Yiftach Klein

Yiftach Klein
Born (1972-09-28) 28 September 1972 (age 52)
Batzra, Israel
NationalityIsraeli
OccupationActor
SpouseShiri Artzi

Yiftach Klein (Hebrew: יפתח קליין; born 28 September 1972) is an Israeli actor. He has been nominated for two Ophir Awards for Best Supporting Actor in 2007 for Noodle and for Best Actor in 2011 for his role in Policeman.[1]

Early life

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He was born and raised in Batzra, a moshav in Central Israel.[2] He is the eldest of three brothers.[2] The family later moved to Rosh Pinna in the Korazim Plateau in the Upper Galilee.[2]

He discovered acting and decided to pursue it as a profession after he was cast in his high school school play, "Days of Shadow".[2][3] After graduating from high school, he was conscripted into the Israel Defense Forces.[2] Afterwards he studied at the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Tel Aviv.[4]

Career

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He spent the first years of his acting career in repertory theatre.[4] He got his breakout role at the age of 26 when in 1998 he appeared in the popular Israeli television series, Tironoot (The Apprentices).[3][4]

In 2011 he appeared alongside Michael Aloni in Nadav Lapid's drama film, Policeman.[5] He was nominated for an Ophir Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his role.[1]

In 2012 he appeared in Fill the Void, a critically-acclaimed film focusing on the Haredi community in Tel Aviv. A. O. Scott praised his performance in The New York Times: "As Yochay, Mr. Klein is a gentle, brooding presence and also an intriguing, at times almost frightening enigma."[6][7] The film critic, Deborah Young, wrote in The Hollywood Reporter: "Klein has a reserved masculinity that is never undermined by letting his sensitivity show through."[8]

In 2012 he also appeared in the Israeli short film, Summer Vacation, where Klein plays a man on vacation with his wife and children. However, he encounters his former gay lover. The film was shortlisted among ten competing for best short film at the 87th Academy Awards in 2015.[9]

In 2017 he wrote, directed and acted alongside Tali Sharon in a play, "Slide Night" (ערב שקופיות) based on his own marriage and marital struggles.[2]

In 2018-2019, he starred alongside Angel Bonanni in the second season of False Flag. The series was also part of the lineup of the Berlin International Film Festival in 2019.[10]

In 2023 he starred alongside Tzachi Halevy in The Cops (HaShotrim).[3]

He has also directed a play in Dimona and managed a small theatre in Kiryat Shmona.[3] On behalf of the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies he spent a semester and a half at the University of Florida, where he also taught.[4]

Personal life

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Klein met his future wife, Shiri Artzi, when they were both 23.[4] She is the daughter of Shlomo Artzi. They married in 2013, when they were both 40.[4] They separated in 2017 for 18 months and the experience inspired a book project by Artzi.[3][4] They subsequently got back together.[3]They have three children together.[3] The family lives in Northern Tel Aviv.[3]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1998 Tironoot Gidi Golan 6 episodes
Mishpacha VaChetzi Yaron 1 episode: Harey At Mekudeshet
2000 Puzzle Adam 1 episode: Chaverim Chadashim
2003 Grand Rabbi Inspector Yariv Daniely TV series
2006 Emile's Girlfriend Yoav Original title: Ha'Chavera Shell Emile
directed by Nadav Lapid
Best Friends Boaz Miniseries. Original title: Haverot Hachi Tovot
2007 Noodle Mati gueta
Wild Dogs Original title: Rak Klavim Ratzim Hofshi
Ha-Ex Ha-Mitologi TV series
2008 Until the Wedding Yochay Original title: Ad Hachatuna
2008-2010 The Ran Quadruplets Nivo Ran Series regular
2010 Sea Salt Noam Original title: Melach Yam
2011 Policeman Yaron Directed by Nadav Lapid
2012 Fill the Void Yochay Directed by Rama Burshtein
Summer Vacation Yuval Short film presented at 2013 Sundance Film Festival
Mom and Dads Erez Series regular. Original title: Ima VeAbaz.
2010-2013 Blue Natalie Yoni Series regular
2015 Milk and Honey Nir TV series
2017 Azimuth Moti
Madam Yankelova's Fine Literature Club Original title: HaMoadon LeSafrut Yaffa Shel Hagveret Yanlekova
2018 Entebbe Ehud Barak
Broken Mirrors Giora
2018-2019 False Flag Sagi Kedmi Season 2 regular. Original title: Kfulim
2019 Love in Suspenders Tammy's son Original title: Ahava Bi'Shlei'kes
2020 One on One Yoni Mor 3 episodes
2022-present Yeladim BaYa'ar (Broken Ties) Ami Shlush Series regular
2023-present Korduroy (Corduroy) Eran Series regular
2023 The Cops (HaShotrim) Daniel Kelner 8 episodes
2023 Five and a Half Love Stories in an Apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania Issa

References

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  1. ^ a b Yiftach Klein - awards IMDB. Retrieved on 22 February 2020
  2. ^ a b c d e f [https:// www.atmag.co.il/יפתח-קליין-פרידה/ גבר הולך לאיבוד: יפתח קליין על הפרידה משירי ארצי] Atmag. 19 September 2017
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h שירי ואני הסתדרנו בנפרד. עכשיו אנחנו פה מבחירה Mako. 22 June 2023
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Shiri Artzi and Yiftach Klein: "Even when we broke up, we had no doubt about our love" YNET. 16 January 2023
  5. ^ Two Bands of True Believers Hurtling Toward a Collision The New York Times. 12 June 2014
  6. ^ For a Hasidic Woman, Weighing the Personal Against Larger Duties The New York Times. 23 May 2013
  7. ^ An Unconventional Look at Orthodoxy The New York Times. 3 May 2013
  8. ^ Fill the Void (Lemale Et Ha’Chalal): Venice Review The Hollywood Reporter. 1 September 2012
  9. ^ Two Israeli Short Films Shortlisted for Oscar Haaretz. 24 November 2014
  10. ^ False Flag 2 Berlinale. Retrieved on 24 February 2024
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