Israeli Actress Bar Belfer Dies at 37 After Severe Epileptic Seizure

Israeli actress and media personality Bar Belfer has passed away at the age of 37 following a severe epileptic seizure. Belfer, who gained fame at 17 for her leading role in the film "Someone to Run With," was nominated for an Ophir Award and later won an Israeli Television Academy Award. She also worked in journalism as a foreign news reporter and editor for Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) and later for Kan Tarbut radio.

Belfer was born in Ramat Hasharon on January 26, 1989. In 2006, at age 17, she was cast as Tamar in Oded Davidov's film "Someone to Run With," based on David Grossman's novel. The movie tells the story of a young musician searching for her brother in Jerusalem, who becomes entangled in a dangerous plot involving an orphanage, while a boy searching for his lost dog, Dinka, uncovers her story. The film also starred Yuval Mendelsohn, Jonathan Bar-Or, and Tsahi Grad.

In 2010, Belfer was seriously injured in a road accident on the Ayalon Highway and underwent a lengthy rehabilitation process. She later studied music at the Rimon School, graduating in 2014. During her studies, she wrote songs and began performing her original compositions. Her performance in "Someone to Run With" earned her a nomination for the Ophir Award for Best Actress in 2006. In March 2007, she received a commendation for her role at the Miami International Film Festival. In June of the same year, she won the Israeli Television Academy Award for Best Actress in a miniseries, TV film, or drama series for her role in "Someone to Run With," which also aired as a miniseries. She competed against Keren Mor, Anat Waxman, Gaia Traub, and Yevgenia Dodina in that category.

Musician and actor Yuval Mendelsohn, who co-starred with her in "Someone to Run With," paid tribute to her on Facebook, recalling their shared filming experience. Mendelsohn mentioned they met about 20 years prior at the beginning of their film careers and described Belfer as an exceptionally talented actress. Her representation agency, Zohar Jacobson, confirmed her passing, stating, "To remove any doubt, Bar Belfer died as a result of a severe epileptic seizure."