Yehuda Levi | |
|---|---|
 Levi in 2022 | |
| Born | June 29, 1979 Petah Tikva, Israel |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, model, singer, TV host |
| Spouse | |
Yehuda Levi (Hebrew: יהודה לוי; born June 29, 1979) is an Israeli actor, model and TV host. His breakthrough role was in the TV series Lechayey Ha'ahava (Here's To Love, 2001).
Levi was born in Petah Tikva, Israel.[1] His father Yerachmiel Levi was born in Bulgaria and his mother Chaya (née Lichtenstein) was born in Poland. At age four, their family moved to South Africa where his father worked at the time; a decade later, at age fourteen, they moved back to Israel. He graduated from the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts in Givatayim, Israel.[2]
During his Israel Defense Forces service, he was a commander of the military band of the Education Corps.
He is an established actor, and came to the attention of the Israeli public through his soap opera roles.[1] In May 2006, HaAlufa (The Champion), a soap opera centered on a soccer team, premiered starring Levi as the main character and captain of the team "Hakoakh Yerushalayim" (Jerusalem Power). In 2014 he began playing a famous celebrity called Yehuda Levi in the Hot TV series, A Very Important Man.[3] He also has the lead role as a Mossad trainer in the Channel 2 series, Mossad 101 that began airing in 2015.
His film roles include Jagger in Yossi & Jagger.[4]
He was the spokesmodel of Israeli fashion brands Fox and Renuar.
On 12 March 2023, Levi was announced as the new host of HaMerotz LaMillion, Israel's version of The Amazing Race, replacing longtime host Ron Shahar.[5]
Levi was previously in a relationship with the Israeli model Yael Bar Zohar and acted alongside her in the soap opera, Ramat Aviv Gimel.[6] In 2006, Levi got into a high-profile relationship with Israeli singer and actress Ninet Tayeb, the first winner of the show Kokhav Nolad. Haaretz described them as "Israel's favourite celebrity couple",[7] with The Jerusalem Post declaring them "Israel's Brangelina".[8] In 2013, after 8 years together, the couple broke up, stating that the breakup was mutual.[7] He has been described as one of the two most talked-about male stars in Israel (along with Ran Danker), Tayeb's former partner.[9]
In 2017, he married Israeli model Shlomit Malka. They resided in Tel Aviv. On June 6, 2021, the couple announced that they separated.[10]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Zolgot Hadma'ot Me'atzman (Tears Fall by Themselves) | Car-hit boy | |
| 2002 | Yossi & Jagger | Lior Amichai (Jagger) | |
| 2004 | Campfire | Yoel | |
| 2005 | Munich | IDF soldier | Minor role |
| 2006 | Schwartz Dynasty | Avishai | Co-star |
| 2011 | For the Love of Money | Isaac | |
| 2013 | Wonderland | Rabbi Shmaya Knafo |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Ramat Aviv Gimmel (Season 2) | Gil | Episode 21 |
| 2001 | Lechayey Ha'ahava | Gidi Meiri | |
| 2003–2005 | Ahava Me'ever Lapina | Lior Dvir | |
| 2006–2009 | The Champion | Saar Fedida | Lead role |
| 2007–2013 | The Arbitrator | Nadav Feldman | |
| 2010 | Hasamba Third Generation | Freddie Zorkin | |
| 2011 | Eretz Nehederet (Season 8) | Himself | Episode 14 |
| 2012 | Mom and Dads | Sami Israel | Lead role |
| 2014 | Very Important Person | Himself | Lead role |
| 2015 | Dig | Ali Lavey / Ari | Undercover; Shin Bet agent |
| HaMidrasha | Yonna "Kinder" Harari | Lead role | |
| 2023 | Trust No One | Head of the Israeli Shin Bet | |
| 2023–present | HaMerotz LaMillion | Host |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Dallas OUT TAKES | Best Actor | Yossi & Jagger | Won | [11] |
| Israeli Film Academy | Best Acting in a Drama, Miniseries or Television Movie | Won | |||
| 2004 | Best Supporting Actor | Schwartz Dynasty | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Israeli Television Academy | Best Actor in a Drama Series | Mom and Dads | Nominated | |
| 2014 | Very Important Person | Won |
