Ivanek was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia, then a part of Yugoslavia. He emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1960 when he was 3 years old; after a two-year stay, the family moved back to Slovenia for five years and then returned to the United States in 1967. Ivanek graduated from Yale University in 1978 and afterward attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
In 1982, Ivanek originated the role of Hally in Athol Fugard's play Master Harold...and the Boys. He has also appea