Dan Ziskie, the veteran character actor known for his recurring roles on Netflix’s “House of Cards” and HBO’s “Treme,” died July 21 in New York at age 80. His family announced that Ziskie died from arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a condition that affects blood flow by stiffening the arteries.
Born August 13, 1944, in Detroit, Ziskie initially excelled in athletics during high school, competing in track and football. He continued his athletic pursuits at the University of Michigan, where he lettered in relay races while earning a bachelor’s degree in English. After graduation, he worked various jobs, including serving as a crewman on a Great Lakes freighter, before discovering his passion for performance.
Ziskie’s entertainment career began in Chicago, where he joined the renowned Second City comedy troupe in the early 1970s. There, he worked alongside future stars including John Belushi, Joe Flaherty, and Brian Doyle-Murray, honing his craft in improvisational comedy.
His Broadway career began in 1980 as an understudy in the revival of Paul Osborn’s “Morning’s at Seven.” He later worked as a replacement actor in the original production of Herb Gardner’s comedy “I’m Not Rappaport” from 1985-88, and appeared in the 2004 revival of Arthur Miller’s “After the Fall.”
Ziskie transitioned to television in the mid-1980s, establishing himself as a reliable character actor with appearances on numerous series including “Remington Steele,” “The Equalizer,” “Newhart,” “Hunter,” “St. Elsewhere,” “Murphy Brown,” “L.A. Law,” and “Quantum Leap.” His extensive television resume would eventually include guest roles on “ER,” “The Practice,” “Sex and the City,” “NYPD Blue,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Ugly Betty,” “Louie,” “Gossip Girl,” “The Good Wife,” “Gotham,” “Elementary,” “Blue Bloods,” “Madam Secretary,” and “Bull.”
One of his most recognizable roles came on Netflix’s political drama “House of Cards,” where he portrayed Vice President Jim Matthews across six episodes from 2013-17, appearing alongside Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, and Michael Kelly. The series, which premiered as Netflix’s first scripted drama, won several Primetime Emmy Awards.
In “Treme,” Ziskie played C.J. Liquori, a New Orleans construction magnate and political fundraiser who worked to profit from the city’s rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Katrina. He appeared in 18 episodes across the show’s final three seasons from 2011-13, frequently sharing scenes with Jon Seda’s character Nelson Hidalgo.
Ziskie also made memorable appearances on “Chappelle’s Show” in 2004, playing a character named Frank Niggar in a 1950s-set black-and-white sketch featuring Dave Chappelle as a neighborhood milkman. He appeared on Fox’s “24” as the U.S. attorney general who orders President Logan’s dismissal in the fifth-season finale in 2006.
His film career included roles in Robert Altman’s “O.C. and Stiggs” (1985), Chris Columbus’ “Adventures in Babysitting” (1987), Roger Donaldson’s “Thirteen Days” (2000), Charlie Kaufman’s “Synecdoche, New York” (2008), and Peter Landesman’s “Concussion” (2015), where he portrayed NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Other film credits included “Zebrahead” (1992), “The Jackal” (1997), “Bad Company” (2002), “Eight Below” (2006), “Last Holiday” (2006), and “Mercy” (2016).
Beyond acting, Ziskie pursued photography as a passionate hobby. His collection of New York street photography was published in October 2017 as a book titled “Cloud Chamber.” According to his own description, “I am drawn to take photos of people more than anything else.” His photographic work was featured in publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, and the Financial Times.
Ziskie’s final acting credit was a role in the miniseries “The Bite” in 2021, and he was scheduled to appear in the upcoming film “Very Close Quarters.” He also served as a regular on the short-lived 2013 ABC conspiracy series “Zero Hour,” which starred Anthony Edwards and ran for just 13 episodes.
His family described Ziskie as enjoying travel and exploring complex topics including cosmology and quantum physics. They remembered him as someone whose life exemplified the importance of pursuing dreams and cherishing every moment. In their obituary, they noted that his colleagues and friends will remember him as a creative, thoughtful, and interesting man whose presence enriched their lives.
Ziskie is survived by his brother David, sister-in-law Cynthia, nephews Jesse, Brett, and Austin, and their six children. His most recent work included a role in the Spectrum miniseries “The Bite” in 2021.
