Shaike Levi

Yeshayahu (Shaike) Levi (; born 13 December 1939) is an Israeli comedian, singer and actor. He is best known for being part of the HaGashash HaHiver comedy trio, which won the Israel Prize in 2000.

Biography Yeshayahu (Shaike) Levy was born in Cairo, Egypt to Mazal and Moshe Levy. He left Egypt with his mother in 1944, after the death of his father. The family settled in Tel Aviv but Levi spent his adolescent years in Kibbutz Ein Hayam and later Givat Brenner. In 1956-1957 he led the singing group the "Givat Brenner Foursome" alongside Daniel Vardon.

Entertainment career During his military service, Levy served in the IDF band at the Gadna and then in Lehakat Pikud Merkaz. Shortly after his discharge in 1960, he joined the band "The Small Hours Club" in Safed. Levi was accepted to the Cameri Theater and played a small role in a play called "The Twelfth Night" but when Naomi Polani formed the musical group HaTarnegolim ( lit. The Roosters), Levi preferred it over the Cameri. Levy says that he hadn't studied acting or voice coaching and that Naomi Polani was like a school to the group. Following military service in entertainment units, Levi joined HaTarnegolim and afterwards joined the HaGashash HaHiver trio in late 1963. The team staged ll comedy acts and participated in ll films along with numerous festivals, musical recordings, and television performances during a time span of 40 years.

From 1993 to 1999 Levy headed Israeli Artists' Association and in 1996 he came out with a biographical book titled Sipurim Im Rotev ( lit. 'Stories With Sauce'), which included songs and cooking recipes.

Between 2003-2006 Levy portrayed Elvis Ben-David in Israeli productions based on the adaptation of the Mexican telenovela El Amor no es como lo pintan ("Love is Not as They Paint It") and also appeared in a solo stage act (Yeshayahu Chapter 2) and participated in a children's musical tape (Bamboni Ein Kamoni).

HaGashash HaHiver In late 1963 Levy left The Roosters – together with two other "Roosters", Gavri Banai and Yisrael Poliakov – at the request of Avraham Deshe (Pashanel), in order to start the Gashash HaHiver trio. Levi recollects the success of the Gesher HaYarkon trio and that, while they were not certain that they could duplicate the success of HaTarnegolim, Pashanel was sure and paid their salaries throughout the long preparation months. a parody featuring Yaakov Bodo, Shaike Ophir, and Uri Zohar about a frugal private whose money-saving ideas include cutting maps in the operation room; HaShehuna Shelanu (1968) (, lit. 'Our Neighborhood', also 'Fish, Football, and Girls'), a bourekas film with Shaike Ophir, Gabi Amrani, Yona Atari, Tsippi Shavit, and Gadi Yagil among others; Kol Mamzer Melekh (1968) (, lit. 'Every Bastard is King') with Yehoram Gaon as a chatty driver who gets entangled in the Six Day War and ends up stopping an Egyptian armored division by himself; and Hitromamut (1970) (, also 'Takeoff'), which depicted three married men who fulfil a sexual fantasy but quickly turn to envious and guilty feelings. Hitromamut, which included Josie Katz and Liora Rivlin was noted for break-through methods in low-budget production and for being filmed in 16 mm and then enlarged to 35 mm. During this time the "Gashash" also participated in Menahem Golan's melodrama film Fortuna (1966) (, also 'The Girl from the Dead Sea'), which starred French actor Pierre Brasseur and also in Rafi Nusbaum's film HaMatara Tiran (1968) (, lit 'Objective Tiran') about a group of soldiers whose mission is to destroy a Soviet radar station in the Straits of Tiran. and in Kohav Hashahar (1980) (, also 'Morning Star'), a film about life in Yafo featuring Arieh Elias, Noam Kaniel, Asher Tzarfati, Yosef Shiloah, and Arab-Israeli soccer player Rifat Turk.

Television In 2003, Levy was cast as 'Elvis Ben-David' in the television series Esti Ha'mechoeret (, lit. Ugly Esti), an Israeli adaptation of the Mexican telenovela El Amor no es como lo pintan ("Love is not as they paint it"). His successful and charismatic appearance promoted further productions that were based on his Elvis character: Elvis, Rosental, VeHaIsha Hamistorit (2005) (, lit. Elvis, Rosenthal, and the Mystery Woman) and Elvis (2006). During this period Levi came out with a solo stage act titled Yeshayahu Chapter 2 (in 2005). In an interview for Maariv's internet site nrg he jokingly noted that this performance to a very young crowd is a long term investment and that in 20 years they would be the people who would purchase tickets to his shows.

Shaike Levy and fellow "Gashash" Gavri Banai were enlisted for the second season of the television show Hakol Dvash (, lit. "Everything is Honey"). The show, which included the third "Gashash", Yisrael Poliakov, has gained critical acclaim for its first season but also saw the death of both Poliakov and Shosh Atari, who portrayed the parents of the show's creator-writer, Yael Polyakov, the real-life daughter of Yisrael.

Awards and recognition In 2000, Levi was co-awarded the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement and contribution to society and the State of Israel along his with his HaGashash HaHiver colleagues, Gavri Banai and Yisrael Poliakov.

In 2020 he was awarded the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality award, together with Gavri Banai. The award reason states that the popular entertainment trio "influenced Israeli culture, the Hebrew language and society in all its aspects".

From the thousands of "Gashash" shows, Levi recalls one at Carnegie Hall that received warm reviews in the New York Times as well as a certain performance in front of injured soldiers in hospitals where a soldier's mother noted, "Don't laugh. Your sutures will open!" to her son who hadn't smiled or laughed in a while.

Filmography Sinaia (1962) - as Enemy Pilot Sallah Shabati (1964) - as Shimon Shabati Moishe Ventilator (1966) Fortuna (1966) Ervinka (1967) - as Friedrich HaShehuna Shelanu (1968) HaMatara Tiran (1968) Kol Mamzer Melekh (1968) Hitromamut (1970) Givat Halfon Eina Ona (1976) - as Mr. Hasson Hamesh Meot Ellef Shachor (1977) Shlager** (1979) Kohav Hashahar (1980) HaKrav Al HaVa'ad (1986) Esti Ha'mechoeret** (TV series, 2003) - as Elvis Ben-David Elvis, Rosental, VeHaIsha Hamistorit** (TV series, 2005) - as Elvis Ben David Elvis** (TV series, 2006) - as Elvis Ben David also a performer on the soundtrack.

Notable stage acts HaTarnegolim (1960–1963) HaGashash HaHiver (1963–2000) Yeshayahu Chapter 2 (2005)

HaGashash HaHiver shows "Simhat Zkenti" (Nov. 1964) Directed by Shaike Ophir "Plan Dalet" (April 1966) Directed by Shaike Ophir "Sinema Gashash" (June 1967) Directed by Nisim Aloni "Quintette for Shuwarma" (July 1969) Directed by Nisim Aloni "Cassius Clay vs. Khalphon" (1971) Directed by Yossi Banai "Offside Story" (1974) Directed by Yossi Banai "Ovdim Aleinu Avoda Ivrit" (1977) Directed by Yossi Banai "Kreker vs. Kreker" (1980) Directed by Yossi Banai "Beavur Khoken Dollarim" (1985) Directed by Moti Kirschenbaum (written by Danni Reve) "Koson Ruakh" (1991) Directed by Yossi Banai "Gashash and goodbye" (2000)

References.

Discography Shaike Levi (solo album - 1999) Soundtracks and collections by the Gashash Hahiver

Author 'Sipurim Im Rotev' ( lit. 'Stories With Sauce') (1996)

Personal life Levi is married to Orna and they live in Tel Aviv.