Asi Cohen

Asi Cohen (Hebrew: Hebrew|אסי כהן, also 'Assi') (born October 10, 1974, Ashdod, Israel) is an Israeli comedian and actor. He is best known for his appearances in the feature film "Colombian Love" (alongside Mili Avital), as well as for television performances in "Love Hurts" (alongside Dana Modan), "Rak BeYsrael" with his comedy duo of "Asi and Guri", and for his part in "Wonderful Country", where he has impersonated Avigdor Lieberman, Raleb Majadele and Uri Geller among others and his role in "Mesudarim" (US title 'Loaded').

In a Ynet poll conducted in May 2008, Asi Cohen was selected by respondants as the funniest Israeli for the second year in a row. [Cite news|url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3540281,00.html|title=Asi Cohen the Funniest in Israel, Again|publisher=Ynet|date=2008-05-07|accessdate=2008-05-08|author=Barne'a, Or|coauthors=Shiloni, Smadar he icon] He currently resides in Tel-Aviv and is married with two daughters. [http://www.eonline.co.il/facts.asp?id=698 Asi Cohen on Eonline.co.il] ]

Biography

Cohen was raised and educated in the coastal city of Ashdod. During his military service he was an actor for the Israel Defense Forces' theatre, a venue whose actors are male and female soldiers in active duty. Following his military service he worked as a stand up comic at the Domino Gross club in Tel-Aviv where he partnered with fellow comedian Guri Alfi to create the comedy duo of "Asi and Guri". [http://www.rofl.co.il/asi-cohen/ Asi Cohen on rofl.co.il] ]

From 1999 onward he worked as a comedian and a short while afterward joined the TV show "Domino", which aired on the commercial Channel 2. The show, a follow-up to the highly successful "Platfus", was a second television production from the Domino Gross where participants (such as Adir Miller, Rotem Aboav, Roi Bar-Natan and Guri Alfi) were a group of comedians who appeared regularly at the club. Asi Cohen and Guri Alfi continued to tour the country performing with their "Asi and Guri" duo where they created, among others, favourite characters such as David (Cohen) and Tikva (Alfi), a disgruntled married couple, and Coco (Cohen) and Steve (Alfi), a singer and keyboard player duo singing satirical songs inspired by Mizrahi music.

In 2001, alongside his duo performances, Asi played in the TV drama "Star Shining above the Heart" ( _he. כוכב זורח מעל הלב) alongside Dana Ivgi, Irit Sheleg, and Ilana Berkowitz.

In 2002 he joined show "Rak BeYsrael" (Channel 2) ( _he. רק בישראל, lit. Only in Israel) alongside Guri Alfi as side-kicks to main characters "Limor" (Orna Banai) and "Shimon" (Erez Tal). That same year, he and Guri Alfi created together a comedy show "Shidurei Hamahapeha" (Channel 2) ( _he. שידורי המהפכה, literally "The revolusion's broadcasts") and participated in the controversial film "Yossi & Jagger", which portrayed a homosexual relationship between a soldier (played by Yehuda Levi) and his commander (Ohad Knoller), and he later also participated in the comedy show "We won't stop laughing" alongside Guri Alfi, Rotem Aboav, Eli Finish and Mariano Idelman.

In 2003, he acted in the film "Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi" (Also: Ha-Kochavim Shel Shlomi). The same year he and Alfi broke up their comedy duo and Cohen married Lian Friedman.

In 2004 Cohen returned to television in the comedy show "Eifo Ata Chai?!" ( _he. איפה אתה חי?!, lit. Where have you been living?!) alongside Erez Tal, Shlomo Baraba and Hadar Levi where he played several characters such as Coco the Mizrahi singer, and Himri the healer. That year he also starred in the film "Colombian Love" (with Mili Avital, Menashe Noi and others) as a newly married husband whose father insists he divorce his bride. Also in 2004, Cohen played alongside Dana Modan in the Israeli Emmy Award winning television drama, "Love Hurts" ( _he. אהבה זה כואב).

In 2005 he participated in the Steven Spielberg feature film "Munich", dealing with the Israeli government's secret retaliation after the 1972 Munich massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes. The film featured notable actors Eric Bana, Daniel Craig and Geoffrey Rush as well as known Israeli actors like Ayelet Zurer and Gila Almagor. That same year he started his participation in the Emmy Award and Golden Screen awards winning television show "Eretz Nehederet" (Hebrew: Hebrew|ארץ נהדרת, lit. Wonderful Country), a satirical comedy with references to current affairs as well as parodies of the people involved. Among his characters on the show Cohen impersonated Illusionist Uri Geller, Football player Avi Nimni, Right-wing politician Avigdor Lieberman, and Arab Knesset member and minister Raleb Majadele. Cohen also participated that year in a short film titled "Halev HaRaev" ( _he. הלב הרעב, lit. The Hungry Heart) and hosted a show about "What Makes an Israeli" for Keshet's 57th Israeli Independence special, an 8 clip show portraying Israeli behaviors such as "wiping" humus to eat it, feeling a bread before purchasing it, drinking of "Mud" coffee, and other. [ [http://www.nrg.co.il/online/5/ART/931/939.html Happy Independence Day, Gever Gever] , NRG.co.il] ]

In 2007 he participated in the entertainment television show "Mesudarim" (Channel 2) ( _he. מסודרים, meaning "settled [for life] " in Israeli slang) where four childhood friends sell their gaming startup company for 217 million dollars, and deal with their newfound wealth. Chapter 9 of the show contained the first crossover in Israeli television, with the drama "Betipul" (lit. "In Treatment") which was later purchased by HBO; when Betipul's psychologist, played by Asi Dayan, is asked to analyze the group. [Three video segments from the crossover for "Mesudarim" with "Betipul": [http://www.keshet-tv.com/ProgramVideo.aspx?ProgID=3597&CatID=2384&MediaID=15580&CurrentCatID=2673] , [http://www.keshet-tv.com/ProgramVideo.aspx?CatID=2384&ProgID=3597&CurrentCatID=2673] , [http://www.keshet-tv.com/ProgramVideo.aspx?ProgID=3597&CatID=2384&MediaID=15581&CurrentCatID=2673] , from the website of Keshet] The format of Mesudarim was purchased by Fox Entertainment Group and given titled in the US as "Loaded". [ [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3542631,00.html CBS greenlights Israeli-based series ‘Mythological X’] , Meirav Crystal, Ynet, May 13, 2008.]

Filmography

* Ahava Columbianit - (Columbian Love) (2004)
* Ha-Kochavim Shel Shlomi - (Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi) (2003) .... Sasi
* Yossi & Jagger (2002)

References

External links

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* [http://bidur.msn.co.il/msnEntertainment/TvAndRadio/Articles/200606/20060614155126.htm Asi Cohen waits on a phone call from Arik Sharon] - Comedy sketch from Israeli comedy channel BIP where Asi acts like a soldier which was stuck in Lebanon for 24 years without knowing the 1982 Lebanon War was over.