Ivan Rassimov and his younger sister, Rada, embarked on a journey to pursue a career in acting, driven by a shared passion. Ivan's educational background consisted of studying acting at the prestigious University at Trieste. Following his military service in Italy, he settled in Rome to dedicate himself to his craft. His career began with a series of small roles, one of which was under the guidance of the renowned director Mario Bava in the film Planet of Vampires.
Rassimov's striking features, including his strong, piercing eyes, often led to him being cast as villains. He took on various roles, playing Nazi soldiers, tough guys, and murder suspects. However, he also occasionally played good guys, which he found to be a refreshing change from his typical bad guy roles. His versatility as an actor was showcased in Mario Bava's last theatrical movie, Shock (1977),where he portrayed a police detective, an archaeologist, and even a psychiatrist.
Rassimov was frequently associated with the Italian cannibal films, acting alongside Me Me Lai in three of them, with Jungle Holocaust (1977) being one of his most notable roles. By 1987, Rassimov largely retired from acting and spent his later years living in a villa north of Rome with his wife and teenage daughter. He dedicated himself to a new career as the director of a publishing house for comic books and novels until his passing in 2003.
