Alon Abutbul is an Israeli actor.

In 2005, he was voted the 158th-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet

Ynet

Ynet is the most popular Israeli news and general content website. It is owned by the same conglomerate that operates Yediot Ahronot, the country's secondleading daily newspaper...

to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis.

Biography

Abutbul was born in Kiryat Ata to an Egyptian

History of the Jews in Egypt

Egyptian Jews constitute both one of the oldest and youngest Jewish communities in the world. While no exact census exists, the Jewish population of Egypt was estimated at fewer than a hundred in 2004, down from between 75,000 and 80,000 in 1922. The historic core of the indigenous community...

-Algerian Jewish

History of the Jews in Algeria

History of the Jews in Algeria refers to the history of the Jewish community of Algeria, which goes back to the 1st centuries CE. In the 14th century, many Spanish Jews moved to Algeria...

 family. He attended the Thelma Yellin High School of Arts in Givatayim.

Cinematic career

1980s
After graduating from the Thelma Yellin High School in 1983 Abutbul played in the Israeli film "Hapnimiyah". In 1985 Abutbul starred in the film "51 Bar" alongside Mosko Alkalai

Mosko Alkalai

Mosko Alkalai was an Israeli stage and film actor. He was best known a for a string of hits including Blaumilch Canal, The Fox in the Chicken Coop and Yana's Friends.-Career:...

 and Smadar Kilchinsky, and took part in the Israeli film "Battle of the Chairmanship" in which he played alongside the popular Israeli comedy group HaGashash HaHiver

HaGashash HaHiver

HaGashash HaHiver |Tracker]]) were an Israeli comedy group. Often called HaGashashim , they are considered a classic of Israeli entertainment and the most influential comedy act in the history of Israel.The three members of the Gashash were:...

. In 1986 Abutbul played in the film "Malkat Hakitah".

Abutbul's first role in a big popular film was in 1986 when he was cast in the Israeli film "Shtei Etzbaot Mi'Tzidon" ("Two Fingers from Sidon"), a film which took place in the 1982 Lebanon War

1982 Lebanon War

The 1982 Lebanon War , , called Operation Peace for Galilee by Israel, and later known in Israel as the Lebanon War and First Lebanon War, began on 6 June 1982, when the Israel Defense Forces invaded southern Lebanon...

. For his performance in this film Abutbul was later awarded the "Best Actor" award at the Jerusalem Film Festival. That year he also played in the American-Israeli co-production "Every Time We Say Goodbye

Every Time We Say Goodbye (film)

Every Time We Say Goodbye is a 1986 film starring Tom Hanks and Cristina Marsillach. Hanks plays a gentile American in the Royal Air Force, stationed in Jerusalem, who falls in love with a girl from a Sephardic Jewish family....

" in which he played alongside Gila Almagor

Gila Almagor

Gila Almagor is an Israeli actress, film star, and author.-Biography:Gila Almagor was born four months after the death of her father, Max Alexandrowitz, a Jewish immigrant from Germany who was killed by an Arab sniper while working as a policeman in Haifa...

. In 1987 Abutbul played in the Israeli "Photo Roman". A year later, Abutbul played in the Israeli film "Makom L'Yad Hayam" alongside Anat Tzachor and in the American film "Rambo 3" alongside Sylvester Stallone

Sylvester Stallone

Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...

.

In 1989, after playing in a short film called "Ha-Kluv" and in the Israeli-American coproduction "Streets of Yesterday", Abutbul played in the Israeli film "Ehad Mishelanu" ("One of Us"), alongside Dan Toren and Sharon Alexander. For his performance in the film Abutbul wasn awarded the "Best Actor" award in the Jerusalem Film Festival

Jerusalem Film Festival

The Jerusalem Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in Jerusalem, Israel. The festival was the brainchild of Lia van Leer, who inaugurated it on May 17, 1984...

.

1990s
In 1991, Abutbul played in the American film "Killing Streets". A year later, in 1992, Abutbul starred in the Israeli film "Roked Al Hahof". In 1993 Abutbul played in the Israeli film "Ha-Yerusha" alongside Avi Toledano

Avi Toledano

Born in Meknes in Morocco April 4, 1948, Avraham Toledano is known to European audiences for his involvement with the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1982 he represented Israel in Harrogate, UK with the uptempo revivalist number Hora...

. In 1993 Abutbul played in the direct to video American action film

Action film

Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...

 "Deadly Heroes

Deadly Heroes

Deadly Heroes is a direct to video 1993 action film starring Michael Paré, Jan-Michael Vincent and Billy Drago. Directed by Menahem Golan, Deadly Heroes is notable for being one of the last films released under Golan's 21st Century Film Corporation banner. The company went bankrupt shortly thereafter...

" directed by Menahem Golan

Menahem Golan

Menahem Golan is an Israeli director and producer. He has produced movies for such stars as Sean Connery, Sylvester Stallone, Chuck Norris, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Charles Bronson, and was known for a period as a producer of comic book-style movies like Masters of the Universe, Superman IV:...

 in which he played alongside Uri Gavriel

Uri Gavriel

Uri Gavriel is an Israeli actor. He works in Israeli cinema. He has won Award of the Israeli Film Academy and Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2005 as Best Actor in film "What a Wonderful Place".-Film and television credits:-External links:...

.

In 1995, Abutbul produced Gur Bentwich's film "Ha-Kochav Hakachol" in which he played the leading role. In 1995 Abutbul played in the Israeli film "Leylasede" alongside Gila Almagor

Gila Almagor

Gila Almagor is an Israeli actress, film star, and author.-Biography:Gila Almagor was born four months after the death of her father, Max Alexandrowitz, a Jewish immigrant from Germany who was killed by an Arab sniper while working as a policeman in Haifa...

 and Anat Waxman, and also played in the Israeli film "Ha-Khetzi HaSheni" alongside Orna Banai

Orna Banai

Orna Banai is an Israeli actress, comedian and entertainer.Banai was born in Beersheba, Israel. Her father was a local judge, and her mother was an education executive for the City of Beer Sheva. Many of her relatives are successful Israeli actors and singers. The next generation of the Banai...

. In 1998 Abutbul played in the Israeli TV film "Mazal dagim" and the Israeli film "Gentila." In 1999 he participated in the Israeli film "Ahava Mimabat Sheni".

2000s
In 2000, Abutbul won the "Film actor of the decade" award at the Haifa International Film Festival.

In 2001, Abutbul played in the film "The Order

The Order (2001 film)

The Order is a 2001 20M action thriller film about a religious order, written by Jean-Claude Van Damme and Les Weldon and directed by Sheldon Lettich and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. The cast also includes Sofia Milos, Brian Thompson, Ben Cross, Vernon Dobtcheff and Charlton Heston...

" alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme

Jean-Claude Van Damme

Jean-Claude Camille François Van Varenberg , professionally known as Jean-Claude Van Damme, is a Belgian martial artist and actor, best known for his martial arts action films, the most successful of which include Bloodsport , Kickboxer , Double Impact , Universal Soldier , Hard Target , Timecop ,...

 and Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston

Charlton Heston was an American actor of film, theatre and television. Heston is known for heroic roles in films such as The Ten Commandments, Ben-Hur for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, El Cid, and Planet of the Apes...

 among others. That same year he participated in the Isralei films "Mars Turkey" and "A Five Minutes Walk".

In 2003, Abutbul played in the Israeli film "Nina's Tragedies

Nina's Tragedies

Nina’s Tragedies is a 2003 Israeli dramedy film directed by Savi Gavison and starring Ayelet Zurer, Yoram Hattab, Alon Abutbul, Shmil Ben Ari, and Anat Waxman. It won 11 Ophir Awards.-Plot summary:...

" alongside Ayelet Zurer

Ayelet Zurer

Ayelet Zorer is an Israeli actress, perhaps best known for her roles in Nina’s Tragedies, Adam Resurrected, Munich, and Angels & Demons....

 and Yoram Hatab. For his role in this film Abutbul later won an Ophir Award for the Best Supporting Actor.

In 2005, Abutbul played alongside Moni Moshonov

Moni Moshonov

-Biography:Shlomo Moshonov was born in Sofia, Bulgaria in 1951. He immigrated to Israel with his family at the age of four.His father, Moshe, who studied law in Sofia, sold textiles in the Ramla market. Moshonov grew up in Ramla. He did his military service in an IDF entertainment troupe...

 and Yuval Segal in the Israeli film "Dance", and participated in the American film "Munich

Munich (film)

Munich is a 2005 historical fiction film about the Israeli government's secret retaliation attacks after the massacre of Israeli athletes by the Black September terrorist group during the 1972 Summer Olympics. The film stars Eric Bana and was produced and directed by Steven Spielberg...

" directed by Steven Spielberg. In 2006 Abutbul played in the award-winning Israeli film "Beaufort

Beaufort (film)

Beaufort is a 2007 Israeli war film. The film was directed by Joseph Cedar and was co-written by Cedar and Ron Leshem, based on Leshem's If there's a Heaven...

" directed by Joseph Cedar

Joseph Cedar

Yossef Cedar is an Israeli film director and screenwriter. He has won a Silver Bear and an Ophir Award for Best Director, and an Ophir Award for writing a Best Screenplay. He also won the best screenplay award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. for his film Footnote .-Biography:Cedar was born in...

. In 2007 Abutbul played alongside Mili Avital

Mili Avital

Mili Avital is an Israeli actress. Avital built a successful stage and film career in Israel, winning the Israeli Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1992 and nominated for Best Actress in 1994.-Personal life:...

 and Anat Waxman in the film "Noodle

Noodle (film)

Noodle is an award-winning 2007 Israeli film directed by Ayelet Menahemi, written by Shemi Zarhin and Ayelet Menahemi, and starring Mili Avital, Chen Baoqi, and Alon Aboutboul.-Plot:...

" directed by Ayelet Menahemi

Ayelet Menahemi

Ayelet Menahemi is an award-winning Israeli film director, producer, writer, editor, and actor.-Life and Works:Menahemi was born in Tel Aviv in 1963...

 and starred in the Israeli film "Rak Klavim Ratzim Hofshi" alongside Lior Ashkenazi

Lior Ashkenazi

Lior Ashkenazi , is an award-winning Israeli screen and stage actor.- Biography :Lior Ashkenazi was born to Sephardi Jewish immigrants from Turkey who moved to Israel in 1964. He grew up in the Neveh Yehoshua neighborhood in Ramat Gan. His father, Shmuel, worked as a printer. His mother, Victoria,...

, Ayelet Zurer

Ayelet Zurer

Ayelet Zorer is an Israeli actress, perhaps best known for her roles in Nina’s Tragedies, Adam Resurrected, Munich, and Angels & Demons....

 and Assi Dayan

Assi Dayan

Asaf "Assi" Dayan is an Israeli film director, actor, screenwriter and producer.-Personal life:Assi Dayan is the youngest son of Israeli general and minister of defence Moshe Dayan and peace activist Ruth Dayan . He has two siblings: politician and author Yael Dayan, born 1939, and sculptor Ehud ...

.

In 2008, Abutbul played in the Israeli film "Shiva

Shiva (2008 film)

Shiva is a 2008 Israeli drama film, also known by its English title as 7 Days, by Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz. It is the second feature to be directed by the siblings, following 2004's To Take a Wife.-Plot:...

", and in the American film "Body of Lies

Body of Lies (film)

Body of Lies is a 2008 American spy film directed by Ridley Scott. Set in the Middle East, it follows the attempts of the CIA and Jordanian Intelligence to catch "al-Saleem", a fictional jihadist terrorist...

" directed by Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott

Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...

 in which he played alongside Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor and film producer. He has received many awards, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance in The Aviator , and has been nominated by the Academy Awards, Screen Actors Guild and the British Academy of Film and Television...

 and Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe

Russell Ira Crowe is a New Zealander Australian actor , film producer and musician. He came to international attention for his role as Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius in the 2000 historical epic film Gladiator, directed by Ridley Scott, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Actor, a...

. In 2009 Abutbul starred in Yigal Burstein's film "Hand of God" alongside Moshe Ivgy and Dorit Bar-Or. In July 2008 Abutbul and Moshe Ivgy were awarded the Best Actor Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival for their roles in this film.

2010s
In 2012, Abutbul will appear in The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises is an upcoming epic superhero film. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film will be the third and final installment in Nolan's Batman film series, and is a sequel to Batman Begins and The Dark Knight...

as a character currently known just as "mad scientist". The Dark Knight Rises is expected to hit theaters in North America on 20 July 2012.

Theater

Throughout the years, Abutbul played many theater shows, mostly in the Habima Theatre, which included among others: "Hamlet", "Caviar and Lentils", "Blood Brothers", "Closer" and "Forgiveness".

Abutbul also played in the Haifa Theater in various playes which included among others "King Lear", "Andorra", "Yair" and "Ben-Shitrit's Baby".

TV

In 1997, Abutbul played alongside the Israeli actress Tinker Bell and Sivan Shavit in the Israeli drama "A Speck on the Eyelash". In 1998 Abutbul played in the Israeli drama series "Campaign". That same year he starred alongside Rivka Michaeli

Rivka Michaeli

Rivka Michaeli is an Israeli actress, comedienne, television hostess, and entertainer.-Career:By age 14, she was singing on Israel Radio. Michaeli performed her military duties at the Army Radio. In the 1960s, her first show on stage was with Yossi Banai...

 in the Israeli TV film "Im Hukim". Since 1999 Abutbul began playing in the award-winning Israel drama series "Shabatot VeHagim", alongside Dror Keren, Merav Gruber, Lior Ashkenazi

Lior Ashkenazi

Lior Ashkenazi , is an award-winning Israeli screen and stage actor.- Biography :Lior Ashkenazi was born to Sephardi Jewish immigrants from Turkey who moved to Israel in 1964. He grew up in the Neveh Yehoshua neighborhood in Ramat Gan. His father, Shmuel, worked as a printer. His mother, Victoria,...

 and Yael Abecassis

Yael Abecassis

Yael Abecassis is an Israeli actress and model. She married Israeli actor Lior Miller in 1996 and has one child. They divorced in 2003. Abecassis is the daughter of Raymonde Abecassis, a Moroccan-born Israeli actress.- Career:...

. The series lasted five seasons until 2004. Abutbul also directed one episode of the series.

In 2004, Abutbul participated in the Israeli TV movie "Egoz". In 2005 Abutbul played alongside Yigal Adika in the Israeli drama series "Melanoma My Love" which aired on the Israeli Channel 2. In 2006 Abutbul starred alongside Maya Dagan and Orna Banai

Orna Banai

Orna Banai is an Israeli actress, comedian and entertainer.Banai was born in Beersheba, Israel. Her father was a local judge, and her mother was an education executive for the City of Beer Sheva. Many of her relatives are successful Israeli actors and singers. The next generation of the Banai...

 in the Israeli Drama series "Ima'le" which was broadcast on the Israeli channel 2.

In 2007, Abutbul participated in the third season the reality show "Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the Stars

Dancing with the Stars is the name of several international television series based on the format of the British TV series Strictly Come Dancing, which is distributed by BBC Worldwide – the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the format has been licensed to over 35 countries...

" which was broadcast on the Israeli Channel 2 and in addition to that he played in the Israeli drama series "Lost and Found". In 2009 Abutbul participated in the third season of the Israeli telenovela "Ha-Alufa".

In 2010, Abutbul made guest appearances in several American television series, including NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Fringe

Fringe (TV series)

Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...

, The Mentalist

The Mentalist

The Mentalist is an American police procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008, on CBS. The show was created by Bruno Heller, who is also the show's executive producer...

 and Castle

Castle (TV series)

Castle is an American comedy-drama television series, which premiered on ABC on March 9, 2009. The series is produced by Beacon Pictures and ABC Studios. On January 10, 2011, Castle was renewed for a fourth season...

.

Private life

Today Abutbul lives in the United States and is the partner of director Shir Bilya with whom he has four children.

Abutbul is known for his social and political involvement: During the 2006 elections Abutbul supported the Israeli Labor Party. During that time he wrote a special column in the Israeli web portal Walla! and the popular Israeli news website Ynet

Ynet

Ynet is the most popular Israeli news and general content website. It is owned by the same conglomerate that operates Yediot Ahronot, the country's secondleading daily newspaper...

 and in addition he composed a special song which dealt with corruption in the Israeli society and the leadership.

Filmography

• The Dark Knight Rises
  The Dark Knight Rises
  The Dark Knight Rises is an upcoming epic superhero film. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film will be the third and final installment in Nolan's Batman film series, and is a sequel to Batman Begins and The Dark Knight...
  
  (2012)
• Body of Lies
  Body of Lies (film)
  Body of Lies is a 2008 American spy film directed by Ridley Scott. Set in the Middle East, it follows the attempts of the CIA and Jordanian Intelligence to catch "al-Saleem", a fictional jihadist terrorist...
  
  (2008)
• Out of the Blue (2008)
• Shiva
  Shiva (2008 film)
  Shiva is a 2008 Israeli drama film, also known by its English title as 7 Days, by Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz. It is the second feature to be directed by the siblings, following 2004's To Take a Wife.-Plot:...
  
  (2008)
• Rak Klavim Ratzim Hofshi (2007)
• Noodle
  Noodle (film)
  Noodle is an award-winning 2007 Israeli film directed by Ayelet Menahemi, written by Shemi Zarhin and Ayelet Menahemi, and starring Mili Avital, Chen Baoqi, and Alon Aboutboul.-Plot:...
  
  (2007)
• Beaufort
  Beaufort (film)
  Beaufort is a 2007 Israeli war film. The film was directed by Joseph Cedar and was co-written by Cedar and Ron Leshem, based on Leshem's If there's a Heaven...
  
  (2007)
• The Belly Dancer (2006)
• Munich
  Munich (film)
  Munich is a 2005 historical fiction film about the Israeli government's secret retaliation attacks after the massacre of Israeli athletes by the Black September terrorist group during the 1972 Summer Olympics. The film stars Eric Bana and was produced and directed by Steven Spielberg...
  
  (2005)
• Nina's Tragedies
  Nina's Tragedies
  Nina’s Tragedies is a 2003 Israeli dramedy film directed by Savi Gavison and starring Ayelet Zurer, Yoram Hattab, Alon Abutbul, Shmil Ben Ari, and Anat Waxman. It won 11 Ophir Awards.-Plot summary:...
  
  (2003)
• The Order
  The Order (2001 film)
  The Order is a 2001 20M action thriller film about a religious order, written by Jean-Claude Van Damme and Les Weldon and directed by Sheldon Lettich and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. The cast also includes Sofia Milos, Brian Thompson, Ben Cross, Vernon Dobtcheff and Charlton Heston...
  
  (2001)
• A Five Minutes Walk (2001)
• Mars Turkey (2001)
• Ahava Mimabat Sheni (1999)
• Egoz (1999)
• Gentila (1998)
• Mazal dagim (1998)
• Im Hukim (1998)
• Itha L'Netza (1997)
• A Speck on the Eyelash (1997)
• Campaign (1997)
• Marco Polo: The Missing Chapter (1996)
• Ha-Khetzi HaSheni (1996)
• Leylasede (1995)
• Wasserman – Der singende Hund (1995)
• Ha-Kochav Hakachol (1995)
• Deadly Heroes (1993)
• Ha-Yerusha (1993)
• Roked Al Hahof (1992)
• Killing Streets (1991)
• Streets of Yesterday (1989)
• Ha-Kluv (1989)
• Ehad Mishelanu (1989)
• Rambo III
  Rambo III
  Rambo III is an American Action film released on May 25, 1988. It is the third film in the Rambo series following First Blood and Rambo: First Blood Part II...
  
  (1988)
• Makom L'Yad Hayam (1988)
• Photo Roman (1987)
• Every Time We Say Goodbye
  Every Time We Say Goodbye (film)
  Every Time We Say Goodbye is a 1986 film starring Tom Hanks and Cristina Marsillach. Hanks plays a gentile American in the Royal Air Force, stationed in Jerusalem, who falls in love with a girl from a Sephardic Jewish family....
  
  (1986)
• Shtei Etzbaot Mi'Tzidon (1986)
• Ha-Krav Al HaVa'ad (1986)
• Kol Ahuvatai (1986)
• Malkat Hakitah (1986)
• 51 Bar (1985)
• Hapnimiyah (1983)
• Kohav Hashahar (1980)

External links