ZOHAR, URI

ZOHAR, URI (1935– ), Israeli actor, director, singer, comedian; one of the most colorful characters in the history of the Israeli entertainment industry. Until 1977, when he became an observant Jew, he was considered one of the doyens of Israel's entertainment family. Just one year earlier he had been the recipient of the country's most prestigious award, the Israel Prize, in recognition of his cinematic work. However, Zohar's career, which began in the mid-1950s, spanned broad artistic terrain.

Like many of his generation he started out as a member of an army entertainment troupe, teaming up with Chaim *Topol (later to become famous as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof) in the Naḥal band. After completing their national service the two helped found the Baẓal Yarok ("Green Onion") musical-comedy team, which achieved considerable success in the late 1950s, releasing a string of hit songs such as Adoni ha-Shofet ("Your Honor") and Venezuela.

After Baẓal Yarok disbanded in 1960, Zohar's comedy career blossomed as he worked with top artists such as actor-comedian Shaike *Ofir and writer Ḥayyim *Hefer. He also began to break into radio, cinema, and later television. While at this stage Zohar was chiefly known as a comedian he also contributed to some serious ventures, such as Nathan Axelrod's 1962 film Tree or Palestine, which depicted life in pre-state Palestine from the 1930s up to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

When Israeli television started in the late 1960s the charismatic Zohar was a natural choice as frontman for the What's My Linetv show, and he was a popular perennial presenter of the Miss Israel beauty contest. Today, Zohar is probably best known for his film directing, which began in 1965 with Ḥor ba-Levanah ("Hole in the Moon"), and took a big leap with a string of satirical-farcical efforts such as Peeping Tom (1972), Big Eyes (1974), and Save the Lifesaver (1977). In the early 1970s Zohar was a leading member of the group that put together the highly successful comic-musical Lul television series which has now achieved classic status. Iconic singer Arik *Einstein was among his co-stars in the series.

In 1977 Zohar quit the entertainment industry and moved to an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem. At the time the Israeli public was shocked, considering the enfant terrible persona Zohar had cultivated over the years. His ties to Einstein, however, continued as his two eldest sons married two of Einstein's daughters.

[Barry Davis (2^nd ed.)]