Shaike Ophir

Shaike Ophir (שייקה אופיר; November 4, 1928 – August 17, 1987) was an Israeli film and theater actor, comedian, playwright, screenwriter, director, and the country's first mime.

Early life
Yeshayahu (Shaike) Goldstein-Ophir was born in Jerusalem. His family were Masortiim, and his Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry in the city goes back to the mid-19th century.

He studied acting as an adolescent, but left school in the 1940s to enlist in the Palmach. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War he escorted convoys to the besieged city of Jerusalem, and took part in naval battles.

Career
Thanks to his comic skills he was accepted to the Chizbatron, an IDF entertainment troupe. In the 1950s, he made a name for himself as a multi-talented performer. He had even recorded a few hit songs during this period.

During the late 1950s and early 1960s Ophir occasionally guest-starred in American TV shows such as Shirley Temple's Storybook and Alfred Hitchcock Presents (in the episode "The Waxwork," where he was billed as Shai K. Ophir). Ophir acted in 28 films, wrote, directed, and starred in several variety shows and was an accomplished mime, appearing alongside Marcel Marceau. He reached the peak of his international fame in the title role of Ha-Shoter Azoulay (literally, Officer Azoulay, translated as The Policeman), a film-vehicle by Ephraim Kishon which won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign-Language Film (1972) and was nominated for a Best Foreign Language Academy Award the same year. He also starred in other Ephraim Kishon films, including Ervinka, Blaumilch Canal and The Fox in the Chicken Coop, and the 1973 Moshé Mizrahi film Daughters, Daughters. In 1977 he starred opposite Melanie Griffith in The Garden.

In 1985, Ophir starred in a stage adaptation of Janusz Korczak's children's novel King Matt the First, where he played seven different roles. The play was very successful and ran for three years. Over this period Ophir was diagnosed with lung cancer, to which he succumbed in 1987. Ophir was a theatrical director for HaGashash HaHiver. He also directed the Israeli movie Hamesh Ma'ot Elef Shahor, and wrote the screenplay for 4 Israeli movies. He wrote and performed many sketches and comedy routines, many of which are still popular in Israel today. He also did a series of Arabic-instruction TV programs that ran through the 1980s.

He also appeared in the Chuck Norris film, The Delta Force.



Personal life
Ophir was married twice and had four children, two from each spouse. His daughter, Karin Ophir, is also an actress. Shaike Ophir, a heavy smoker, died from lung cancer in 1987.

Filmography

 * 1956: B'Ein Moledet
 * 1956: Ma'aseh B'Monit .... Soldier
 * 1959: Alfred Hitchcock Presents (Season 4 Episode 27: "The Waxwork") .... Bourdette
 * 1963: El Dorado .... Shneider
 * 1964: Shemona B'Ekevot Ahat
 * 1964: Hor B'Levana
 * 1964: Dalia Vehamalahim
 * 1966: Moishe Ventilator
 * 1967: Ervinka .... The Sergeant
 * 1968: Ha-Shehuna Shelanu
 * 1969: Blaumilch Canal .... Police Officer
 * 1971: The Policeman .... Constable Sergeant Abraham Azulai
 * 1972: Shod Hatelephonim Hagadol
 * 1973: Daughters, Daughters .... Sabbatai Alfandari
 * 1973: The House on Chelouche Street .... Haim
 * 1975: Yi'ihiyeh Tov Salmonico
 * 1975: Diamonds .... Moshe
 * 1977: Hamesh Ma'ot Elef Shahor
 * 1977: The Garden .... Avram
 * 1977: Gonev Miganav Patoor
 * 1977: Operation Thunderbolt .... Gadi Arnon
 * 1978: Ha-Shu'al B'Lool Hatarnagalot .... Amitz Dolniker
 * 1979: The Magician of Lublin .... Schmul
 * 1979: Ta'ut Bamispar .... Superintendent Moshe Cohen
 * 1985: King Solomon's Mines .... Kassam
 * 1986: The Delta Force .... Father Nicholas
 * 1986: America 3000 .... Lelz
 * 1987: Sleeping Beauty .... Master Elf (final film role)

Awards and commemoration
The Israeli Film Academy award is named the "Ophir Award" in his honor.