By Valerie Milano
(The Hollywood Times) 8/18/25 – Dobrivoje Tanasijević, known to generations of Hollywood insiders simply as Dan Tana has passed away at the age of 90. Born on May 26, 1935, in Čibutkovica, in what was then Yugoslavia, Tana carved a remarkable path through life as a professional athlete, actor, and ultimately as the proprietor of one of Los Angeles’s most beloved culinary havens, Dan Tana’s in West Hollywood.
Tana embarked on his life’s journey as a promising soccer player in Europe and Canada before transitioning to the United States. Arriving in Hollywood in the late 1950s, he worked odd jobs—washing dishes at Villa Capri—while pursuing acting lessons with Jeff Corey. Tana soon landed a part in the 1957 film The Enemy Below, and also appeared in The Untouchables, Rin Tin Tin, and Peter Gun.
In 1964, Tana transformed Dominick’s hamburger stand into Dan Tana’s, located in a modest yellow bungalow on Santa Monica Boulevard. He crafted a New York-style Italian dining experience, complete with classic pasta, steaks, and a warm, unpretentious atmosphere. A lauded 1966 review in the Los Angeles Times helped elevate the restaurant to must-visit status, drawing Hollywood’s elite for decades to come.
Over its storied existence, Dan Tana’s became a legendary hangout, frequented by icons like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson, Jack Nicholson, John Wayne, Elton John, Dabney Coleman, and more. The nearby Troubadour music venue also helped seal its reputation—memorable hits like the Eagles’ “Lyin’ Eyes” and “Best of My Love” were penned right at Tana’s tables.
The restaurant’s legacy even extended to TV: the 1978 drama Vega$ modeled its main character, “Dan Tanna,” after him.
In 2009, Tana entrusted his restaurant to friend Sonja Perenčević (also referred to as Perencevic). She has faithfully preserved the restaurant’s charm and tradition ever since.
Dan Tana passed away on August 16, 2025, in Belgrade, Serbia, at the age of 90. In announcing his death, the restaurant’s social media tribute declared, “The great Dan Tana has passed on. … Our beloved little yellow house will forever feel his presence,” and concluded with: “This man is a legend, and as you know, a legend never dies”.
Dan Tana’s life was one of reinvention and enduring impact—from Yugoslavian soccer fields to Hollywood’s silver screen and, ultimately, to the heart of West Hollywood’s dining and celebrity culture. His creation, Dan Tana’s, stood not just as a restaurant, but as a living piece of Los Angeles history—one that will continue to resonate with those who passed through its doors.
