Samardžić received six Golden Arenas at the Pula Film Festival, and numerous awards at Italian film festivals. As a director, his movies were awarded with the Grand Prix at Montpellier, the Public Award at Palm Springs, and Opera Prima at the Milan Film Festival. In August 1995, he received Life Achievement Award "Pavle Vujisić" for his roles in Yugoslav cinematography.
Samardžić was born in Skopje, the son of an impoverished coal miner born in Krivošije (in Montenegro) and a mother from Kosovo and Metohija. His parents met in Priština. He grew up in the village of Jelašnica near Niška Banja, where his father Dragoljub (d. 1948) also worked in the local mine. He finished gymnasium in Niš.
In the 1960s, he established himself as one of the most recognisable and popular stars of former Yugoslav cinema.
His acting talent was discovered very early and he won a scholarship with respected Director Bojan Stupica. Samardžić was educated at the Belgrade Academy of Arts. After graduation, he obtained a role in Igre na skelama (1961).
He was married to Mirjana Samardžić since 1966. Nicknamed Smoki, he was credited as Ljubisa Samardjic, Luba Samardy, Ljubisa Samardzic-Smoki, and Smoki Samardì. In the 1990s, he and his son, Dragan, founded a film production company. Despite the break-up of Yugoslavia and UN sanctions against Serbia, the company made many popular and commercial successful films.
Samardžić was a member of the Central Committee of Yugoslav Communist Party in late 1980s.
Samardžić received six Golden Arenas at the Pula Film Festival, and numerous awards at Italian film festivals. As a Director, his movies were awarded with the Grand Prix at Montpellier, the Public Award at Palm Springs, and Opera Prima at the Milan Film Festival. In August 1995, he received Life Achievement Award "Pavle Vujisić" for his roles in Yugoslav cinematography.
