Veteran Israeli Actor and Director Yossi Pollak Dies at 81

Yossi Pollak, a prominent Israeli actor and theater director and a veteran of the Israeli stage and screen, passed away on Friday, September 11, at the age of 81. His death was announced by Israeli theaters with which he had collaborated for decades.

Born in 1945 in Rehovot, Pollak's early life was marked by his parents' divorce and time spent with relatives in kibbutzim, boarding schools, and the Adasim youth village. He received his professional acting education at the Beit Zvi School of the Performing Arts.

Pollak had a career spanning over half a century, performing in virtually all of Israel's leading theaters, including Habima, Cameri, Haifa Theatre, Beit Lessin, and Jerusalem's Khan Theatre. His extensive stage work included roles in productions such as "Othello," "Uncle Vanya," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "The Taming of the Shrew," "Julius Caesar," "The Merchant of Venice," "All My Sons," and "Of Mice and Men," where his portrayal of Lennie was highly acclaimed.

He received the Israeli Theatre Award for Best Actor in 2003 for his role in "I'm Not Rappaport" at Beit Lessin Theatre and was later honored with the Rosenblum Prize from the Tel Aviv Municipality for his lifelong acting contributions. Beyond acting, Pollak also directed numerous plays, including "Othello," "Romeo and Juliet," and "Endgame."

Pollak began his film career in the early 1970s, appearing in films like "Fifty-Fifty" (1971), "Azit the Paratrooper Dog" (1972), and Moshe Mizrahi's Oscar-nominated "The House on Shlosh Street" (1973). Later, his role in "You Must Be Happy" (2005) earned him an Ophir Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also appeared in the television mini-series "Nevelot" ("Carrion").

Known for his active civic stance, Pollak was outspoken on political issues, criticizing government and army actions and supporting left-wing protest movements. Upon receiving his 2003 theater award, he dedicated it to Rachel Corrie, an American activist who died in Gaza.