Daliah Lavi (1940-)

biography

Born Daliah Levenbuch in Palestine on October 12, 1940 (some sources cite 1942 as her year of birth), actress Daliah Lavi's film career was almost entirely contained in the decade of the 1960s. As a child growing up in Israel, she was a promising ballet student. In 1952, she met Kirk Douglas, who was starring in a war film, The Juggler (1953; with John Banner) that was shot in her village. Douglas and other cast members were so impressed with Lavi they financed a trip for her to Sweden to further her dance studies. In 1956, she returned to Israel when her father passed away. By this time she had grown into a 5'9" beauty and dropped dance in favor of modeling and acting. After appearing in a few films in her native country, she went to Italy to model but soon became bored with the profession. Lavi left Italy for France and by 1960, she was in Germany acting in films including Blazing Sand (1960) and The Return of Dr. Mabuse (1961; with Gert Fröbe and Lex Barker).

Lavi had a great deal of success in 1960s cinema, acting in such films as Ten Little Indians (1966; with Hugh O'Brian, Shirley Eaton, and Fabian), The Silencers (1966; with Dean Martin and Stella Stevens), and Casino Royale (1967; with Peter Sellers and Woody Allen). However, by the end of the decade, Lavi walked away from her acting career.

the films of daliah lavi

Two Weeks in Another Town (1962)

The Whip and the Body (1963)

Lord Jim (1965)

The Silencers (1966)

The Spy with a Cold Nose (1966)

Casino Royale (1967)

Those Fantastic Flying Fools, aka Rocket to the Moon (1967)

The High Commissioner (1968)

Some Girls Do (1969)

Catlow (1971)

daliah lavi today

By the late 1960s, Daliah Lavi has grown discontented with her film career. Increasingly, she was asked to disrobe in films, which she refused to do. Abandoning her film career, she was encouraged by actor Topol to try a singing career. By the early 1970s, Lavi was one of the most popular singers in Germany and had some success on British charts as well. By 1975, she stepped out of the limelight completely to focus on her third marriage and motherhood in Miami, Florida. When her marriage collapsed, she quit performing entirely. She returned to singing in 2008 with a German album of songs which serves as her swansong. Today, Lavi has four children and currently lives with her fourth husband, Charles, whom she married in 1977, in Asheville, North Carolina. Lavi has indicated that she is permanently retired.

daliah lavi films available from movies unlimited

The Dr. Mabuse Collection [DVD] DVD
First, the follow-up to Fritz Lang's classic films, "The Return of Dr. Mabuse" (1961), finds the diabolical German (Wolfgang Preiss) plotting to take over Munich with prison inmate zombies. Gert Frobe, Lex Barker also star. Next, Preiss stops at nothing to obtain an invisibility potion and become "The Invisible Dr. Mabuse" (1962), and detective Barker is the only one who can stop him. AKA: "The Invisible Horror." The final German-made Dr. Mabuse entry features "The Death Ray Mirror of Dr. Mabuse" (1964) threatening the planet. Preiss, Peter Van Eyck star. AKA: "The Secret of Dr. Mabuse." 180 min. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English (dubbed) Dolby Digital mono. Dubbed in English.
Apaches' Last Battle [DVD](1964) DVD
Offbeat and interesting German-made Western, third in the "Winnetou" series based on Karl May's novels. Lex Barker stars as grizzled ex-railroader Shatterhand, who, along with Indian blood brother Winnetou (Pierre Brice) tries to stop power-hungry Cavalry officer Guy Madison from fermenting war between the Apache and Comanche. Sultry Daliah Lavi also stars. AKA: "Old Surehand," "Shatterhand." 98 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English (dubbed). Dubbed in English.
Ten Little Indians [DVD](1965) DVD
A dinner party in a remote Alpine retreat becomes a search for a murderer when, one by one, the guests of the unseen host are killed. Hugh O'Brian, Shirley Eaton, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Dennis Price, and Fabian star in this variation of the Agatha Christie thriller. 90 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono.
The Silencers [DVD](1966) DVD
After the success of the James Bond films, Dean Martin swung his way onto the big screen as super-cool secret agent Matt Helm. This debut film in the series finds Martin and klutzy assistant Stella Stevens saving America's nuclear arsenal from Asian mastermind Victor Buono. With Daliah Lavi, Roger C. Carmel, and Beverly Adams as "Lovey Kravezit." 102 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French.
Matt Helm Lounge [DVD] DVD
After the success of the James Bond films, Dean Martin swung his way onto the big screen as super-cool secret agent Matt Helm in these popular lighthearted spy thrillers. The first film in the series, "The Silencers" (1966), finds Martin and klutzy assistant Stella Stevens saving America's nuclear arsenal from Asian mastermind Victor Buono. With Daliah Lavi, Roger C. Carmel, and Beverly Adams. Next, when criminal kingpin Karl Malden threatens to destroy Washington with a hijacked "helio-beam," it's up to ICE agent Helm to stop him, in the fast-paced "Murderers' Row" (1966), also starring Ann-Margret, James Gregory, and Dino, Desi & Billy. Then, the ace spy and lady-killer goes to Mexico with a gorgeous female scientist to track down a mysterious flying saucer, in "The Ambushers" (1967). With Janice Rule, Senta Berger. And the final film, "The Wrecking Crew" (1969), sees him teaming up with sexy sidekick Sharon Tate to find the criminal genius behind a billion-dollar gold hijacking. With Nigel Green, Elke Sommer, Nancy Kwan. 7 hrs. total on four discs. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, Japanese.
Casino Royale [Blu-ray](1967)
There's three times the action, three times the laughs, three times the girls and three times the 007s in this psychedelic James Bond spoof. Along with David Niven, a retired Bond lured back into harness to train his replacement(s) and defeat SMERSH once more, the all-star cast includes Woody Allen, Ursula Andress, Joanna Pettet, Peter Sellers, George Raft, and Orson Welles; music by Burt Bacharach. 131 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English DTS HD 5.1 Master Audio, French Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English (SDH), French, Spanish; audio commentary; "making of" documentary; theatrical trailer.
Casino Royale (40th Anniversary Edition) [DVD](1967) DVD
There's three times the action, three times the laughs, three times the girls and three times the 007s in this psychedelic James Bond spoof. Along with David Niven, a retired Bond lured back into harness to train his replacement(s) and defeat SMERSH once more, the all-star cast includes Woody Allen, Ursula Andress, Joanna Pettet, Peter Sellers, George Raft, and Orson Welles; music by Burt Bacharach. 130 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital; Subtitles: English, Spanish; audio commentary; "making of" documentary; featurettes; theatrical trailer.
Peter Sellers: M-G-M Movie Legends Collection [DVD] DVD
The zany, very '60s farce "What's New, Pussycat?" (1965), written by Woody Allen, stars Peter O'Toole as a womanizing magazine editor who seeks help from a neurotic psychiatrist (Peter Sellers) for his oversexed condition. Romy Schneider, Ursula Andress, Capucine, and Allen also star; Tom Jones sings the Bacharach-David title song. Sellers is captured in riotous, Clouseau-esque form as a klutzy Indian movie star who's imported to Hollywood...and manages to systematically trash both his first production and "The Party" (1968) held after the wrap! Gutbuster helmed by Blake Edwards co-stars Claudine Longet, Marge Champion, and Gavin McLeod. Four-disc set also includes "The Pink Panther" (1964) and "Casino Royale" (1967). 7 2/3 hrs. total. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono, Spanish Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Portuguese, Spanish.
Jules Verne's Rocket To The Moon [DVD](1967) DVD
Madcap British sci-fi comedy blends elements from the works of Jules Verne with the real-life legend of P.T. Barnum. Burl Ives is master showman Barnum, who, while travelling through Europe, puts his backing behind a plan to launch a man to the moon with a rocket cannon. Troy Donahue, Gert Frobe and Terry-Thomas also star. AKA: "Blast Off," "Those Fantastic Flying Fools." 101 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English.
The High Commissioner [DVD](1968) DVD
Stylish, fast-paced political actioner stars Rod Taylor as an Australian police detective sent to London to arrest compatriot Christopher Plummer, a high profile diplomat who's been accused of murder. But Taylor gets more than he bargained for when an attempt on Plummer's life casts him in the role of reluctant bodyguard. With Lilli Palmer, Camilla Sparv, Clive Revill. AKA: "Nobody Runs Forever." 101 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish.
Catlow [DVD](1971) DVD
Thrilling sagebrush drama mixed with comedy stars Yul Brynner as a drifter who tries to pull off a $2,000,000 heist. While plotting the daring robbery, his plans are complicated when he is hunted by his lawman friend (Richard Crenna) and a sinister outlaw (Leonard Nimoy). Based on the Louis L'Amour novel; Daliah Lavi, Jo Ann Pflug co-star. 101 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English (SDH); theatrical trailer.
Louis L'Amour Western Collection [DVD] DVD
Four-disc set includes "Catlow," "The Sacketts," and "Conagher."

daliah lavi dvds available from amazon.com

daliah lavi photos and posters available

filmography

FILM
Catlow (1971) with Yul Brynner, Richard Crenna, Leonard Nimoy, Jo Ann Pflug, and Jeff Corey
Some Girls Do (1969) with Richard Johnson and Robert Morley
The High Commissioner (1968) with Rod Taylor, Christopher Plummer, Lilli Palmer, Camilla Sparv, and Franchot Tone
Operation Kid Brother (1967) with Neil Connery, Adolfo Celi, Daniela Bianchi, Bernard Lee, and Lois Maxwell
Casino Royale (1967) with Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress, David Niven, Orson Welles, Joanna Pettet, Woody Allen, Deborah Kerr, and William Holden
Those Fantastic Flying Fools (1967) with Burl Ives, Troy Donahue, Gert Fröbe, Hermione Gingold, Lionel Jeffries, Dennis Price, and Terry-Thomas
The Spy with a Cold Nose (1966) with Laurence Harvey, Lionel Jeffries, Denholm Elliott, and June Whitfield
The Silencers (1966) with Dean Martin, Stella Stevens, Victor Buono, James Gregory, Nancy Kovack, Roger C. Carmel, and Cyd Charisse
Agatha Christie's 'Ten Little Indians' (1965) with Hugh O'Brian, Shirley Eaton, Fabian, and Dennis Price
Shots in 3/4 Time (1965) with Pierre Brice, Terence Hill, Anton Diffring, and Senta Berger
La Celestina P... R... (1965) with Franco Nero, Massimo Serato, and Marilù Tolo
Lord Jim (1965) with Peter O'Toole, James Mason, Curd Jurgens, and Eli Wallach
DM-Killer (1965) with Curd Jurgens
Cyrano et d'Artagnan (1965) with José Ferrer, Jean-Pierre Cassel, and Sylva Koscina
Shatterhand (1964) with Lex Barker, Pierre Brice, and Guy Madison
And So to Bed (1963) with Lilli Palmer, Hildegard Knef, and Peter van Eyck
The Whip and the Body (1963) with Christopher Lee and Tony Kendall; directed by Mario Bava
The Demon (1963)
Black-White-Red Four Poster (1962)
Two Weeks in Another Town (1962) with Kirk Douglas, Edward G. Robinson, Cyd Charisse, George Hamilton, Claire Trevor, and James Gregory
The Game of Truth (1961)
The Return of Dr. Mabuse (1961) with Gert Fröbe and Lex Barker
No Time for Ecstasy (1961) with Peter van Eyck
One Night at the Beach (1961)
Candide (1960) with Jean-Pierre Cassel
Blazing Sand (1960)
The People of Hemso (1955)

daliah lavi links

The Daliah Lavi Shrine

daliah lavi now showing

Watch and hear Daliah Lavi singing Oh wann kommst Du from 1970