Ivgy, Moshe

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IVGY, MOSHE

IVGY, MOSHE (1953– ), Israeli actor. With more than 44 films to his credit, Ivgy has taken on the late Shaike *Ophir's mantle as Israel's hardest-working actor. As the years went by, he distinguished himself not only as a popular actor but as a talented and versatile one. Born in Morocco as one of seven children, Ivgy moved to Israel as a child. Not accepted at any of Tel Aviv's established theater companies, he founded his own theatrical troupe, The Gypsy Theater, then moved on to film. His Eastern background and low-key persona made him a natural for the many North African characters who began to appear in Israeli films. Soon, Ivgy graduated from sidekick roles to leading-man status. In 2004, he starred in two of Israel's biggest popular and critical hits, Joseph Cedar's Campfire, in which he played a lonely Orthodox minivan driver, and Danny Verete's Metallic Blues, where he was a car salesman heading for Germany. He has flirted with an international career and appeared in David Mamet's Spartan, also in 2004. His films include Shuroo (1991); Cup Final (1991); Lovesick on Nana Street (1995); Yom Yom (1998); and Life Is Life (2003). He is the father of actress Dana Ivgy.

[Hannah Brown (2nd ed.)]