Israeli Actress and Singer Shoshik Shani Dies at 91 After Lung Cancer Battle

Shoshik Shani, a beloved Israeli actress, singer, and comedian, passed away overnight between Friday and Saturday at the age of 91 due to lung cancer. Shani was a prominent figure in Israeli theater, cinema, and television for decades, known especially for her work in the Cameri Theater and her iconic children's songs from the 1960s and 1970s, including classics like "Michael" and "What Do the Trees Do." She frequently collaborated with her husband, singer and actor Arik Lavie, with whom she created the entertainment show "He and She" and performed in the play "Oh, Oh, Julia." After Lavie's death in 2004, Shani published the book "I Will Sing to You," recounting their life and career together.

Born Shoshana Sprung in Tel Aviv on March 2, 1935, Shani began acting at age 14 and studied at the Cameri Theater studio. She served in the Nahal troupe before returning to the Cameri, where she performed for over 30 years. Among her notable roles was the miller’s daughter in the musical "Otz Li Gutz Li," a milestone in her career. She and Lavie married in 1957 and lived in New York for a time, where she studied acting with Uta Hagen. Their joint projects included a Brecht song evening and the satirical play "Oh, Oh, Julia," which ran 156 times at Habima Theater and later succeeded in Germany.

Shani's film credits span many Israeli productions such as "Hole in the Moon," "Lupo," "Operation Jonathan," and "The Unemployed at Tito," as well as later works like "Hunting Elephants" and "The Son of God." On television, she appeared in series including "Hedva and Shlomik," "The 80s," "The Golden Girls," "Stockholm," and "Moon Years." She also worked in voice acting, teaching acting and speech, and led theater workshops in community settings, including a women's prison. In 2022, she was honored as a Worthy Citizen of Tel Aviv-Yafo for her significant cultural contributions.

Shani retired from regular theater performances around age 60 but continued occasional screen roles. In 2017, she was featured in the documentary "Why Didn’t You Tell Me?" directed by her daughter Yael Lavie, exploring Arik Lavie's life and family roots. Shani and Lavie’s extensive archive was digitized by the National Library of Israel in 2019. She is survived by her daughters Noa and Yael Lavie and four grandchildren.