Gita Luka

Gita Luka was an Israeli actress, comedian and singer who performed in satirical theater, stage plays and films.

1921 to 2001Songs at the Li-La-Lo theaterSatirical theater performancesRole in the film Kazablan

Born: 5 September 1921, Verbița
Died: 22 August 2001, Netanya
Occupation: singer, stage actor, actor, entertainer

Gita Luka was born in 1921 in Verbița

Gita Luka was born in Romania in 1921 and grew up poor in a Jewish ghetto. From 1940 to 1945 she studied acting in a Yiddish theater workshop in the ghetto.

After surviving the Holocaust, she immigrated to Israel with her family in 1948. She first sang for soldiers at the start of the War of Independence. She became known for songs in the show Spring in Tel Aviv at the Li-La-Lo satirical theater.

She went on to perform with the Do-Re-Mi and Sambation satirical theaters, and later joined Habima in 1971. From 1975 to 1982 she was part of the Beersheba Municipal Theater, and she also acted in Yiddish and Romanian. On screen she appeared in films such as Kazablan, One Pound Only and The Flying Matchmaker.

She lost her savings in the bank stock crisis of the early 1980s. A stroke in 1988 and another in 1995 made it hard for her to perform. She died on 22 August 2001 and was buried at Yarkon Cemetery.