Yehuda Barkan (Hebrew: יהודה בארקן; 29 March 1945 – 23 October 2020) was an Israeli actor, film producer, film director, and screenwriter. He was noted for his appearance in Israeli comedy cult classics of the 1970s, and for producing and directing candid camera "prank films" in the 1980s.[1]
Yehuda Ezekiel Berkowitz (later Barkan) was born in Netanya. His father was born in Poland while his mother was born in Czechoslovakia. His parents spoke Yiddish. He studied at the Bialik and ORT schools in Netanya. During his military service in the IDF, Barkan served in a Combat Engineering Corps unit and the Northern CommandMilitary band.
From his first marriage, Barkan had four children.[2]
At the beginning of the 2000s, Barkan became a baal teshuva and moved to the religious moshavBeit Gamliel with his family.
In November 2008 Barkan was questioned by the Israeli Tax Authority on suspicion of tax evasion.[3]
After his military service, Barkan joined the Dizengoff Command Band (להקת פיקוד דיזנגוף), a band composed of veteran members of military bands who performed songs and skits.
In the early 1970s, Barkan participated in a sketch on the Israeli radio show Hamim VeTaim (חמים וטעים) in which Barkan and his colleagues, Moshe Timor, Shlomo Bar-Aba and others, made live prank calls. This became the inspiration for his later practical joke films.
During the 1980s Barkan began to direct and produce films, including the hidden camera film Hayeh Ahaltah Otah (which he directed together with Yigal Shilon), Nipagesh Bachof, Nipagesh Basivuv, Matzlema Bli Busha and Geveret Tiftehi, Ze Ani). Also during the 1980s, Barkan produced and directed comic drama films, most notably the Abba Ganuv film series and the film Neshika Bametzach released in 1990 alongside Michal Yanai.
In 1994, shortly after the start of Israeli commercial television Channel 2 began its broadcasting, Barkan started hosting his own practical jokes show called Lo Dofkim Cheshbon. The show was cancelled shortly after.
In 1999 Barkan participated in two last films: Look into my eyes and Volcano Junction, in which he played small supporting roles.
In 2003 Barkan took part in the documentary film Zehirut Matzlema along with Nurit Geffen and Josie Katz.
In 2004 Barkan appeared in the drama series Ahava BaShalechet along with Lea Koenig.
Barkan enjoyed a career resurgence in the 2010s. He played the part of a grandfather of a young child with autism in the Israeli television series Yellow Peppers, and beginning in 2017 played a rabbi in the television series Kipat Barzel.[4]
