Nissan Nativ
Encyclopedia
Nissan Nativ (originally Notovich; 1922 - 20 April 2008) was an Israel
i actor
, director and acting
teacher.
, the Netherlands
in 1922 and first moved to Mandate Palestine in 1937. He joined the Jewish Brigade
during World War II
and served in the Armor Corps. He was a commander during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
. After the war, Nativ enrolled at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
.
Nativ moved from Israel to Paris
where he studied mime
. He worked as an Israeli theatre director and at Israel Radio when he returned from France
.
Nativ founded the Nissan Nativ School of Acting in 1963. The renowned acting school holds classes in both Tel Aviv
and Jerusalem. Many of Israel's best known actors, such as Keren Mor
, Tiki Dayan and Moshe Ivgi are alumni of Nativ's school. However, despite its success the school has suffered from financial difficulties during the 1990s and 2000s, which nearly forced it to close.
The Israel Prize
committee decided to confer the Israel Prize, for theatre, on Nativ in 2008 citing his contributions to Israeli theatre and culture. The committee stated in its opinion that "You cannot imagine Israeli theater without Nissan Nativ." It also cited Nativ's training of generations of Israeli actors and directors through his Nissan Nativ School of Acting.
Nativ died before he could receive the Israel Prize in person. He was found dead of an apparent heart attack in his apartment in Tel Aviv at the age of 86 on 20 April 2008.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i 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...
, director and acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
teacher.
Biography
Nativ was born in AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in 1922 and first moved to Mandate Palestine in 1937. He joined the Jewish Brigade
Jewish Brigade
The Jewish Infantry Brigade Group was a military formation of the British Army that served in Europe during the Second World War. The brigade was formed in late 1944, and its personnel fought the Germans in Italy...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and served in the Armor Corps. He was a commander during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...
. After the war, Nativ enrolled at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem ; ; abbreviated HUJI) is Israel's second-oldest university, after the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. The Hebrew University has three campuses in Jerusalem and one in Rehovot. The world's largest Jewish studies library is located on its Edmond J...
.
Nativ moved from Israel to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he studied mime
Mime
The word mime is used to refer to a mime artist who uses a theatrical medium or performance art involving the acting out of a story through body motions without use of speech.Mime may also refer to:* Mime, an alternative word for lip sync...
. He worked as an Israeli theatre director and at Israel Radio when he returned from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Nativ founded the Nissan Nativ School of Acting in 1963. The renowned acting school holds classes in both 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 Jerusalem. Many of Israel's best known actors, such as Keren Mor
Keren Mor
- Biography :While attending her mandatory military service in the IDF Mor studied acting in the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Tel Aviv. Mor's first major appearance was in the film "Abba Ganuv" . Later on she played in several films, including Amos Gitai's "Berlin-Yerushalaim" and "Shuroo"...
, Tiki Dayan and Moshe Ivgi are alumni of Nativ's school. However, despite its success the school has suffered from financial difficulties during the 1990s and 2000s, which nearly forced it to close.
The Israel Prize
Israel Prize
The Israel Prize is an award handed out by the State of Israel and is largely regarded as the state's highest honor. It is presented annually, on Israeli Independence Day, in a state ceremony in Jerusalem, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Knesset chairperson, and the...
committee decided to confer the Israel Prize, for theatre, on Nativ in 2008 citing his contributions to Israeli theatre and culture. The committee stated in its opinion that "You cannot imagine Israeli theater without Nissan Nativ." It also cited Nativ's training of generations of Israeli actors and directors through his Nissan Nativ School of Acting.
Nativ died before he could receive the Israel Prize in person. He was found dead of an apparent heart attack in his apartment in Tel Aviv at the age of 86 on 20 April 2008.