Quick Facts
Biography
Yeshayahu Abraham (Avi) Kushnir (Hebrew: אבי קושניר, born 26 August 1960) is an Israeli comedian, actor and host.
Biography
During high school Kushnir studied at the youth village HaKfar HaYarok. Afterwards, during his mandatory military service, Kushnir served in an Infantry unit. After his army service Kushnir worked as a stagehand and later on began directing plays.
His professional career as an actor began in the early 1980s when he began performing in stand up shows. In 1985 Kushnir hosted the annual Israeli singing show "The Festigal" alongside Gadi Yagil.
In 1987, while he was 27 years old, Kushnir represented Israel in the 1987 Eurovision Song Contest along with Nathan Dattner, as part of the comedic duo "HaBatlanim" (lit. "The Bums"), with the comical song "Shir Habatlanim" which ended up in the 8th place.
Career in theater
| Year | Play | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All My Sons but Naomi | Beit Lessin Theatre | ||
| Black Comedy | Beit Lessin Theatre | ||
| A Guest Has Arrived | Beit Lessin Theatre | ||
| The Twins of Venice | Beit Lessin Theatre ("להציל את איש המערות") | ||
| Saving the Caveman | Beit Lessin Theatre | ||
| The Frivolity and Hypocrisy | Beer Sheva Theatre | ||
| The Taming of the Shrew | Beer Sheva Theatre | ||
| Yitush BaRosh | Beer Sheva Theatre | ||
| Gorodish | Cameri Theatre Kushnir | ||
| 2001 | A Funny Thing Happened | Cameri Theatre Kushnir | |
| The Fantastic Francis | Haifa Theater Kushnir | ||
| 2005 | The King and the Cobbler | Habima theater | |
| Mechabeset Tola ("מכבס תולה") | Original show created by Kushnir | ||
| HaMoch HaGavri("המוח הגברי") | Original show created by Kushnir |
TV and film career
| Year | Show/Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "Parpar Nehmad" | Guest role | Children's show |
| 1983 | "HaChatul Shmil" | Guest role | Children's show |
| 1985 | Banot | Rami | film by Nadav Levitan |
| 1986 | "Alex Holeh Ahavah" | Motke | Boaz Davidson's cult film |
| 1986 | "Battle of the Committee" ("הקרב על הוועד") | HaGashash HaHiver's trilogy series | |
| 1986 | "Plumber" ("האינסטלטור") | Mickey Bahagan's film | |
| 1986 | "The Great Obsession" ("השיגעון הגדול") | Naftali Alter's film | |
| 1989 | "Avoda BaEinayim" ("עבודה בעיניים"). | Yigal Shilon's hidden camera film also starring Nathan Dattner | |
| 1988-1998 | "Zehu Ze!" | variety of characters | Israeli skit show |
| 1990 | "Tzipi Bli Hafsaka" (ציפי בלי הפסקה) | Avi | children's TV series |
| 1999 | "Kushnir's show" | himself | TV series directed by Adi Binyaminov. |
| 2001-2011 | "Ha-Chaim Ze Lo Hacol" | Gadi Neumann | Israeli sitcom |
| 2002-2003 | "Madrich Kushnir" (מדריך קושניר, lit. "Kushnir's Guide"). | host | travel show on Channel 2 |
| 2004 | "Metallic Blues". | also starring Moshe Ivgy | |
| 2004 | "Ratzim LaDira" (רצים לדירה) | host | Israeli reality show |
| 2004 | "Bemdinat HaYehudim" | documentary TV show on history of Jewish humor | |
| 2005-2011 | Israeli edition of "Dancing with the Stars" | host | |
| 2006 | "Love & Dance" (סיפור חצי רוסי). | Rami | Eitan Anar's film |
| 2007 | "The Israelis" (הישראלים) | Israeli skit show | |
| 2006 | "Grease" | host | reality TV show |
| 2013-present | "Raid the Cage" | host | game show |
| 2015 | "Zirelson goes to Pension" | Adult Zirelson | Filmed in 2011 |
Private life
Kushnir is married and has two sons and a daughter. Kushnir's son Yotam is an actor, and he has played among others in the TV series "Alifim" (אליפים).