Shaike Ophir and actress Ziva Rodan, 1951

Shaike Ophir (November 4, 1929 - August 17, 1987) (Hebrew: שייקה אופיר) was an Israeli film actor, mime and comedian, considered one of the most important entertainers in Israel from the fifties up to the eighties. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Year 1929 ( MCMXXIX) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 986 - A Byzantine army was destroyed in the pass of Trajan's Gate by the Bulgarians under the Comitopuli Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar)

Born Yishayahu Goldstein into a family that traced its roots in Jerusalem to the mid 19th Century, he studied acting as an adolescent, but left school in the 1940s to join the Palmach. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar The Palmach ( Hebrew: פלמ"ח an acronym for Plugot Maḥatz (Hebrew פלוגות מחץ Strike Companies) was the regular fighting force During Israel’s War of Independence he escorted convoys to the besieged city of Jerusalem, and took part in naval battles.

His comic skills greatly impressed the entertainment community, and Ophir was accepted to the Cheezbatron, the Palmach's equivalent of the USO. "USO" redirects here for other uses see USO (disambiguation The United Service Organizations Inc

In the 1950s, he made a name for himself as an all-around performer who was just as talented at acting as he was at being a mime or a comedian. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive He had even recorded a few hit songs during this period.

During the late 1950s and early 1960s Ophir occasionally guest-starred in American TV shows such as Shirley Temple's Storybook and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 In 1958-61 Shirley Temple made a brief return to show business with a one-hour children's television series Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an Anthology Television series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. Ophir acted in 28 films, wrote, directed and starred in several variety shows and was an accomplished mime, appearing alongside Marcel Marceau. Marcel Marceau (born Marcel Mangel) ( 22 March 1923 &ndash 22 September 2007) was a well-known French Mime artist He reached the peak of his international fame in the title role of Ha-Shoter Azoulay (literally, Policeman Azoulay, translated as The Policeman), a film-vehicle by Ephraim Kishon which won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign-Language Film (1972) and was nominated for a Best Foreign Language Academy Award the same year. The Policeman is the international release title of a 1971 Israeli feature movie written and directed by satirist Ephraim Kishon. ( אפרים קישון, August 23, 1924 &ndash January 29, 2005) was an Israeli Writer, satirist The Golden Globe Awards are American awards for motion pictures and Television programs given out each year during a formal dinner "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. He also starred in other Ephraim Kishon films, including Ervinka, Blaumilch Canal and The Fox in the Chicken Coop. ' Ervinka' is a 1967 Israeli film written and directed by Ephraim Kishon. Blaumilch Canal (international release title The Big Dig) a 1969 Israeli comedy directed by Ephraim Kishon, which depicts the madness of bureaucracy through a municipality’s Based on Ephraim Kishon ’s satirical book by the same name The Fox in the Chicken Coop (Hebrew Ha Shu'al B'Lool Hatarnagalot) is a 1978 Israeli

In 1985 Ophir starred in a stage adaptation of Janusz Korczak's children's novel King Matt the First, where he played seven different roles. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Janusz Korczak, the Pen name of Henryk Goldszmit ( July 22, 1877 &ndash August 1942) was a Polish-Jewish children's The children's play was very successful and ran for three years. Over this period Ophir became ill with lung cancer and eventually died from it in 1987.

The Israeli Film Academy award is named the "Ophir prize" in his honor. The Israeli Film Academy Awards Ceremony (also Ophir Academy awards ceremony) named after Shaike Ophir is Israel 's official film awards ceremony Ophir was married twice and had two children, one from each spouse. His daughter, Karin Ophir, is also an actress.

Ophir was a theatrical director for HaGashash HaHiver. HaGashash HaHiver (הגשש החיוור lit The Pale Tracker) were an Israeli comedy group He also directed the Israeli movie Hamesh Ma'ot Elef Shahor, and wrote the screenplay for 4 Israeli movies. He wrote and performed many sketches and comedy routines, many of which are still popular in Israel today. He also did a series of Arabic-instruction TV programs that ran through the 1980s.

External links

• Shaike Ophir at The Internet Movie Database