Prominent Israeli actor Alon Aboutboul, who appeared in The Dark Knight Rises and Rambo III, has died at the age of 60.
Aboutboul reportedly died Tuesday on Habonim Beach near Zichron Ya’acov, Israel, according to The Jerusalem Post. The outlet reported that the actor received CPR from lifeguards after collapsing on the beach. He was unable to be revived.
The Independent has contacted local authorities for comment.
Miki Zohar, Israel’s minister for culture and sport, reacted to Aboutboul’s sudden death, writing on X: “I was deeply saddened to hear about the sudden passing of the actor Alon Aboutbul, may his memory be blessed.
“Last night, I watched an interview with him where he spoke about filming a movie he recently participated in, and the passion for his craft that radiated from him was evident even after so many years in the industry,” he added.
“Alon was a recipient of the Ophir Award and the Television Academy Award, and over the years, he portrayed a wide range of characters, bringing depth and emotion to them, leaving a profound mark on Israeli culture.”
Aboutboul was born May 28, 1965, in Kiryat Ata, Israel. After graduating from Thelma Yellin High School of Arts in 1983, he made his film debut in the Israeli romance drama Hapnimiyah.
Across his decades-long career, he racked up more than 100 movie and TV credits.
In 1986, he landed his breakout role in the popular Israeli war drama Two Fingers from Sidon, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
That same year, he appeared in his first American production, Every Time We Say Goodbye, starring Tom Hanks. He followed that with a role in Sylvester Stallone’s Rambo III (1988).
Aboutboul was later cast alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe in Ridley Scott’s 2008 action-thriller Body of Lies.
He also had roles in numerous American procedurals, including NCIS, The Mentalist, Fringe, Burn Notice, and Madam Secretary. He had a recurring role in FX’s six-season drama Snowfall as Avi Drexler.
However, he is perhaps best known to American audiences for playing Russian nuclear physicist Dr. Leonid Pavel in Christopher Nolan’s final Batman film, The Dark Knight Rises (2012).
As for Israeli media, he notably starred in the five-season drama series Shabatot VeHagim, the police drama Sirens, and the 2007 war-action movie, Beaufort.
His most recent project was in an Israeli TV miniseries, The German, playing Amos Shapira.
Aboutboul is survived by his wife, Shir Bilia, and their four children, per The Jerusalem Post.
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