Dan Ziskie Dies at 80

A veteran actor known for his work on Treme and House of Cards has died at age 80 in New York.

Dan Ziskie Dies at 80 Veteran Actor Known Treme and House of Cards

Dan Ziskie, a veteran character actor, died July 21 in New York at age 80 from arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The Detroit native built a long career across stage, film, and television, including a recurring turn as Vice President Jim Mathews on House of Cards and appearances on The Blacklist and 24. His film work ranged from Concussion to Adventures in Babysitting and Synecdoche, New York. Ziskie also pursued street photography, publishing Cloud Chamber in 2017.

In Treme, he portrayed CJ Liquori, a wheeling and dealing figure involved with a property developer during the show’s final seasons, underscoring his ability to inhabit dense, morally gray figures. Survivors include his brother and nieces, and his career spanned Broadway to prime time, reflecting a versatile actor who found work across prestige drama and mainstream entertainment.

Ziskie’s career illustrates how character actors anchor both stage and screen. He moved easily between network and streaming drama, big screen projects, and live theater, showing the value of versatility in an evolving media landscape. His photography and interest in cosmology hint at a mind that treats acting as a way to study people and ideas, not just to perform. His death also prompts a moment to acknowledge performers who rarely headline yet repeatedly shape a story’s texture.

Highlights

His work reminds us that character actors shape the texture of modern storytelling.