'House of Cards' actor Dan Ziskie dies at 80

Veteran actor Dan Ziskie, known for 'House of Cards' and 'Treme', passed away from heart disease.

Dan Ziskie, a veteran character actor known for his roles in acclaimed television series such as House of Cards and Treme, died on July 21 at the age of 80. According to his family, the cause of death was arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Born in Detroit, Ziskie earned a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan. Early in his career, he worked as a crewman aboard a Great Lakes freighter before relocating to Chicago, where he became involved with the renowned Second City Comedy Troupe. There, he collaborated with iconic comedians including John Belushi, Brian Doyle-Murray, and Joe Flaherty.

Ziskie transitioned to the stage in the 1980s, serving as an understudy in the Broadway revival of Paul Osborn’s Morning’s at Seven and later joining the cast of Herb Gardner’s I’m Not Rappaport. He moved into television with appearances on shows like Remington Steele, The Equalizer, and Quantum Leap, and also had roles in several films including Adventures in Babysitting, O.C. and Stiggs, Synecdoche, New York, and Troop Beverly Hills.

In more recent years, Ziskie was best known for recurring roles on HBO’s Treme and Netflix’s House of Cards, in which he portrayed the Vice President of the United States. He also co-starred in ABC’s Zero Hour alongside Anthony Edwards and made guest appearances on popular series such as Gossip Girl, ER, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Elementary, Bull, and Blue Bloods. He was also featured on Chappelle’s Show in 2004.

Beyond acting, Ziskie was a passionate street photographer. In 2017, he published a photo book titled Cloud Chamber, showcasing scenes of New York City.

Ziskie is survived by his brother David and sister-in-law Cynthia, along with nephews Jesse, Brett, and Austin, and their six children.