Dan Ziskie, the actor best known for his roles in the Netflix political thriller House of Cards and the HBO drama Treme, has died at the age of 80. He passed away on 21 July in New York from arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, his family announced in an obituary published on Legacy.com.
In a statement, his family said: 'Dan was a man of remarkable talent and a keen observer of life. He was as vibrant and multifaceted as the characters he portrayed on stage and screen.' They added: '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.'
Born in Detroit, Michigan on 13 August 1944, Ziskie studied English at the University of Michigan, where he also competed in track and field. After graduating, he worked several jobs, including as a crewman on a Great Lakes freighter, before joining Chicago's Second City improv troupe. He made his Broadway debut in 1980 as an understudy in Morning's at Seven, and later appeared in I'm Not Rappaport and After the Fall.
Ziskie portrayed Vice-President Jim Matthews in six early episodes of House of Cards. His most extensive television role was as C.J. Liguori, a New Orleans construction magnate and political fundraiser, in 18 episodes of Treme. His other screen credits include Gossip Girl, Law & Order, The Good Wife, and the films Adventures in Babysitting, Bad Company, Last Holiday, and Concussion.
Beyond acting, Ziskie was a gifted photographer. He published his first photobook, Cloud Chamber, in 2017, featuring New York street photography captured between 2013 and 2016. He is survived by his brother David and wife Cynthia, his nephews Jesse, Brett, and Austin, and their six children.
