In Long Dark Night (2003).

Ivana's siblings:  VJEKOSLAV VRDOLJAK [Born August 28, 1954 In Zagreb, Croatia] And LUKA VRDOLJAK.  Vjekoslav Served As Cinematographer On Long Dark Night (2003).

Goran and Ivana friends:  RENE BITORAJAC And VEDRAN MLIKOTA