Aki Avni
Encyclopedia
Aki Avni is an Israeli actor
, entertainer and television host
. He appeared in the movie Free Zone with Natalie Portman
. He also played the character Mohsen in the second season of the television series 24.
He was married to Israeli model Sandy Bar
. They resided for several years in Los Angeles with their child. They separated after returning to Israel in 2008.
. While in school he began performing in various shows in his home town. When growing up he had a mediocre model
ing career, and afterward served in the Israeli Air Force
. Between 1987 to 1988 served in the army headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel Air Force, a salesman at the store. Released with the rank of Sergeant. Following his military service, he joined an entertainment
troupe at a hotel in Eilat, appeared in children's shows and commercials, and trained at Yoram Levinstein's acting studio. His breakthrough arrived when he was elected to be a co-host on Arutz 1's "Tossess" youth television program
. In 1992 he co-starred in the musical Lelackek T'toot (Licking the Strawberry), alongside Aviv Geffen
in Naarei Hachof (The Beach Boys) and played a young homosexual man in the film Chesed Mufla (Amazing Grace). In 1993 he appeared in the film Zarrim Balaila (Strangers in the Night).
In 1994, with the launching of Arutz 2, Avni began hosting the dating show Stutz (Fling) and the musical Pachot o Yoter (More or Less). In 1995 he hosted the Pre-Eurovision contest, participated in the film Shachkanim (Actors), in the musical Grease
, and starred in the play West Side Story alongside Noa Tishby
. Avni has worked steadily since then in both Israeli and American television and film.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, entertainer and television host
Master of Ceremonies
A Master of Ceremonies , or compere, is the host of a staged event or similar performance.An MC usually presents performers, speaks to the audience, and generally keeps the event moving....
. He appeared in the movie Free Zone with Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman
Natalie Hershlag , better known by her stage name Natalie Portman, is an actress with dual American and Israeli citizenship. Her first role was as an orphan taken in by a hitman in the 1994 French action film Léon, but major success came when she was cast as Padmé Amidala in the Star Wars prequel...
. He also played the character Mohsen in the second season of the television series 24.
He was married to Israeli model Sandy Bar
Sandy Bar
Sandy Bar is an Israeli actress and model.Bar was born in 1976 in Tel Aviv, Israel, to a mother of Yemenite Jewish background and a father with Moroccan-Jewish roots. She was "discovered" at the age of 17 by Adi Barkan, who became her first agent. Bar became a successful model in Israel, leading...
. They resided for several years in Los Angeles with their child. They separated after returning to Israel in 2008.
Biography
Avni was born and raised in RehovotRehovot
Rehovot is a city in the Center District of Israel, about south of Tel Aviv. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics , at the end of 2009 the city had a total population of 112,700. Rehovot's official website estimates the population at 114,000.Rehovot was built on the site of Doron,...
. While in school he began performing in various shows in his home town. When growing up he had a mediocre model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
ing career, and afterward served in the Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
. Between 1987 to 1988 served in the army headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel Air Force, a salesman at the store. Released with the rank of Sergeant. Following his military service, he joined an entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
troupe at a hotel in Eilat, appeared in children's shows and commercials, and trained at Yoram Levinstein's acting studio. His breakthrough arrived when he was elected to be a co-host on Arutz 1's "Tossess" youth television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
. In 1992 he co-starred in the musical Lelackek T'toot (Licking the Strawberry), alongside Aviv Geffen
Aviv Geffen
Aviv Geffen is an Israeli rock musician, singer, songwriter, producer, keyboardist and guitarist. He is the son of writer and poet Yehonatan Geffen and Nurit Makover, brother of actress Shira Geffen, and an alumnus of Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music.Geffen was and is extremely popular...
in Naarei Hachof (The Beach Boys) and played a young homosexual man in the film Chesed Mufla (Amazing Grace). In 1993 he appeared in the film Zarrim Balaila (Strangers in the Night).
In 1994, with the launching of Arutz 2, Avni began hosting the dating show Stutz (Fling) and the musical Pachot o Yoter (More or Less). In 1995 he hosted the Pre-Eurovision contest, participated in the film Shachkanim (Actors), in the musical Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
, and starred in the play West Side Story alongside Noa Tishby
Noa Tishby
Noa Tohar Tishby is an Israeli actress, producer, model and singer, currently residing in Los Angeles, California, in the United States.-Career:In her homeland of Israel, Noa Tishby’s name is well known...
. Avni has worked steadily since then in both Israeli and American television and film.