Tuvia Tzafir
Encyclopedia
Tuvia Tzafir is an Israeli actor
and entertainer.
and was initially named Tuvia Kozlowski. Tzafir grew up in a traditionalist
home of Jewish immigrants from Poland who lived in the Florentin neighborhood in the southern part of Tel Aviv. During the early sixties Tzafir got his big breakthrough when he served in the Nahal
military band
. Since then Tzafir has become one of the biggest Israeli TV, cinema and stage stars. Through his career Tzafir has participated in numerous entertainment, humor and satire television and stage shows.
In the 1970s Tzafir participated in the successful satire show Nikui Rosh, in which he began performing different imitations of Israeli politicians (such as Yitzhak Rabin
, Menachem Begin
, etc.). In the 1980s Tzafir appeared many times as a recurring guest on the Israeli entertainment show Siba LeMesiba (סיבה למסיבה) in which he performed many different imitations of Israeli politicians and participated in a variety of comedy skits. In addition, during that period of time he also participated as a guest star in several episodes of the Israeli sitcom Krovim Krovim
. In the 1980s Tzafir provided numerous voices for the Israeli satirical
puppet show "Chartzufim
". In 2004 Tzafir appeared as a guest star in the Israeli daily comical
music
al drama
series "HaShir Shelanu
". In 2005 Tzafir appeared as a guest star in the series "Telenovela Ba'am".
Tzafir also starred in several entertainment stage shows, most of which were written by the satirist Ephraim Sidon
.
During the 1970s and 1980s Tzafir participated in many Israeli films, among them Salomonico (1972), Charlie Ve'hetzi
(1974), Hagiga B'Snuker
(1975), Giv'at Halfon Eina Ona (1976), "Eizeh Yofi Shel Tzarot!" (1976), "Ha-Lahaka" (1979), "Nisuin Nusah Tel Aviv" (1979) and "Ha-Instalator" (1986).
During the 1990s Tzafir also participated in dubbing
the genie in the Hebrew version of the animated film Aladdin and its two sequels.
Since the 2000s Tzafir mainly participates in Israeli children stage shows and children video stories on DVD and video.
In 2008 Tzafir participated in the Israeli drama series Danny Hollywood alongside Gila Almagor
.
In August 2005 an Indictment
was filed against Tzafir for violent behavior and threats made against an employee at the production studio of the series "Telenovela Ba'am". In January 2006 the Hashalom court in Jerusalem approved a plea bargain
between Tzafir and the State Attorney's Office, according to which he would be given community service
.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and entertainer.
Biography
Tzafir was born in Tel AvivTel 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 was initially named Tuvia Kozlowski. Tzafir grew up in a traditionalist
Shomer Masoret
Shomer Masoret or, also commonly referred as: Masorati Shomer Masoret (Hebrew: שומר מסורת, lit. "Tradition Keeper"; Plural: שומרי מסורת, Shomrei Masoret) or, also commonly referred as: Masorati Shomer Masoret (Hebrew: שומר מסורת, lit. "Tradition Keeper"; Plural: שומרי מסורת, Shomrei Masoret) or,...
home of Jewish immigrants from Poland who lived in the Florentin neighborhood in the southern part of Tel Aviv. During the early sixties Tzafir got his big breakthrough when he served in the Nahal
Nahal
Nahal is an Israel Defense Forces infantry brigade. Historically, it refers to a program that combines military service and establishment of new agricultural settlements, often in outlying areas...
military band
Military band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
. Since then Tzafir has become one of the biggest Israeli TV, cinema and stage stars. Through his career Tzafir has participated in numerous entertainment, humor and satire television and stage shows.
In the 1970s Tzafir participated in the successful satire show Nikui Rosh, in which he began performing different imitations of Israeli politicians (such as Yitzhak Rabin
Yitzhak Rabin
' was an Israeli politician, statesman and general. He was the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, serving two terms in office, 1974–77 and 1992 until his assassination in 1995....
, Menachem Begin
Menachem Begin
' was a politician, founder of Likud and the sixth Prime Minister of the State of Israel. Before independence, he was the leader of the Zionist militant group Irgun, the Revisionist breakaway from the larger Jewish paramilitary organization Haganah. He proclaimed a revolt, on 1 February 1944,...
, etc.). In the 1980s Tzafir appeared many times as a recurring guest on the Israeli entertainment show Siba LeMesiba (סיבה למסיבה) in which he performed many different imitations of Israeli politicians and participated in a variety of comedy skits. In addition, during that period of time he also participated as a guest star in several episodes of the Israeli sitcom Krovim Krovim
Krovim Krovim
Krovim Krovim is an Israeli television sitcom created by Ephraim Sidon and B. Michael. The series which originally aired on the Israeli Educational Television channel in the years 1983 - 1986 is known as the first Israeli sitcom....
. In the 1980s Tzafir provided numerous voices for the Israeli satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
puppet show "Chartzufim
Chartzufim
Chartzufim or HaChartzufim was an Israeli political satire television programme in the vein of Britain's Spitting Image. It ran from 1995 to 1999 on Channel 2....
". In 2004 Tzafir appeared as a guest star in the Israeli daily comical
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
al drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
series "HaShir Shelanu
HaShir Shelanu
HaShir Shelanu is an Israeli daily comical musical drama that had finished its 4th season airing on the yes-5 Israeli Movie Channel and repeating on Israel channel 2.The last episode aired in April 2007.-Season 1:...
". In 2005 Tzafir appeared as a guest star in the series "Telenovela Ba'am".
Tzafir also starred in several entertainment stage shows, most of which were written by the satirist Ephraim Sidon
Ephraim Sidon
Ephraim Sidon is a renowned Israeli author, playwright and satirist, cherished for both for his satirical work and his children's books.-Biography:...
.
During the 1970s and 1980s Tzafir participated in many Israeli films, among them Salomonico (1972), Charlie Ve'hetzi
Charlie Ve'hetzi
Charlie Ve'hetzi is a 1974 Israeli comedy and cult movie. The movie was directed byBoaz Davidson and stars Israeli comedians Yehuda Barkan and Ze'ev Revach.- Cast :...
(1974), Hagiga B'Snuker
Hagiga B'Snuker
Hagiga BaSnuker is a 1975 Israeli cult movie. The movie was directed by Boaz Davidson and stars Israeli comedians Ze'ev Revach, Yehuda Barkan and Yosef Shiloah.- Cast :...
(1975), Giv'at Halfon Eina Ona (1976), "Eizeh Yofi Shel Tzarot!" (1976), "Ha-Lahaka" (1979), "Nisuin Nusah Tel Aviv" (1979) and "Ha-Instalator" (1986).
During the 1990s Tzafir also participated in dubbing
Overdubbing
Overdubbing is a technique used by recording studios to add a supplementary recorded sound to a previously recorded performance....
the genie in the Hebrew version of the animated film Aladdin and its two sequels.
Since the 2000s Tzafir mainly participates in Israeli children stage shows and children video stories on DVD and video.
In 2008 Tzafir participated in the Israeli drama series Danny Hollywood 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...
.
Private life
In the 1960s Tzafir married Yael, whom also produces Tzafir's entertainment shows. From this marriage Tzafir has three children, including the successful Israeli film actor and TV director Yoav Tzafir.In August 2005 an Indictment
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
was filed against Tzafir for violent behavior and threats made against an employee at the production studio of the series "Telenovela Ba'am". In January 2006 the Hashalom court in Jerusalem approved a plea bargain
Plea bargain
A plea bargain is an agreement in a criminal case whereby the prosecutor offers the defendant the opportunity to plead guilty, usually to a lesser charge or to the original criminal charge with a recommendation of a lighter than the maximum sentence.A plea bargain allows criminal defendants to...
between Tzafir and the State Attorney's Office, according to which he would be given community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
.