Shaike Ophir (1928-1987), the actor whose name the Israeli film and television awards took in 2004, is no doubt enshrined in the highest echelons of Israeli cinema. When he was only 14, Ophir (born Yeshayahu Goldstein) decided to enlist with the Palmach (an elite, Jewish underground combat unit) where he got to know Haim Hefer and Dahn Ben-Amotz, whose references earned him a spot in the Ohel Theatre’s Acting Studio. When the 1948 War broke out, Ophir joined the Palmach’s Pierrot troupe, The Chizbatron, where he performed with the likes of Naomi Polani, Gideon Singer, and Shlomo Bar-Shavit. In the early 1950s, he went to Paris and studied pantomime under Étienne Decroux, later performing with renowned mime, Marcel Marceau. On his return to Israel, Ophir launched a series of mime shows and starred in two successive films, Without Home (Nuri Habi, 1956), and Tel Aviv Taxi (Larry Frisch, 1956). Ophir then headed to the US for the next few years where he enjoyed commercial success and toured with iconic film star, Marlene Dietrich.In the early 1960s, Ophir returned to Israel and began performing a series of skit shows that featured sketches and a cast of characters that soon became timeless classics. He even directed comedy trio, HaGashash HaHiver’s first two programmes. At that time, Ophir also starred in a string of unforgettable films: El Dorado (Menahem Golan, 1963), Hole in the Moon (Uri Zohar, 1964), Eight in the Footsteps of One (Menahem Golan, 1964), and Dalia and the Sailors (Menahem Golan, 1964). However, his single-most significant film collaboration was with esteemed writer and director, Ephraim Kishon in his films, Ervinka (1967), The Big Dig (1969), and of course The Policeman (1971); the latter of which was a huge commercial success, earning an Oscar nomination and taking home a Golden Globe. Ophir later starred in two of Moshé Mizrahi’s films, Daughters, Daughters (1973) and The House on Chelouche Street (1973).
