Shaike Levi

Shaike Levi was born in 1939 in Cairo

Shaike Levi was born in Cairo, Egypt, in 1939 to Mazal and Moshe Levi. After his father died, he came to Israel in 1944 with his mother and siblings. He grew up on the kibbutzim Ein Hayam, Ein Carmel and Givat Brenner.

In the army he served in the Gadna band and then in the Central Command band. After his discharge he performed in 1960 at a club in Safed. He was accepted to the Cameri Theater but chose to join the group HaTarnegolim.

In 1963 he founded HaGashash HaHiver with Gavri Banai and Yisrael Poliakov, at the initiative of Avraham Deshe. The trio performed for 40 years and won the Israel Prize in 2000. He also acted in films such as Sallah Shabati, Ervinka and Givat Halfon Eina Ona.

From 1993 to 1999 he headed the Israeli Artists' Association. He published a cookbook in 1996 and his first solo album in 1999. From 2003 to 2006 he played Elvis Ben-David on television.

In 2020 he was named an honored citizen of Tel Aviv-Yafo. He is married to Orna and lives in Tel Aviv.