| Yehuda Barkan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Yehuda Ezekiel Berkowitz March 29, 1945 Netanya, Israel |
| Years active | 1967–2000 |
Yehuda Barkan (Hebrew: יהודה ברקן; born March 29, 1945) is an Israeli actor, film producer, film director and screenwriter.
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Barkan was born in Netanya and was initially named Yehuda Ezekiel Berkowitz. In his childhood Barkan studied at the Bialik and ORT in schools in Netanya. During his military service in the IDF Barkan served in a Combat Engineering Corps unit and in a the Northern Command Military band.
After his military service Barkan joined the Band "The Dizengoff Command Band" (להקת פיקוד דיזנגוף), a band which was based on the characteristics of an Israeli military band, which was composed of veteran members of military bands whom performed songs and skits.
In the early seventies, Barkan participated in a sketch on the successful Israeli radio show "Hamim VeTaim" (חמים וטעים) in which Barkan (as well as Moshe Timor, Shlomo Bar-Aba and others) made live prank calls. Further ahead in his career Barkan based his practical jokes films on this sketch.
During the 1970s and 1980s Barkan participated in many Israeli "Bourekas films", among them "Lupo!", "Lupo in New York", "Katz V'Carasso", "Charlie Ve'hetzi", "Hagiga B'Snuker","Bo Nefotzetz Million" and more. Other films he appeared in during that time include among others: "Malkat Hakvish" (1971) where he played alongside Gila Almagor, in Menachem Golan's film "Attack at Dawn" (1970) and in the film adaptation of the novel "He Walked Through the Fields" (1967) where he played alongside Assi Dayan.
During the 1980s Barkan began to direct and produce films, including the candid camera film "Hayeh Ahaltah Otah" (which he directed together with Yigal Shilon), "Nipagesh Bachof", "Nipagesh Basivuv", "Matzlema Bli Busha" and "Geveret Tiftehi, Ze Ani"). Also during the eighties Barkan produced and directed films comic drama films, most notably the "Abba Ganuv" film series and the film "Neshika Bametzach" released in 1990 where he played alongside Michal Yanai.
In 1993 Barkan filed for bankruptcy due to the debts he accumulated after the failure of his 1993 film "Mehapeset Baal Al Arba".
In 1994, shortly after the start of Israeli commercial television channel Channel 2 began its broadcasting, Barkan started hosting his own practical jokes show called "Lo Dofkim Cheshbon". The show was cancelled shortly after.
In 1999 Barkan participated in two last films: "Look into my eyes" and "Volcano Junction", in which he played small supporting roles.
At the beginning of the 2000s Barkan gradually became closer to religion and eventually became a Baal Tshuva, embracing Orthodox Judaism. As a result Barkan became a Haredi Orthodox Jew and abandoned the secular Israeli film industry in order to realize his religious aspirations. After becoming a Baal Tshuva Barkan produced several films for the Israeli ultra-Orthodox population which distributed for home viewing only within the ultra-Orthodox community.
In 2003 Barkan part in the documentary film "Zehirut Matzlema" along with Nurit Geffen and Josie Katz.
In 2004 Barkan played in the drama series "Ahava BaShalechet" along with Leah Koenig.
In November 2008 Barkan was arrested by the Israeli Tax Authority on suspicion for tax evasion.[1]
In 1975 Barkan got married. From his first marriage Barkan had three children. During the 1980s Barkan married again.
At the beginning of the 2000s Barkan became a Baal Tshuva, got married for the third time and moved to the religious moshav Beit Gamliel with his family. From his first marriage Barkan has four children.[2]