Yehuda Barkan

Yehuda Barkan (; 29 March 1945 – 23 October 2020) was an Israeli actor, film producer, film director, and screenwriter. He was noted for his appearance in Israeli comedy cult classics of the 1970s, and for producing and directing candid camera "prank films" in the 1980s.

At the beginning of the 2000s, Barkan became a baal teshuva and moved to the religious moshav Beit Gamliel with his family.

In November 2008, Barkan was questioned by the Israeli Tax Authority on suspicion of tax evasion.

Barkan died on October 23, 2020, after contracting COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel. Other films he appeared in during that time include Malkat Hakvish (1971) appearing alongside Gila Almagor, Menachem Golan's film Eagles Attack at Dawn (1970), and the film adaptation of the novel He Walked Through the Fields (1967) alongside Assi Dayan.

During the 1980s, Barkan began to direct and produce films, including the hidden camera film Hayeh Ahaltah Otah (which he directed together with Yigal Shilon), Nipagesh Bachof, Nipagesh Basivuv, Matzlema Bli Busha and Geveret Tiftehi, Ze Ani). Also during the 1980s, Barkan produced and directed comic drama films, most notably the Abba Ganuv film series and the film Neshika Bametzach released in 1990 alongside Michal Yanai.

In 1994, shortly after the start of Israeli commercial television Channel 2 began its broadcasting, Barkan started hosting his own practical jokes show called Lo Dofkim Cheshbon. The show was cancelled shortly after.

In 1999, Barkan participated in two last films: Look into my eyes and Volcano Junction, in which he played small supporting roles.

In 2003, Barkan took part in the documentary film Zehirut Matzlema along with Nurit Geffen and Josie Katz.

In 2004, Barkan appeared in the drama series Ahava BaShalechet along with Lea Koenig.

Barkan enjoyed a career resurgence in the 2010s. He played the part of a grandfather of a young child with autism in the Israeli television series Yellow Peppers, and beginning in 2017 played a rabbi in the television series Kipat Barzel.

Selected filmography Films 1967: He Walked Through the Fields 1970: Lupo! – Lupo 1971: Katz and Karasso 1971: The Highway Queen (Malkat Hakvish) – Arik 1972: Escape to the Sun – Yasha Bazarov 1974: Charlie Ve'hetzi (Charlie and a Half) – Charlie 1975: Hagiga B'Snuker 1985: Smell and Smile (Kompot Na'alyim) 1987: Cool Dad (Abba Ganuv) 1987: Nipagesh Basivuv 1989: Cool Dad 2 (Abba Ganuv 2) 1990: Neshika Bametzach (The Day We Met) – Arik Schwartzman 1991: Cool Dad 3 (Abba Ganuv 3) 1992: Ma'am, Open, It's Me 1993: Looking for a husband on four legs 1999: Look me in the eyes 1999: Vulcan Junction 2000: Mosh 2003: Every Jew is Gold 2013: Matat 2015: Tobiansky 2015: Tales of Tales of Rabbi Nachman 2019: Love in Shlikes - Beno

Television 2011: Yellow Peppers 2017: Kipat Barzel