Yisrael Poliakov
Encyclopedia
Yisrael "Poli" Poliakov (Hebrew: ישראל פוליאקוב) (July 7, 1941 – October 30, 2007) was an Israel
i comedian
and actor. Poliakov was born in Jerusalem, and grew up in Tel Aviv
. He became one of the three members of the Israeli comedy group, HaGashash HaHiver
(The Pale Tracker).
agricultural high school. This changed when he was spotted at a school party by members of Nahal Brigade's entertainment troupe, and he was soon recruited by the group. In 1961, he joined the original singing band Hatarnegolim (The Roosters) that had been founded by Naomi Polani
, the original cast of which broke up in 1964.
Poliakov appeared in a number of famous Israeli films, often with members of HaGashash HaHiver. His film credits include Schlager (The Hit) in 1979; Krav al Hava'ad (The House Committee) in 1986; and Givat Halfon Eina Ona (Halfon Hill Doesn't Answer) in 1975. He appeared in a number of Israeli television roles, and produced and acted in his daughter's television show, It's All Honey.
Poliakov began working on stage as a theater actor in 2000. His credits include The Israeli Family, The Rubber Merchants, God's Finger, Mother Courage
and The Return of Moris Shpigelman.
who died of cancer in 2004 at age 78, started HaGashash HaHiver in late 1963. The group was composed of three members – Poliakov, Yeshayahu "Shaike" Levy and Gavriel "Gavri" Banai. They created a "unique Israeli comedy group," according to the Jerusalem Post. Their jokes, which included the best and worst of Israeli society, often achieved a cult status among fans.
In 2000, the group and its three members were awarded the Israel Prize
for lifetime achievement & special contribution to society for their work. The judges wrote of their award decision:
on October 30, 2007, at the age of 66, following a two-week hospitalization for heart problems. Poliakov's coffin was taken to Cameri Theater
in Tel Aviv for a public memorial service
, and was buried in a cemetery in Kibbutz Einat.
Fellow HaGashash HaHiver member Yeshayahu Levy told Israel Army Radio
: "...lost a brother. There is no other word. We've been together since 1958, and he was part of me. He was a great talent, an outstanding comic actor, and a wonderful friend... The pain is great."
Actor Moshe Ivgi, who costarred with Poliakov in The Rubber Merchant, told the Jerusalem Post: "He was a great actor who was blessed with comic and dramatic qualities, and it was a pleasure to work with him. Poli was a modest and ego-free man, full of love, and I am sure he would have done so much more."
President Shimon Peres
stated "Generations upon generations watched him and fell captive to his charm".
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i comedian
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. Poliakov was born in Jerusalem, and grew up 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...
. He became one of the three members of the Israeli comedy group, HaGashash HaHiver
HaGashash HaHiver
HaGashash HaHiver |Tracker]]) were an Israeli comedy group. Often called HaGashashim , they are considered a classic of Israeli entertainment and the most influential comedy act in the history of Israel.The three members of the Gashash were:...
(The Pale Tracker).
Career
Poliakov originally chose a career as a farmer and studied at the Kfar HaYarokHakfar Hayarok
HaKfar HaYarok is a youth village in Israel, located at the south of Ramat HaSharon. It is one of the biggest youth villages in the country.-History:...
agricultural high school. This changed when he was spotted at a school party by members of Nahal Brigade's entertainment troupe, and he was soon recruited by the group. In 1961, he joined the original singing band Hatarnegolim (The Roosters) that had been founded by Naomi Polani
Naomi Polani
Naomi Polani is an Israeli musical director, theater director, singer, producer, actress, and dancer.-Music career:...
, the original cast of which broke up in 1964.
Poliakov appeared in a number of famous Israeli films, often with members of HaGashash HaHiver. His film credits include Schlager (The Hit) in 1979; Krav al Hava'ad (The House Committee) in 1986; and Givat Halfon Eina Ona (Halfon Hill Doesn't Answer) in 1975. He appeared in a number of Israeli television roles, and produced and acted in his daughter's television show, It's All Honey.
Poliakov began working on stage as a theater actor in 2000. His credits include The Israeli Family, The Rubber Merchants, God's Finger, Mother Courage
Mother Courage
Mother Courage is a character from a Grimmelshausen novel Lebensbeschreibung der Ertzbetrügerin und Landstörtzerin Courasche dating from around 1670...
and The Return of Moris Shpigelman.
HaGashash HaHiver
Abraham Deshe, "Pashanel," a producer and agentTalent agent
A talent agent, or booking agent, is a person who finds jobs for actors, authors, film directors, musicians, models, producers, professional athletes, writers and other people in various entertainment businesses. Having an agent is not required, but does help the artist in getting jobs...
who died of cancer in 2004 at age 78, started HaGashash HaHiver in late 1963. The group was composed of three members – Poliakov, Yeshayahu "Shaike" Levy and Gavriel "Gavri" Banai. They created a "unique Israeli comedy group," according to the Jerusalem Post. Their jokes, which included the best and worst of Israeli society, often achieved a cult status among fans.
In 2000, the group and its three members were awarded 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...
for lifetime achievement & special contribution to society for their work. The judges wrote of their award decision:
The uniqueness of HaGashash HaHiver is in its two faces: On the one hand, it reflects the life and the culture that were created in Israel during its first 50 years and in the course of wars, immigration absorption and the struggle for its existence. On the other hand, it has taken an active role in shaping this culture, creating its language and sketching its identity.... Their language, Gashashit, and the images they created broke the walls of the inflexible Hebrew language and became standard idiomatic phrases, so much so that he who doesn't know them doesn't know a large part of the culture that has sprouted here. Phrases such as, 'Drive in peace, the keys are inside,' 'There was an engine?' [referring to a mechanic who cheats a client], 'Israbluff' and many others that became part of our everyday language.
Death
Yisrael Poliakov died of cancer at the Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus in Petah TikvaPetah Tikva
Petah Tikva known as Em HaMoshavot , is a city in the Center District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv.According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2009, the city's population stood at 209,600. The population density is approximately...
on October 30, 2007, at the age of 66, following a two-week hospitalization for heart problems. Poliakov's coffin was taken to Cameri Theater
Cameri Theater
The Cameri Theater , established in 1944 in Tel Aviv, is one of the leading theaters in Israel, and is housed at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center....
in Tel Aviv for a public memorial service
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
, and was buried in a cemetery in Kibbutz Einat.
Fellow HaGashash HaHiver member Yeshayahu Levy told Israel Army Radio
Israel Army Radio
Army Radio or Galei Tzahal known in Israel by its acronym Galatz , is a nationwide Israeli radio network operated by the Israel Defense Forces....
: "...lost a brother. There is no other word. We've been together since 1958, and he was part of me. He was a great talent, an outstanding comic actor, and a wonderful friend... The pain is great."
Actor Moshe Ivgi, who costarred with Poliakov in The Rubber Merchant, told the Jerusalem Post: "He was a great actor who was blessed with comic and dramatic qualities, and it was a pleasure to work with him. Poli was a modest and ego-free man, full of love, and I am sure he would have done so much more."
President Shimon Peres
Shimon Peres
GCMG is the ninth President of the State of Israel. Peres served twice as the eighth Prime Minister of Israel and once as Interim Prime Minister, and has been a member of 12 cabinets in a political career spanning over 66 years...
stated "Generations upon generations watched him and fell captive to his charm".
See also
- List of Israel Prize recipients