The comedian, impersonator and actor Yossi Vider passed away at the age of 57, his family said today (Saturday). Vader died in the Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv after a battle with a serious illness, his funeral will be held tomorrow. He left behind his wife Davorit, two children and a granddaughter. His daughter Shay told Mako: “His good heart died tonight in the Ichilov Hospital.”
Vader was born in Nahariya in 1967. After his release from the army, he established a business for car and cell phone accessories in the city. Despite the success of his business, Vader decided in the 90s to give it up, move to Tel Aviv and develop a career in the entertainment business. Initially, Vider worked together with Shlomo Sadan on a stand-up show, at the same time as his work on a solo show, and participated in Yigal Shilon’s “Misses” show, where he hugged and teased many famous people.
Later, Vader began to participate in many radio programs regularly. In Yaron Ilan’s show on Radio Jerusalem, Vader invented the character “Simi the Moroccan”. After that, he appeared for two years on Yaron Ilan’s TV show “Rich Menta”, and at the same time he started participating in Didi Harari’s radio show, “Didi Local”, as well as in the TV show “Shishi Begaon” presented by Yoram Gaon. Later on, Vader got a daily radio show on Midway Radio called “Face Lift”. In the mid-2000s, Vader participated in the program “The Night with Lior Shlain” on Channel 10.
In 2009 Vader created a stand-up show together with Avi Belkin called “What’s the pressure”, and at the same time released two CDs of pranks called “Laughing all the way with Yossi Vader”. Among the famous imitations and pranks that Vider performed on celebrities and public figures, the most well-known is the one from 2007, when he pranked the then Speaker of the Knesset, Reuven Rivlin, imitating Shimon Peres and asking Rivlin to withdraw from the presidential race. In 2017, he harassed the journalist Amnon Abramovich and imitated Ehud Barak, suggesting that he oust Benjamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister.
During the 2019 elections, he caused a stir when he insulted Amnon Abramovich when he appeared on Likud TV, as part of the party’s campaign, and it was interpreted that he was mocking the appearance of Abramovich who was wounded and burned in the Yom Kippur War. In response to the criticism against him, Vider said in an interview with radio 103fm: “For a moment I didn’t think that the question ‘how do I look’ is related to Abramovich’s disability and I am a very strict person. We really did not intend to see Amnon as disabled. I see him as a media person. Now they are looking to make a spin on us.” .
Yossi Vider with Shalom and Manny Essig on the set of the series “The 80’s” | Photo: Mako
In 2018, Vader put on a stand-up show that he co-wrote with Manny Assig. After that he participated in the series “The 80’s” by Shalom and Manny Essig, where he played the character of the Romanian Mendel. Vader returned to play the same character in the sequel series “The 90s”, as well as in 2023 in the successful film based on the series – “The Fun”. Shalom Assig paid tribute to him in a conversation with mako: “Yossi was a very talented guy who left successful businesses and pursued his dream of being an entertainer. He was a man of good deeds, a lot of giving to others and the first to volunteer. He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather and friend. Sending condolences to his dear family, May his memory be blessed.”
As part of his volunteer activities, Vader established a workshop for humor and acting at Kibbutz Ashdot Ya’akov for children with disabilities, and performed over the years as a volunteer at Beit Levinstein and the Furia Hospital.
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Yossi Vider: The Israeli Comedian, Impersonator, and Actor Who Left a Lasting Legacy
With the sad news of his passing at the age of 57, Yossi Vider, the renowned Israeli comedian, impersonator, and actor, leaves behind a legacy of laughter, entertainment, and memorable performances. Born in Nahariya in 1967, Vider initially established a successful business for car and cell phone accessories before making a bold decision to pursue a career in the entertainment industry in the 1990s.
Early Years and Rise to Fame
Vider’s journey in the entertainment industry began with stand-up comedy shows, where he worked alongside notable comedians like Shlomo Sadan. He also participated in Yigal Shilon’s “Misses” show, where he showcased his talent for impersonation and teasing famous people. His unique style and wit quickly gained him recognition, leading to regular appearances on various radio programs, including Yaron Ilan’s show on Radio Jerusalem, where he introduced the character “Simi the Moroccan” [[2]].
Radio and Television Appearances
Throughout his career, Vider made numerous appearances on popular radio shows, such as ”Didi Local” and “Face Lift” on Midway Radio. He also participated in television shows like “Rich Menta” and ”Shishi Begaon”, presented by Yoram Gaon. In the mid-2000s, Vider was a part of the program “The Night with Lior Shlain” on Channel 10 [[2]].
Notable Performances and Controversies
One of Vider’s most famous impersonations was when he pranked the then Speaker of the Knesset, Reuven Rivlin, in 2007, imitating Shimon Peres and asking Rivlin to withdraw from the presidential race. In 2017, he sparked controversy by harassing journalist Amnon Abramovich, imitating Ehud Barak and suggesting that he oust Benjamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister. During the 2019 elections, Vider faced criticism for allegedly mocking Abramovich’s appearance on Likud TV, which he later clarified was not intended to offend [[3]].
Stand-up Comedy and Film Career
In 2009, Vider created a stand-up show with Avi Belkin called “What’s the pressure”, accompanied by the release of two CDs of pranks, “Laughing all the way with Yossi Vader”. In 2018, he co-wrote and starred in a stand-up show with Manny Assig, and later participated in the series “The 80’s” by Shalom and Manny Essig, playing the character of the Romanian Mendel. Vider reprised this role in the sequel series “The 90s” and in the 2023 film “The Fun” [[1]].
Tribute and Legacy
Shalom Assig paid tribute to Vider, celebrating his contribution to the world of comedy and entertainment. With his passing, Israel has lost a beloved comedian, impersonator, and actor who brought joy and laughter to countless audiences. Yossi Vider’s legacy will continue to inspire new generations of comedians and entertainers, and his work will be remembered for years to come.
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What are the key achievements in Yossi Vader’s comedy career that contributed to his legacy?
Yossi Vader: A Comedy Legend Passes Away at 57
The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Yossi Vader, a renowned comedian, impersonator, and actor who passed away at the age of 57. Vader died in the Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv after a battle with a serious illness, leaving behind his wife Davorit, two children, and a granddaughter.
Born in Nahariya in 1967, Vader initially established a successful business for car and cell phone accessories before deciding to pursue a career in the entertainment industry in the 1990s. He moved to Tel Aviv and began working on stand-up shows, eventually creating his own solo show and participating in various radio programs.
Vader’s talent for impersonation and prank calls earned him a reputation as a master of comedy. He famously pranked the then Speaker of the Knesset, Reuven Rivlin, imitating Shimon Peres and asking Rivlin to withdraw from the presidential race in 2007. In 2017, he harassed journalist Amnon Abramovich, imitating Ehud Barak and suggesting that he oust Benjamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister.
Throughout his career, Vader participated in numerous radio programs, including Yaron Ilan’s show on Radio Jerusalem, where he invented the character “Simi the Moroccan.” He also appeared on TV shows such as “Rich Menta” and “Shishi Begaon,” presented by Yoram Gaon. In the mid-2000s, Vader participated in the program “The Night with Lior Shlain” on Channel 10.
In 2009, Vader created a stand-up show with Avi Belkin called “What’s the pressure” and released two CDs of pranks called “Laughing all the way with Yossi Vader.” He also participated in the series “The 80’s” and “The 90s,” playing the character of the Romanian Mendel, and appeared in the successful film “The Fun” in 2023.
Vader’s daughter, Shay, paid tribute to her father, saying, “His good heart died tonight in the Ichilov Hospital.” Shalom Assig, with whom Vader worked on the series “The 80’s,” also expressed his condolences, stating, “Yossi was a very talented guy who left so many memories.”
While Vader’s passing is a tremendous loss to the entertainment industry, his legacy will live on through the countless laughs and memories he brought to audiences throughout his career.
Other Yossi’s
It’s worth noting that there are other individuals with the name Yossi who are not related to the late comedian Yossi Vader.
In one instance, a Twitter user named Yossi (@LilPinkCritter) tweeted, “Darth Vader has launched an attack on rebel forces” [[2]]. This is likely a reference to the Star Wars character Darth Vader and is unrelated to the comedian Yossi Vader.
Additionally, an Etsy seller offers a Star Wars-inspired item featuring Darth Vader and Baby Yoda, with the description written in Italian [[3]]. This is also unrelated to the comedian Yossi Vader.
In another instance, a Dutch news article reports on a tragic incident where a father, Almog Meir Jan, did not live to see his son’s release from captivity, dying of a broken heart the same day his son was freed [[1]]. This article is not related to the comedian Yossi Vader.
These examples highlight the importance of distinguishing between individuals with the same name to ensure accurate information and avoid confusion.
