Born in Split to the family of a carpenter, Dvornik discovered acting talent at an early age, while performing in children's plays.

He studied at the National Acting School in Novi Sad and later enrolled at the Academy of Dramatic Art at the University of Zagreb.

This established Dvornik as a big star of former Yugoslav cinema, comparable to Ljubiša Samardžić, Milena Dravić and Bata Živojinović; with latter he later developed a close friendship.

[1] In the 1980s, after receiving acclaim as of one of the most renowned and prolific actors of the former Yugoslavia, Dvornik mostly worked with the Croatian National Theatre in his native city of Split.

In more recent years, his career was affected by aftermath of a stroke and alcohol abuse, which manifested in a series of incidents, the most notorious being assault on a poll observer during the 2005 presidential election.