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{{Short description|Russian-born actor and teacher (1897–1968)}}
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'''Efim Raikin Ben-Ari''' (15 July 1897 – 2 January 1968) was a Russian-born actor, stage director, and teacher, mostly in America. He co-founded the [[Habima Theatre]] in [[Moscow]] in the 1920s, acted on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], founded the only Hebrew-language theatre in America, and taught and directed for four decades.<ref name="nyt-obit">"[https://www.nytimes.com/1968/01/09/archives/raikin-benari-70-a-habima-founder-actor-and-director-is-dead-drama.html Raikin Ben-Ari, 70, A Habima Founder]". ''[[The New York Times]]''. 9 January 1968. p. 32. Retrieved 17 July 2020.</ref>
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Raikin Ben-Ari
| native_name = {{Nobold|{{Script/Hebrew|רייקין בן ארי}}}}
| native_name_lang = he
| image = Raikin Ben-Ari in Gangster Story.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Ben-Ari in ''[[Gangster Story]]'' (1959)
| birth_name = Efim Raikin Ben-Ari
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1897|07|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Kyiv]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1968|01|02|1897|07|15|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Moscow]], [[Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic|Russian SFSR]]
| occupation = Actor, stage director, teacher
| years_active = 1920s&ndash;1968
| spouse = Anna
| children = 1
}}


⚫
'''Efim Raikin Ben-Ari''' ({{lang-he|אפיים רייקין בן ארי}}; 15 July 1897 &ndash; 2 January 1968) was a Russian-born actor, stage director, and teacher, mostly in America. He co-founded the [[Habima Theatre]] in [[Moscow]] in the 1920s, acted on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], founded the only Hebrew-language theatre in America, and taught and directed for four decades.<ref name="nyt-obit">"[https://www.nytimes.com/1968/01/09/archives/raikin-benari-70-a-habima-founder-actor-and-director-is-dead-drama.html Raikin Ben-Ari, 70, A Habima Founder]". ''[[The New York Times]]''. 9 January 1968. p. 32. Retrieved 17 July 2020.</ref>
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==Early LIfe and Career==


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==Early life and career==
Ben-Ari, whose family name was Raikin, was born near [[Kiev]] (now in [[Ukraine]]).<ref name="nyt-obit"/> He took his father's last name as his first name and called himself Raikin Ben-Ari, or "Raikin, son of a lion."<ref>Raikin Ben-Ari funeral eulogy, recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io1R8SIwjOg</ref> After training at a polytechnic school in the sciences, Ben-Ari became interested in theatre.<ref>Raikin Ben-Ari funeral eulogy, recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io1R8SIwjOg</ref> He co-founded the famed Habima Theatre in Moscow, a Hebrew-language theatre, at a time when revolutionary Russia did not look kindly on Jewish-oriented activities.<ref name="Atkinson">[[Brooks Atkinson|Atkinson, Brooks]] (25 August 1957). "[https://www.nytimes.com/1957/08/25/archives/value-of-an-idea-five-set-designers-at-work-on-incoming-broadway.html?searchResultPosition=6 Value of an Idea]". ''The New York Times''. 25 August 1957. p. 113. Retrieved 17 July 2020.</ref> The company produced a landmark production of ''[[The Dybbuk]]'', a play which has gone on to be a staple of Jewish theatre.<ref name="Atkinson"/>
Ben-Ari, whose family name was Raikin, was born near [[Kyiv]] (now in [[Ukraine]]).<ref name="nyt-obit"/> He took his father's last name as his first name and called himself Raikin Ben-Ari, or "Raikin, son of a lion."<ref name="youtube.com">Raikin Ben-Ari funeral eulogy, recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io1R8SIwjOg</ref> After training at a polytechnic school in the sciences, Ben-Ari became interested in theatre.<ref name="youtube.com"/> He co-founded the famed Habima Theatre in Moscow, a Hebrew-language theatre, at a time when revolutionary Russia did not look kindly on Jewish-oriented activities.<ref name="Atkinson">[[Brooks Atkinson|Atkinson, Brooks]] (25 August 1957). "[https://www.nytimes.com/1957/08/25/archives/value-of-an-idea-five-set-designers-at-work-on-incoming-broadway.html?searchResultPosition=6 Value of an Idea]". ''The New York Times''. 25 August 1957. p. 113. Retrieved 17 July 2020.</ref> The company produced a landmark production of ''[[The Dybbuk]]'', a play which has gone on to be a staple of Jewish theatre.<ref name="Atkinson"/>


In the 1920s, Ben-Ari and the Habima company traveled to New York and produced ''[[The Dybbuk]]'' on Broadway. A schism formed in the company and some members went to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], reestablishing Habima there, where it continues (now in [[Israel]]) to this day as the premiere Hebrew theatre company.<ref name="Atkinson"/> Other members of the company, including Ben-Ari, remained in the United States. Ben-Ari founded the [[Pargot Theatre]], the only Hebrew-language theatre in America.<ref name="nyt-obit"/> A follower of the work of [[Constantin Stanislavski]], Ben-Ari subsequently taught acting in [[Erwin Piscator]]'s theatre workshop at the [[New School for Social Research]], where his students included [[Walter Matthau]], [[Marlon Brando]], [[Tony Curtis]], [[Tony Franciosa]], and [[Rod Steiger]].<ref name="nyt-obit"/>
In the 1920s, Ben-Ari and the Habima company traveled to New York and produced ''[[The Dybbuk]]'' on Broadway. A schism formed in the company and some members went to [[Tel Aviv]], reestablishing Habima there, where it continues (now in [[Israel]]) to this day as the premiere Hebrew theatre company.<ref name="Atkinson"/> Other members of the company, including Ben-Ari, remained in the United States. Ben-Ari founded the [[Pargot Theatre]], the only Hebrew-language theatre in America.<ref name="nyt-obit"/> A follower of the work of [[Constantin Stanislavski]], Ben-Ari subsequently taught acting in [[Erwin Piscator]]'s theatre workshop at the [[New School for Social Research]], where his students included [[Walter Matthau]], [[Marlon Brando]], [[Tony Curtis]], [[Tony Franciosa]], and [[Rod Steiger]].<ref name="nyt-obit"/>


Eventually, in 1948, Ben-Ari moved to California and established a workshop in Los Angeles. Lucille Ball taught a class there on comedy.
Eventually, in 1948, Ben-Ari moved to California and established a workshop in Los Angeles. Lucille Ball taught a class there on comedy.

[[File:Lucille Ball2.jpg|thumb|Lucille Ball Teaches Comedy]]
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He also appeared in film and television roles in productions as disparate as ''[[Adventures of Superman (TV series)|Adventures of Superman]]'', ''[[Al Capone (film)|Al Capone]]'', and ''[[Combat!]]''. He was the drama director of the [[Brandeis-Bardin Institute|Brandeis Institute]] in [[Simi Valley, California]], where he taught for many years.<ref>Gordon, Mel, ''Stanislavsky in America''. Routledge, 2009</ref>
[[File:Lucille Ball Teaching Comedy.jpg|thumb|Lucille Ball Teaches Comedy]]
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He died of a heart attack while visiting his brother in Moscow on January 2, 1968.<ref name="nyt-obit"/> He was survived by his wife Anna ("Nussia") and daughter Renah.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
⚫
He also appeared in film and television roles in productions as disparate as ''[[Adventures of Superman (TV series)|Adventures of Superman]]'', ''[[Al Capone (film)|Al Capone]]'', and ''[[Combat!]]''. He was the drama director of the [[Brandeis-Bardin Institute|Brandeis Institute]] in [[Simi Valley, California]], where he taught for many years.
[[File:Ben-Ari Teaches acting to campers .jpg|thumb|Ben-Ari teaches acting to campers]]
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<ref>Gordon, Mel, ''Stanislavsky in America''. Routledge, 2009</ref> He died of a heart attack while visiting his brother in Moscow on January 2, 1968.<ref name="nyt-obit"/> He was survived by his wife Anna ("Nussia") and daughter Renah.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
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==External links==
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io1R8SIwjOg Video about Ben-Ari], based on photographs, via YouTube
*{{IMDb name|0034641|Raikin Ben-Ari}}


{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}
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[[Category:Russian male stage actors]]
[[Category:Russian male stage actors]]
[[Category:1897 births]]
[[Category:1897 births]]
[[Category:1962 deaths]]
[[Category:1968 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Russian male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Russian male actors]]
[[Category:Actors from Kiev]]
[[Category:Male actors from Kyiv]]


{{Russia-actor-stub}}

Latest revision as of 02:32, 20 March 2024

Raikin Ben-Ari
רייקין בן ארי‎
Ben-Ari in Gangster Story (1959)
Born
Efim Raikin Ben-Ari

(1897-07-15)15 July 1897
Kyiv
Died2 January 1968(1968-01-02) (aged 70)
Moscow, Russian SFSR
Occupation(s)Actor, stage director, teacher
Years active1920s–1968
SpouseAnna
Children1

Efim Raikin Ben-Ari (Hebrew: אפיים רייקין בן ארי; 15 July 1897 – 2 January 1968) was a Russian-born actor, stage director, and teacher, mostly in America. He co-founded the Habima Theatre in Moscow in the 1920s, acted on Broadway, founded the only Hebrew-language theatre in America, and taught and directed for four decades.[1]

Early life and career[edit]

Ben-Ari, whose family name was Raikin, was born near Kyiv (now in Ukraine).[1] He took his father's last name as his first name and called himself Raikin Ben-Ari, or "Raikin, son of a lion."[2] After training at a polytechnic school in the sciences, Ben-Ari became interested in theatre.[2] He co-founded the famed Habima Theatre in Moscow, a Hebrew-language theatre, at a time when revolutionary Russia did not look kindly on Jewish-oriented activities.[3] The company produced a landmark production of The Dybbuk, a play which has gone on to be a staple of Jewish theatre.[3]

In the 1920s, Ben-Ari and the Habima company traveled to New York and produced The Dybbuk on Broadway. A schism formed in the company and some members went to Tel Aviv, reestablishing Habima there, where it continues (now in Israel) to this day as the premiere Hebrew theatre company.[3] Other members of the company, including Ben-Ari, remained in the United States. Ben-Ari founded the Pargot Theatre, the only Hebrew-language theatre in America.[1] A follower of the work of Constantin Stanislavski, Ben-Ari subsequently taught acting in Erwin Piscator's theatre workshop at the New School for Social Research, where his students included Walter Matthau, Marlon Brando, Tony Curtis, Tony Franciosa, and Rod Steiger.[1]

Eventually, in 1948, Ben-Ari moved to California and established a workshop in Los Angeles. Lucille Ball taught a class there on comedy.

He also appeared in film and television roles in productions as disparate as Adventures of Superman, Al Capone, and Combat!. He was the drama director of the Brandeis Institute in Simi Valley, California, where he taught for many years.[4] He died of a heart attack while visiting his brother in Moscow on January 2, 1968.[1] He was survived by his wife Anna ("Nussia") and daughter Renah.[citation needed]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1956 Death of a Scoundrel French Police Prefect Uncredited
1959 Al Capone Ben Hoffman
1959 Gangster Story 'Plumber' - a Hood

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Raikin Ben-Ari, 70, A Habima Founder". The New York Times. 9 January 1968. p. 32. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  2. ^ a b Raikin Ben-Ari funeral eulogy, recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Io1R8SIwjOg
  3. ^ a b c Atkinson, Brooks (25 August 1957). "Value of an Idea". The New York Times. 25 August 1957. p. 113. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  4. ^ Gordon, Mel, Stanislavsky in America. Routledge, 2009

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Raikin Ben-Ari.
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