Lior Ashkenazi

Lior Ashkenazi is a versatile Israeli actor renowned for his work in independent films, television, and stage. Born on December 28, 1968, in Ramat Gan, Israel, he is widely considered one of the most influential performers of his generation in Israel. A notable Beit Zvi graduate, Ashkenazi kickstarted his acting career on Israeli stages, where his powerful performances captured the audiences' hearts. His breakout role was in 'Late Marriage' (2001), where his portrayal of Zaza, a character descended from Georgian Jewish immigrants, received immense acclaim. He has also starred in 'Walk on Water' (2004), 'Footnote' (2011), and 'Foxtrot' (2017). In addition to his Israeli roles, he has garnered international recognition with his role in 'Golda' (2023) and his appearances in 'Our Boys' (2019), 'Valley of Tears' (2020), and Hulu's 'We Were the Lucky Ones' (2024).

Descended from Turkish Sephardic Jews, Ashkenazi was born and raised in Israel's Neveh Yehoshua neighborhood. He moved to Kibbutz Regavim at 16 after facing several difficulties at school. His acting journey started at Beit Zvi, leading to work with acclaimed theaters like Habima and Beersheba Theater. After his remarkable performance in the 2017 film 'Foxtrot', Ashkenazi bagged an Ophir Award for Best Lead Actor. Ashkenazi's filmography also includes successful productions like 'Norman' and Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'. Much of his work derives from his collaboration with Beit Lessin Theater under Zipi Pines' direction. Apart from being a skilled actor, Ashkenazi has also lent his voice to numerous Hebrew-language dubs, most notably dubbing for Li Shang in the 1998 Disney film 'Mulan' and its 2005 sequel, and the title character in 'Bolt'.