20 years since Dudu Dotan's death: "In all the ripping imitations - there was always something sad about him"

20 years after his death at the age of 51, an event was held in memory of the actor and comedian on stage.

Mickey stood up: "He left behind a very large pit."

Gila Almagor: "He managed to make up for the terrible childhood when he built a family to glory."

Roi Bar Natan: "He had an authentic and deep concern for artists."

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Sagi Ben Nun

21/11/2021

Sunday, 21 November 2021, 08:00 Updated: 08:22

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Rivka Michaeli, Gila Almagor, Roi Bar Natan, Miki Kam and Hani Nachmias tell Walla!

Culture about the actor and comedian Dudu Dotan on the 20th anniversary of his death (Interviewer and photographer: Sagi Ben Nun, Photos: Coco, Here 11, courtesy of the Dotan family)

20 years have passed since the untimely death of the beloved actor, comedian and creator Dudu Dotan.

Just before his 52nd birthday, in September 2001, Dotan died of a heart attack while traveling in Turkey.

On the second anniversary of his death, an exciting tribute event was held at noon on Friday (Friday) at the Habima Theater with the participation of many artists, including Rivka Michaeli, Gila Almagor, Roi Bar Natan, Avi Toledano, Harel Skaat, Roni Dalumi, Zvika Hadar, Idan Raichel, Lior Kalfon and Hani Nachmis.

All the artists performed voluntarily and the proceeds of the event were donated to the EMI Foundation for Distressed Artists established by Dotan.

"I knew him as a chubby, funny and very ambitious kid," Rebecca Michaeli told Walla! Culture about Dotan, who was the son of the criminal Aryeh Berger who came in and out of prison, and Shoshana who worked as a housekeeper. At the age of 15, he won first place in one of the radio programs "First Yields" judged by Michaeli. "He set up a children's theater out of nothing, from scratch, and I always admire his starting point. After all, we want our children to go far, and we invest in them and give them a lot, and this is a boy who took care of his siblings. I remember him constantly holding his younger brother. "I stood out in the young talent competition where I judged."

Dotan first served in the Golani Brigade, and after the Six Day War he was transferred to the Golani Life Team and from there to the Northern Command Band.

Over the years, he has hosted programs, including the matchmaking program on television, "This is what it is," and the radio programs "Latzon falls on Latzon" on Kol Yisrael and "Shlosha Bagigit" on the C network alongside Shosh Atari.

He has also starred in musicals including "The King and I" and "His Fat Uncle," as well as published various books and guides.

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Dudu Dotan (Photo: Courtesy of the family, Coco)

One of his books was the autobiography "Little Demon", in which he told about his difficult childhood, and it became a solo show before his death (watch an excerpt from the show - below). "I really liked his uncle," said Gila Almagor, "his book 'Little Demon' came out after I published 'Her Father's Summer.' I told him - do you have anything to tell? Is there something in your stomach? Do not die with this story. You have to get it out. And so it was. He wrote 'Little Demon.' On stage. Just as the book was a success the show was a success. At least that's what he won. "

Gila Almagor: "I do not believe there are entertainers who are just entertainers. Take the greatest comedians, and you will see that a good comedian can play a dramatic role and make the viewer shed a tear, and so was his uncle."

Hani Nachmias: "I think there is no actor who does not feel that he has been cataloged at some point in his life. There is no actor who does not feel missed. Puppet 'And who would have thought that after such a dramatic role would come Mrs. Pepper? So even his uncle, who was a comedian and entertainer, did not find his place on the stage of the theater, "His uncle and his very special personality, because his uncle is a survivor. A true survivor."

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Dudu Dotan in an excerpt from the play "Little Demon", which was based on his book of the same name and described his difficult childhood days

Dudu Dotan in an excerpt from the play "Little Demon", which was based on his book of the same name and described his difficult childhood days (courtesy of Miri Dotan)

To a large extent, his uncle responded to the image of the sad clown.

Gila Almagor: "If you knew how to look his uncle deep in the eyes, you could see that in all the imitations of Shoshana Damari and all the laughs there is something sad, that I could not put my finger on until I read the book 'Little Demon'. He has a very difficult childhood story. "He does not choose his childhood and his parents, and he had a terrible childhood."

Rivka Michaeli: "When I read the book 'Little Demon' I was amazed at the way he fought, I did not know how serious it was, what degree of poverty he had reached. So I tell his uncle now, let him know that on Dudu Dotan Street there are luxury apartments today."

Hani Nachmias: "His play 'Little Demon' was from Satterfis. I sat and shattered in the hall. Knowing that this man, who came from such dark places, created such an endearing and happy and happy personality that overflows with humor, made me quiver at heart."

Dotan volunteered a lot, received the President's Medal for Volunteering for his help and contribution, and stood out as chairman of the EMI (Israel Artists Association), where he worked to establish a foundation that helps distressed artists and was elected to head it.

"As soon as EMI got up, after a few days we decided that we should take care of our friends first," says Almagor. The artists, so that we can help artists in distress.

Then his uncle, who will be well remembered, after being elected chairman of EMI took up the interest of the Foundation for Distressed Artists and it became a factory.

I'm glad it's a factory in his memory. "

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Rivka Michaeli tells about Dudu Dotan at a tribute event to the actor, comedian and creator on the 20th anniversary of his death at the Habima Theater, November 19, 2021

Rivka Michaeli tells about Dudu Dotan at a tribute event to the actor, comedian and creator on the 20th anniversary of his death, Habima Theater, November 19, 2021 (Photography and editing: Riki Arikha, courtesy of Habima Theater)

At what moments is your uncle most missing you?

Rebecca Michaeli: "I miss him mostly in programs, I would like to see him on screen. There are a lot of programs he could manage, participate in, and he has something to say. He was supposed to be 70 years old. He probably has wonderful insights about age. He "He must have been very funny to me, I could find in his words some points that touch my life. I miss him in my biography."

Hani Nachmias: "I miss my uncle first and foremost as a friend. On stage we often collaborated, especially on TV, but what I miss is the joint evenings of wine and ouzo, food, laughter and trips. We traveled with the whole family, including the children and Miri, in Israel and around the world. "

Mickey stood up: "He's missing now, for example, when there's a tribute event in his honor, how is he not here? His uncle really left behind a very large kind of pit. He was a wonderful comedian. He was a terribly hot man in life. "I'm interested in himself. I remember a constant smile smeared on his face, and a kind of shining eyes like a naughty four-year-old boy ringing the bell and running away. It was his uncle."

Roi Bar Natan: "Dudu Dotan was an integral part of my childhood landscape. Sketches, videotapes, instructions from all corners of the bronze, he was a kind of ultimate facilitator with tremendous pulls, speed, intelligence and subtle irony. This whole thing accompanied the girls very much. Mine and my friends in Ramat Hasharon. And his character was walking around in Ramat Hasharon, we would see him in Pazit Cafe. And he also had a tremendous influence and attack of kindness. And I really miss him. "

Dudu Dotan (Photo: Courtesy of the family, Coco)

Dotan stood out with his ripping imitations.

Roy, as a mighty imitator in your own right, would you agree that he was Shoshana Damari's best imitator?

"Shoshana was his specialty. Listen, this imitation was tremendous. There was also a very close friendship between them. In general, he was a type, he had an authentic and deep concern for artists, it's not something you see every day. His uncle was inspiring."

Mickey Kam: "One of his wonderful sketches was about a bunch of actors at their time at a nursing home. If he was with us, I believe there probably must have been a very long waiting list for the artists' nursing home these days, and he would have auditioned for them."

Hani Nachmias: "I do not know what would have happened if the prophecy had been given to fools. I believe his uncle had a place of honor on stage even today. I am sure his relevance was different. Because age does its thing. And the AMI nursing home is waiting for him, After all, he 'founded' it.

But his built-in humor and talent no one could take from him.

So I believe we would have seen him in entertainment productions and major productions.

"" It's sad that everything was interrupted by Ivo, in the midst of such a personal success, and his uncle died so young, "Almagor adds." A man does not know the sum of his years and life.

At least I know and am happy for him that he got to start an exemplary family, with a great wife - Miri, and his children, it's a glorious family.

For someone who comes from a lousy family, forgive me for the expression, this is proof that you have the ability to compensate yourself. "

Watch the artists tell stories about Dudu Dotan and an excerpt from the tribute event in his memory - in the videos above.

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