Yisrael Poliakov, a member of Israel’s fabled comic trio Hagashash Hahiver (The Pale Tracker), died.
Poliakov, who was known to his fans as “Poli,” succumbed early Tuesday to a lengthy illness. He was 66.
The Pale Tracker’s sketches appealed to Israel’s working class and intelligentsia alike for their elaborate word play, which became known as “gashasheet.â€
Poliakov, who also made regular appearances in television and film, won an Israel Prize for his contributions to entertainment. President Shimon Peres issued a statement mourning his loss.
“Generations upon generations watched him and fell captive to his charm,” Peres said.
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