Actress Caroline Langford Dies at 68 After Cancer Battle in Los Angeles

Caroline Langford, an actress known for her roles in 1980s Israeli prank films and former wife of filmmaker Assi Dayan, passed away at age 68 after battling cancer. She died in a hospital in Los Angeles on August 21, 2026. Langford was born in London in 1958 and immigrated to Israel at age 14. Her father, Barry Langford, was a television entertainment director in Israel, and she began her career as a singer and host of youth talent shows.

Langford gained recognition in Israel through her appearances in early prank films such as "Smile, You’re Dead" (1980), directed by Yehuda Barkan and Yigal Shilon, and later in titles like "See You Around" and "See You at the Beach." She also acted in films including "Girls," "Am Yisrael Chai," and "Dad’s Madness." A significant milestone in her career was starring in "King for a Day," directed by Assi Dayan, where their professional relationship evolved into marriage. They had a son, Lior Dayan, born in 1983, who became a creator, writer, and journalist. Langford and Dayan divorced several years later.

From 2016, Langford appeared in three seasons of the TV series "My Successful Sisters" and later in "Normal," inspired by her son Lior’s story. Her death comes 12 years after Assi Dayan’s passing in 2014, also at age 68. Langford’s second husband was Gil Bakenstein, and the couple lived in Los Angeles. Her friend Dudu Zar expressed deep sorrow over her passing and extended condolences to her family in Israel and abroad.