Shaike Ofir

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Poster for the original release of The Policeman (1971) with an image of Shaike Ofir

Shaike Ofir (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.

Born in Jerusalem as Yishayahu Goldstein, Ofir acted in 28 films, wrote, directed and starred in several variety shows and was an accomplished mime, appearing alongside Marcel Marceau . 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. Ofir died of lung cancer; the Israeli Film Academy award is named the "Ofir prize" in his honor. Ofir was married twice and had two children, one from each spouse. His daughter, Karin Ofir, is also an actress.