Assi Cohen
Encyclopedia
Asi Cohen is an Israeli comedian
and actor
. He is best known for his appearances in the feature film Colombian Love (alongside Mili Avital
), as well as for television performances in Love Hurts
(alongside Dana Modan), "Rak BeYsrael" with his comedy duo of "Asi and Guri", his role in Mesudarim
(US title Loaded), and for his part in Eretz Nehederet
, where he has impersonated Avigdor Lieberman, Raleb Majadele
, and Uri Geller
among others.
In a Ynet
poll conducted in May 2008, Asi Cohen was selected by respondents as the funniest Israeli for the second year in a row. He currently resides in Tel Aviv
and is married with two daughters.
From 1999 onward he worked as a comedian and joined the TV show Domino, which aired on the commercial Channel 2
in Israel. The show, a follow-up to the highly successful Platfus, was a second television production from the Domino Gross. Participants (such as Adir Miller
, Rotem Aboav, Roi Bar-Natan and Guri Alfi) were comedians who appeared regularly at the club. Asi Cohen and Guri Alfi continued to tour the country as "Asi and Guri". They created, among others, favourite characters such as David (Cohen) and Tikva (Alfi), a disgruntled married couple, and Coco (Cohen) and Steve (Alfi), a singer and keyboard player duo singing satirical songs inspired by Mizrahi music.
In 2001, alongside his duo performances, Asi played in the TV drama Star Shining above the Heart alongside Dana Ivgi, Irit Sheleg, and Ilana Berkowitz.
In 2002 he joined the show "Rak BeYsrael" (Channel 2) alongside Guri Alfi as side-kicks to main characters "Limor" (Orna Banai
) and "Shimon" (Erez Tal
). That same year, he and Guri Alfi created a comedy show called "Shidurei Hamahapeha" (Channel 2) and participated in the controversial film Yossi & Jagger
, which portrayed a homosexual relationship between a soldier (played by Yehuda Levi
) and his commander (Ohad Knoller
). He later participated in the comedy show "We Won't Stop Laughing" alongside Guri Alfi, Rotem Aboav, Eli Finish
, and Mariano Idelman
.
In 2003 he acted in the film Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi
(Also: Ha-Kochavim Shel Shlomi). The same year he and Alfi broke up their comedy duo and Cohen married Lian Friedman.
In 2004 Cohen returned to television in the comedy show Eifo Ata Chai?! alongside Erez Tal, Shlomo Baraba, and Hadar Levi. He played several characters such as Coco the Mizrahi singer, and Himri the healer. That year he also starred in the film Colombian Love (with Mili Avital
, Menashe Noi and others) as a newly-married husband whose father insists he divorce his bride. Also in 2004, Cohen played alongside Dana Modan in the Israeli Emmy Award-winning television drama, Love Hurts .
In 2005 he participated in the Steven Spielberg
feature film Munich
, dealing with the Israeli government's secret retaliation after the 1972 Munich massacre
of Israeli Olympic athletes. The film featured actors Eric Bana
, Daniel Craig
, and Geoffrey Rush
as well as Israeli actors like Ayelet Zurer
and Gila Almagor
. That same year he started his participation in the Emmy Award and Golden Screen award-winning television show "Eretz Nehederet" (Hebrew:
, lit. Wonderful Country), a satirical comedy with references to current affairs and parodies of the people involved. Among his characters on the show, Cohen impersonated Illusionist Uri Geller
, Football player Avi Nimni
, Right-wing politician Avigdor Lieberman, and Arab Knesset
member and minister Raleb Majadele
. Cohen also participated that year in a short film titled "Halev HaRaev" and hosted a show about What Makes an Israeli for Keshet
's 57th Israeli Independence special, an 8-clip show portraying Israeli behaviors such as "wiping" humus to eat it, feeling a bread before purchasing it, drinking of "Mud" coffee, and others.
In 2007 he participated in the entertainment television show "Mesudarim
" (Channel 2) , where four childhood friends sell their gaming startup company for USD$217 million, and have to deal with their newfound wealth. Chapter 9 of the show contained the first crossover
in Israeli television, with the drama "BeTipul
" (lit. "In Treatment
"), which was later purchased by HBO; BeTipul's psychologist, played by Asi Dayan, is asked to analyze the group. The format of Mesudarim was purchased by Fox Entertainment Group
and shown in the US as "Loaded".
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He is best known for his appearances in the feature film Colombian Love (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:...
), as well as for television performances in Love Hurts
Love Hurts
"Love Hurts" is the name of a song, written and composed by Boudleaux Bryant. First recorded by The Everly Brothers in July 1960, the song is also well known from a 1975 international hit version by the rock band Nazareth and in the UK by a top 5 hit in 1975 by Jim Capaldi.The song was introduced...
(alongside Dana Modan), "Rak BeYsrael" with his comedy duo of "Asi and Guri", his role in Mesudarim
Mesudarim
Mesudarim is an Israeli sitcom broadcasting in Keshet, Channel 2....
(US title Loaded), and for his part in Eretz Nehederet
Eretz Nehederet
Eretz Nehederet is a satirical Israeli television show, which made its debut on November 7, 2003. It features satirical references to current affairs of the past week through parodies of the people involved, as well as the thoughts of recurring characters. The program is one of the most watched...
, where he has impersonated Avigdor Lieberman, Raleb Majadele
Raleb Majadele
Ghaleb Majadele is an Israeli Arab politician. A member of the Knesset for the Labor Party, he became the country's first Muslim minister when appointed Minister without Portfolio on 28 January 2007.-Biography:...
, and Uri Geller
Uri Geller
Uri Geller is a self-proclaimed psychic known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other supposed psychic effects. Throughout the years, Geller has been accused of using simple conjuring tricks to achieve the effects of psychokinesis and telepathy...
among others.
In a 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...
poll conducted in May 2008, Asi Cohen was selected by respondents as the funniest Israeli for the second year in a row. He currently resides in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
and is married with two daughters.
Biography
Cohen was raised and educated in the coastal city of Ashdod. During his military service he was an actor for the Israel Defense Forces' theatre, members of which are soldiers on active duty. Following his military service he worked as a stand up comic at the Domino Gross club in Tel Aviv, where he partnered with fellow comedian Guri Alfi to create the comedy duo of "Asi and Guri".From 1999 onward he worked as a comedian and joined the TV show Domino, which aired on the commercial Channel 2
Channel 2 (Israel)
Channel 2 is an Israeli commercial television channel.- History :In 1990, after 13 years of deliberations, the Knesset passed a law that paved the way for the establishment of commercial television in Israel. The goal was to enhance pluralism and create competition. Channel 2 began broadcasting on...
in Israel. The show, a follow-up to the highly successful Platfus, was a second television production from the Domino Gross. Participants (such as Adir Miller
Adir Miller
Adir Miller is an Israeli actor and comedian.Miller is married and has two daughters.- Standup career and TV career :Miller's professional career started in 1999, when he appeared in a stand-up comedy series called Domino, alongside Asi Cohen and Guri Alfi, among others...
, Rotem Aboav, Roi Bar-Natan and Guri Alfi) were comedians who appeared regularly at the club. Asi Cohen and Guri Alfi continued to tour the country as "Asi and Guri". They created, among others, favourite characters such as David (Cohen) and Tikva (Alfi), a disgruntled married couple, and Coco (Cohen) and Steve (Alfi), a singer and keyboard player duo singing satirical songs inspired by Mizrahi music.
In 2001, alongside his duo performances, Asi played in the TV drama Star Shining above the Heart alongside Dana Ivgi, Irit Sheleg, and Ilana Berkowitz.
In 2002 he joined the show "Rak BeYsrael" (Channel 2) alongside Guri Alfi as side-kicks to main characters "Limor" (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...
) and "Shimon" (Erez Tal
Erez Tal
Erez Tal is an Israeli broadcasting personality.-Biography:His first hit program was "Ma Yesh" , broadcast on Galatz, Israel's Army radio, where he started his partnership with Avri Gilad....
). That same year, he and Guri Alfi created a comedy show called "Shidurei Hamahapeha" (Channel 2) and participated in the controversial film Yossi & Jagger
Yossi & Jagger
Yossi & Jagger is a 2002 Israeli romantic drama film directed by Eytan Fox about soldiers at the Israel – Lebanon border who try to find some peace and solace from the daily routine of war.-Plot:...
, which portrayed a homosexual relationship between a soldier (played by Yehuda Levi
Yehuda Levi
Yehuda Levi is an Israeli actor and male model. He was born and now lives in Tel Aviv, but spent much of his childhood in South Africa. He attended the "Thelma Yellin" High school, and graduated with excellence. His noticeable breakthrough was in the TV series "Lechayey Ha'ahava" .He is an...
) and his commander (Ohad Knoller
Ohad Knoller
Ohad Knoller is an Israeli actor.Ohad Knoller is the son of journalist Judith Knoller. He is married to actress Noa Raba-Knoller with whom he has a son....
). He later participated in the comedy show "We Won't Stop Laughing" alongside Guri Alfi, Rotem Aboav, Eli Finish
Eli Finish
Eli Finish is an Israeli actor and comedian. He is well known for acting in the popular TV show Eretz Nehederet.-Career:After his release from the IDF in 1996, Finish studied acting in the art school HaBustan in Netanya...
, and Mariano Idelman
Mariano Idelman
Mariano Idelman is an Israeli actor and comedian. He is well known for acting in the popular TV show Eretz Nehederet.-Career:In 1996 he appeared in Dudu Topaz's stand-up comedy show called The First in Entertainment with Eli Finish, and signed a 2-year contract with the show.Idelman and Finish...
.
In 2003 he acted in the film Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi
Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi
Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi is a 2003 film written and directed by Shemi Zarhin....
(Also: Ha-Kochavim Shel Shlomi). The same year he and Alfi broke up their comedy duo and Cohen married Lian Friedman.
In 2004 Cohen returned to television in the comedy show Eifo Ata Chai?! alongside Erez Tal, Shlomo Baraba, and Hadar Levi. He played several characters such as Coco the Mizrahi singer, and Himri the healer. That year he also starred in the film Colombian Love (with 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:...
, Menashe Noi and others) as a newly-married husband whose father insists he divorce his bride. Also in 2004, Cohen played alongside Dana Modan in the Israeli Emmy Award-winning television drama, Love Hurts .
In 2005 he participated in the Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
feature 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...
, dealing with the Israeli government's secret retaliation after the 1972 Munich massacre
Munich massacre
The Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
of Israeli Olympic athletes. The film featured actors Eric Bana
Eric Bana
Eric Bana is an Australian film and television actor. He began his career as a comedian in the sketch comedy series Full Frontal before gaining critical recognition in the biopic Chopper...
, Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig
Daniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor. His early film roles include Elizabeth, The Power of One, A Kid in King Arthur's Court and the television episodes Sharpe's Eagle, Zorro and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Daredevils of the Desert...
, and Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Rush
Geoffrey Roy Rush is an Australian actor and film producer. He is one of the few people who has won the "Triple Crown of Acting": an Academy Award, a Tony Award and an Emmy Award. He has won one Academy Award for acting , three British Academy Film Awards , two Golden Globe Awards and four Screen...
as well as Israeli actors like 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 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...
. That same year he started his participation in the Emmy Award and Golden Screen award-winning television show "Eretz Nehederet" (Hebrew:
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
, lit. Wonderful Country), a satirical comedy with references to current affairs and parodies of the people involved. Among his characters on the show, Cohen impersonated Illusionist Uri Geller
Uri Geller
Uri Geller is a self-proclaimed psychic known for his trademark television performances of spoon bending and other supposed psychic effects. Throughout the years, Geller has been accused of using simple conjuring tricks to achieve the effects of psychokinesis and telepathy...
, Football player Avi Nimni
Avi Nimni
Avi Nimni is Maccabi Tel Aviv's highest ever scorer and is regarded as one of Maccabi Tel Aviv's greatest players ever. Until 2006, he served as the captain of the Israeli national football team...
, Right-wing politician Avigdor Lieberman, and Arab Knesset
Knesset
The Knesset is the unicameral legislature of Israel, located in Givat Ram, Jerusalem.-Role in Israeli Government :The legislative branch of the Israeli government, the Knesset passes all laws, elects the President and Prime Minister , approves the cabinet, and supervises the work of the government...
member and minister Raleb Majadele
Raleb Majadele
Ghaleb Majadele is an Israeli Arab politician. A member of the Knesset for the Labor Party, he became the country's first Muslim minister when appointed Minister without Portfolio on 28 January 2007.-Biography:...
. Cohen also participated that year in a short film titled "Halev HaRaev" and hosted a show about What Makes an Israeli for Keshet
Keshet
Keshet may refer to:In Television:*Keshet is one of the two concessionaires running the Israeli commercial television Channel 2.Other uses:*Keshet is a social justice organization in Boston, Massachusetts....
's 57th Israeli Independence special, an 8-clip show portraying Israeli behaviors such as "wiping" humus to eat it, feeling a bread before purchasing it, drinking of "Mud" coffee, and others.
In 2007 he participated in the entertainment television show "Mesudarim
Mesudarim
Mesudarim is an Israeli sitcom broadcasting in Keshet, Channel 2....
" (Channel 2) , where four childhood friends sell their gaming startup company for USD$217 million, and have to deal with their newfound wealth. Chapter 9 of the show contained the first crossover
Fictional crossover
A fictional crossover is the placement of two or more otherwise discrete fictional characters, settings, or universes into the context of a single story. They can arise from legal agreements between the relevant copyright holders, or because of unauthorized efforts by fans, or even amid common...
in Israeli television, with the drama "BeTipul
Betipul
BeTipul is an Israeli television drama revolving around the personal and professional life of an Israeli psychologist, Reuven Dagan, played by Assi Dayan. The series portrays a psychologist who treats patients at his clinic five days a week and then seeks psychological treatment for himself...
" (lit. "In Treatment
In Treatment
In Treatment is an American HBO drama, produced and developed by Rodrigo Garcia, about a psychologist, 50-something Dr. Paul Weston, and his weekly sessions with patients, as well as those with his own therapist at the end of the week. The program, which stars Gabriel Byrne as Paul, debuted on...
"), which was later purchased by HBO; BeTipul's psychologist, played by Asi Dayan, is asked to analyze the group. The format of Mesudarim was purchased by Fox Entertainment Group
Fox Entertainment Group
The Fox Entertainment Group is an American entertainment industry company that owns film studios and terrestrial, cable, and direct broadcast satellite television properties...
and shown in the US as "Loaded".
Filmography
- Ahava Columbianit - (Columbian Love) (2004)
- Ha-Kochavim Shel ShlomiBonjour Monsieur ShlomiBonjour Monsieur Shlomi is a 2003 film written and directed by Shemi Zarhin....
- (Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi) (2003) .... Sasi - Yossi & JaggerYossi & JaggerYossi & Jagger is a 2002 Israeli romantic drama film directed by Eytan Fox about soldiers at the Israel – Lebanon border who try to find some peace and solace from the daily routine of war.-Plot:...
(2002)