Israeli Actor and Singer Ili Gorlitzki Dies at 91

Ili Gorlitzki, a prominent Israeli actor, singer, writer, and public figure who was a notable figure in Israeli theater in the latter half of the 20th century, has died at the age of 91. Israeli media reported his death on October 5. Born in Tel Aviv on July 14, 1935, Gorlitzki began his acting career at 17 in the drama school of the Cameri Theater. During his army service, he was a soloist for the Central Command ensemble, returning to the Cameri after his discharge.

Gorlitzki gained widespread recognition for his dual lead role in the 1964 Cameri Theater musical "King Solomon and the Cobbler Shlomi," alongside Yona Atari and Rachel Attas. The production was one of Israel's most successful musicals, running for nearly a thousand performances. Later, Gorlitzki and Atari collaborated on "Shuk Ha'Metsi'ot," a program featuring songs by Natan Alterman.

His career also included film and television roles in "Three Days and a Child," "The Scouts," and "Tevye and His Seven Daughters," as well as musical and entertainment programs. Gorlitzki received the "Kinnor David" award three times.

From the late 1970s, Gorlitzki dedicated significant effort to advocating for artists' rights. He was a co-founder and the first leader of the Artists' Association of Israel. In the 1980s, he was instrumental in establishing "Eshkolot," an organization for collecting and distributing royalties, serving as its first CEO and chairman before becoming honorary president.

Gorlitzki, who had interests in philosophy, history, and Jewish thought, authored two books: "Sod Ha'Kamus," about Maimonides and Ibn Rushd, and "Tahiru," concerning the Sabbatean movement. In 2019, he was honored as a Tel Aviv-Yafo honorary citizen for his contributions to Israeli culture and his advocacy for artists.