Israeli Stage and Screen Icon Ili Gorlitzky Dies at 91
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ili Gorlitzky, a major Israeli theater and music figure, died at 91.
- He was a pioneer in advocating for artists' rights in Israel.
- Gorlitzky co-founded the Israel Artists Association (AMI) and Eshkolot.
- He starred in the hit musical "King Solomon and the Shoemaker Shlomi."
- He received multiple awards for his contributions to the arts.
Ili Gorlitzky, a prominent figure in Israeli theater and music, passed away on Monday at the age of 91. Born in Tel Aviv in 1935, Gorlitzky began his artistic career at the Cameri Theater, served in the Central Command Band, and returned to the Cameri stage, where he left a significant mark on numerous productions.
His close friend, actor Tuvia Zafir, mourned his passing, calling Gorlitzky "our Herzl and Ben-Gurion of Israeli artists." Zafir remembered Gorlitzky not only as a talented actor and singer but also as a knowledgeable and philosophical individual, a good friend, and an entrepreneur dedicated to the public good. Gorlitzky was instrumental in founding and managing the "Eshkolot" organization, which handles royalty collection for artists, and served as the first chairman of the "AMI" artists' association.
Gorlitzky was widely recognized for his role as Shlomo in the 1964 musical "King Solomon and the Shoemaker Shlomi," which had over 600 performances and co-starred Yona Atari. Their chemistry led to the 1966 show "The Reality Market," featuring songs by Natan Alterman and Sasha Argov. Gorlitzky once described Atari as the closest woman to him outside of his family and his best partner.
His extensive artistic career included winning three "David's Violin" awards for "King Solomon and the Shoemaker Shlomi," "The Reality Market," and the play "Wise Men Without a Night" alongside Yossi Banai. He was also honored as a "Distinguished Citizen of Tel Aviv-Yafo" in 2019. Beyond his performances, Gorlitzky was a dedicated advocate for artists' rights. He was a co-founder of the Israel Artists Association (AMI) in 1979, serving as its first chairman, and a founder of "Eshkolot" in 1984, where he held the title of Honorary President.
The "Eshkolot" company expressed deep sorrow, remembering Gorlitzky as a visionary and a driving force in the fight for performing artists' rights. They highlighted his early recognition of the need for a strong body to represent artists and ensure fair compensation for their work.
In his personal life, Gorlitzky was married to actress Gila Almagor for four years, later to painter Doris Rau, and dancer Ruti Lerman. In his later years, his partner was Anat Globus, a respected news editor and media personality.
Mentioned
