Dan Ziskie, veteran character actor from House of Cards, passes away at 80

Dan Ziskie died on July 21, 2025, in New York City at 80 years old. His family shared that the cause of death was arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, a type of heart condition. He was born in Detroit in 1944 and had a varied early life. He exceled in athletics during school, worked on a Great Lakes freighter, and even tried out journalism before discovering acting as his passion.

Dan Ziskie learned performance at Chicago’s famous Second City comedy group, where he worked with performers like John Belushi and Joe Flaherty. From there, he performed on Broadway and later moved into television and movies, often appearing in small but memorable parts.

Over the years, he became known for roles that helped shape the world of the stories he was in. He played C.J. Liguori, a businessman in Treme, and Vice President Jim Matthews in House of Cards. He also appeared in many other TV shows and films and even published a book of his street photography called Cloud Chamber. Dan Ziskie’s family remembered him as someone with a sharp eye for both acting and life’s small moments.

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He worked steadily in stage, film and television

Dan Ziskie began performing after college and trained with Chicago’s Second City, where many actors sharpen their skills in improvisation. From there, he moved into stage work, including Broadway, and then into television and film.

He often played supporting roles that included officials, lawyers, and other people in authority. He mainly took on many characters that kept him busy on different programs and films over the years.

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Dan Ziskie was known for roles in Treme and House of Cards

In the 2010s, Dan Ziskie became more familiar to television audiences for his recurring parts on prestige series. He guest-starred as C.J. Liguori on Treme and as a vice president on House of Cards in multiple episodes over a number of seasons. Such appearances ensured that he had constant familiarity with viewers of drama series.

In addition to those recurring roles, Dan Ziskie appeared in single-episode roles in long-running series and minor supporting film roles dating as far back as the 1980s. He appeared on procedural dramas, comedies, and several feature films. This variety is not unusual for career character actors who transition across stage, screen, and television.

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He published a book of photographs and showed work in magazines

Later in life, he published Cloud Chamber, a collection of street photographs taken in New York between 2013 and 2016. His images were noted for showing everyday urban moments, and the book was released in 2017. Photography became a clear second focus alongside his acting work.

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His family confirmed details and survivors

Family members issued the notice sharing the date and cause of death and listing relatives who survive him. The obituary and public notices offered the basic facts about his birth year, some early jobs, education, and the range of his creative work, and asked that tributes respect the family’s privacy.

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A steady, varied career that is easy to miss at a glance

Dan Ziskie did not often headline big studio projects, but his career shows how many working actors build long lives in performance. He maintained steady work across many types of shows, took occasional stage runs, and had the freedom to explore other art forms like photography.

To viewers who revisit episodes of Treme, House of Cards, or other shows in which he appears, his acting remains memorable. It serves as a reminder of the type of supporting roles that contribute to the worldbuilding of a story.

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The confirmed public information includes the date of his death, July 21, in New York City, and the cause, arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, as announced by his family. His career spanned decades, with memorable roles on television shows and films, including Treme and House of Cards, and later work such as Bull.

He also published a well-received book of street photographs called Cloud Chamber. For anyone who wants to remember him, his performances and photography offer lasting moments to revisit.