Background
Lavi was born in Libya in 1953.
Lavi was born in Libya in 1953.
In the early 1980s Lavi graduated from acting school at the Kibbutzim College of Education, Technology and the Arts.
Lavi immigrated later on to Israel with his family which moved to Kiryat Gat. In 1973, during the Yom Kippur War Lavi participated in the war in the reserve forces of the Israel Defense Forces, and suffered from a posttraumatic stress disorder after the war. During his rehabilitation he was offered to study acting.
His first film was the drama Ma"agalim (1980).
Two years later Lavi acted in the film Ot Kain (1982) by Eran Preis which was directed by Uri Barbash. In 1984 he acted in the film Ani Vehami"ahav Shel Isht.
In 1985 Lavi acted in the film Banot (written by Assi Dayan) alongside Hana Azoulay Hasfari and in the film Ad Sof Halaylah. That same year he participated in the production of the Israeli-American film Goodbye, New York by Amos Kollek.
In 1986 he participated in the film Flash alongside Nitza Shaul, in Unsettled Land directed by Uri Barbash, and in Himmo Melech Yerushalaim.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s Lavi acted in several Israeli-American films. In addition he also participated in the film Zarim Balayla alongside Yael Abecassis. In 1994 he participated in the television film Driks" Brother which was directed by Doron Sabri.
In 1997 he played alongside Nathan Zahavi in the film Shabazi and in the television mini series Lincolnshire 300.
In 1998 he acted in Shemi Zarhin"s film Dangerous Acts alongside Moshe Ivgy and Gila Almagor. In 1999 he starred in the television mini series Isha Beafor and in the film Frank Sinatra Is Dead.
During that period he also acted in several television series and in the television films Life"s game (which was based on the life story of Lavi himself). In 2003, he appeared in the first ever Haredi telenovela called Ha-Chatzer, as the Rebbe, and in Amos Gitai"s film Alila.
During that year Lavi also began playing in the Israeli Telenovela Ahava Maine"ever Lapina.
In 2004 Lavi acted in another Amos Gitai film called Promised Land. In 2005 he participated in the television series Katav Plili and acted in the Haim Buzaglo film Distortion. That same year he acted in the film Schwartz Dynasty, Steven Spielberg"s film Munich and Menachem Golan"s film Days of Love.
In 2006 he participated in the third season of the Israeli musical daily drama Our Song as Aryeh Weiss.
In 2008 he participated in the second season of the Israeli children"s television series The Island. In 2010 he participated in Haim Buzaglo"s film Kavod and the television series Meorav Yerushalmi.
Lavi died of lung cancer, aged 57. He was buried at the Yarkon cemetery.