Gil Ofarim

{{Short description|German singer, songwriter, and actor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist  | name = Gil Ofarim | image = Gil Ofarim Konzert 2018 Berlin.jpg | caption = Ofarim in 2018. | image_size = | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Gil Doron Reichstadt Ofarim | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1982|8|13}} | birth_place = Munich, West Germany | death_date = | origin = | instrument = Electric guitar | genre = {{hlist|Pop|pop rock}} | occupation = {{flatlist| * Singer * songwriter * actor }} | years_active = 1997–present | label = | associated_acts = {{hlist|Acht|Zoo Army}} | website = {{URL|gilofarim.com}} }}

'''Gil Doron Reichstadt Ofarim''' (born 13 August 1982) is a German singer, songwriter, and actor, also known as the lead singer of the bands Zoo Army and Acht.

==Early life== Ofarim is the first child of Israeli musician Abi Ofarim (1937–2018) and his third wife Sandra. He has a younger brother, Tal, a musician, who was born in 1984. Gil speaks German, Hebrew and English. He sings in English and German.

==Music career== Ofarim's showbiz career took off in May 1997 when he was spotted in a Munich underground station by a talent scout for ''Bravo'' magazine and was asked to do a pictorial story spread. The article generated thousands of letters from fans and he landed a recording contract with BMG. His first single "Round 'n' Round (It Goes)" was released in November 1997 and became a top 40 hit in Germany. Ofarim's debut album ''Here I Am'' was released to international success in May 1998.<ref>[http://www.yongsi.com/gil] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211154835/http://www.yongsi.com/gil/ |date=11 February 2021 }} Gil Ofarim fan site. URL referenced 27 August 2007.</ref>

===2003–2007: ''On My Own''=== [[File:Gil Ofarim.jpg|thumb|upright|Ofarim on stage at the Hockenheimring in 2004.]] After several other successful singles, Ofarim became increasingly disenchanted with being a teen idol. His 2003 album ''On My Own'', released on Neotone Records, showcased his move in a different musical direction, taking his work further into the pop rock and adult contemporary genres.<ref name="express">{{cite web|first=Horst|last=Stellmacher|url=https://www.express.de/news/promi-und-show/gil-ofarim--ich-habe-jon-bon-jovi-wuest-beschimpft---36770472|title=Gil Ofarim: "Ich habe Jon Bon Jovi wüst beschimpft"|website=express.de|date=4 June 2020|accessdate=16 June 2020|archive-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109134140/https://www.express.de/news/promi-und-show/gil-ofarim--ich-habe-jon-bon-jovi-wuest-beschimpft---36770472|url-status=dead}}</ref> While the album failed to chart,<ref name="ger"/> it produced the single "The Reason" and led to a stint as Bon Jovi's opening act on the German leg of their Bounce Tour.<ref name="express"/> In 2004, Ofarim ventured into acting when he co-starred in the ProSieben coming-of-age film ''Endlich Sex!'' alongside Jasmin Schwiers. In it, he played musician Christoph, the love interest of lead role Saskia. The film was broadcast to moderate ratings but was largely panned by critics.<ref>{{cite web|first=Thomas|last=Gehringer|url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/gesellschaft/medien/endlich-sex/502480.html|title=Der "Bravo"-Fotoroman funktioniert auch als Pro-7-Komödie|website=tagesspiegel.de|date=25 March 2004|accessdate=16 June 2020}}</ref> Ofarim performed several songs in ''Endlich Sex!'', including "In Your Eyes" which was released by Neotone as a single in March 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.de/Your-Eyes-Gil-Ofarim/dp/B015QTQTV8|title=In Your Eyes – Single|website=amazon.de|accessdate=16 June 2020}}</ref>

Starting in 2005, Ofarim became the lead singer of the rock band Zoo Army, also consisting of his brother Tal, Roland Söns and Dominik Scholz. They released their first single "I'm Alive" and their debut album ''507'' in the first half of 2006.<ref name="express"/> The same year, he had a supporting role in the RTL two-part television drama film ''{{Ill|Storm Tide (2006 film)|de|3=Die Sturmflut|lt=Storm Tide}}'', a fictionalized ensemble story depicting the events surrounding the North Sea flood of 1962. Starring a roster of bankable television actors such as Jan Josef Liefers and Götz George, the film earned largely favorable reviews and strong ratings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tittelbach.tv/programm/mehrteiler/artikel-1622.html|title=Mehrteiler "Die Sturmflut"|website=tittelbach.tv|accessdate=16 June 2020}}</ref> Also in 2016, Ofarim played the lead role in the American b movie ''Strip Mind'', which opened in Germany on 3 January 2007. The psychological thriller was largely panned by critics who criticized its casting, pacing and the "horrible" synchronization.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kino.de/film/strip-mind-2006/|title=Strip Mind|website=kino.de|accessdate=16 June 2020}}</ref> The following year, Disney consulted him to record "So nah," the German version of Jon McLaughlin's "So Close" from the musical fantasy film ''Enchanted'' (2007) as well as "Mehr als du seh’n kannst," a re-written version of Rufus Wainwright's "Another Believer," for the animated science fiction comedy film ''Meet the Robinsons'' (2007).<ref name="express"/>

===2008–present: Band career and ''Alles auf Hoffnung''=== In 2008, Ofarim had a guest role in an episode of the children's television series ''Ein Fall für B.A.R.Z.''.<ref name="express"/> The same year, he formed another rock band, Acht, along with Oswin Ottl, Petros Kontos, and Andy Lind. Their debut album, ''Stell dir vor'', entirely recorded in German and released in 2010, reflected a new domestic-marketing approach. The quartet supported American singer Alex Band throughout his European concert tour.<ref name="express"/> Also in 2020, Ofarim had appeared as a guest in the ZDF crime television series ''Ein starkes Team''.<ref name="express"/> In October 2012, Ofarim was a contestant on the second season of ''The Voice of Germany''. Coached by singer Xavier Naidoo, he was eliminated in the season's quarter final.<ref name="augsburger-allgemeine">{{cite web|url=https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/panorama/Gil-Ofarim-Der-einstige-Teenie-Star-will-es-noch-einmal-wissen-id22859936.html|title=Gil Ofarim: Der einstige Teenie-Star will es noch einmal wissen|website=augsburger-allgemeine.de|date=23 November 2012 |accessdate=16 June 2020}}</ref> His live performances of The Goo Goo Dolls's "Iris" (1998) and Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" both entered the German Singles Chart and marked his first chart entries in a decade.<ref name="augsburger-allgemeine"/>

In 2013, Ofarim had a recurring role as Mick in the mystery series ''Armans Geheimnis'', produced by and broadcast on Das Erste. In 2017, he took part in the German TV series '' Let's Dance'' and became winner with his dance partner Ekaterina Leonova. On 1 August 2019, he was revealed to be the Grasshopper on The Masked Singer where he was placed as runner-up.

==Personal life== In 2007, a newly identified species of moth from the ''Amata'' genus and found in Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights was named ''Amata gil'' after him.<ref name=Amatagil>{{cite journal|last1=Witt|first1=Thomas J.|last2=Kravchenko|first2=Vasiliy D.|last3=Spiedel|first3=Wolfgang|last4=Mooser|first4=Josef|last5=Junnila|first5=Amy|last6=Müller|first6=Günter C.|title=A new ''Amata'' species from Israel (Arctiidae, Syntominae)|journal=Nota Lepidopterologica|year=2007|volume=30|issue=2|pages=367–373|url=http://www.soceurlep.eu/uploads/nota/bd30_2/09_Witt.pdf|issn=0342-7536}}</ref>

On 15 December 2014, Ofarim married his longtime girlfriend Verena Brock. On 6 March 2015 the couple welcomed their first child, a son Leonard (Leo) Dean Ofarim. On 30 January 2017 the couple welcomed their second child, a daughter Anouk Marie Ofarim.{{cn|date=January 2026}}

Ofarim and Brock divorced in 2017.<ref name="gala_divorce">{{cite news |title=8 Jahre nach Trennung von Gil Ofarim: Exfrau Verena fühlte sich "wie eine Gejagte" |url=https://www.gala.de/stars/news/verena-ofarim--offene-worte-ueber-ihre-schmerzhafte-trennung-24399392.html |access-date=12 January 2026 |work=gala.de |date=19 June 2025 |language=de}}</ref> Ofarim married again in 2025.<ref name="zeit_married">{{cite news |title=Hochzeit: Gil Ofarim hat wieder geheiratet |url=https://www.zeit.de/news/2025-08/08/gil-ofarim-hat-wieder-geheiratet |access-date=12 January 2026 |work=Die Zeit |agency=Deutschen Presse-Agentur |date=8 August 2025 |language=de-DE}}</ref><ref name="gala_remarried">{{cite news |title=Er hat wieder geheiratet |url=https://www.gala.de/stars/news/gil-ofarim--er-hat-wieder-geheiratet-24432560.html |access-date=12 January 2026 |work=gala.de |date=8 August 2025 |language=de}}</ref>

==Star of David libel case== In October 2021, Ofarim attracted international attention through a video he posted on Instagram and titled “Antisemitismus in Deutschland 2021” (Antisemitism in Germany 2021),<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayx-vDlVo4k, which was reposted on YouTube from Ofarim's Instagram account by the American Jewish Congress on October 5th, 2021</ref> in which he accused the Leipzig Westin hotel of subjecting him to antisemitic treatment while checking in. Ofarim claimed in apparent distress that a manager had told him to put away his Star of David pendant, or he would not be allowed to check in.<ref>[https://www.timesofisrael.com/protests-grow-after-singer-says-german-hotel-refused-him-over-star-of-david/ Protests grow after singer says German hotel refused him over Star of David | The Times of Israel]</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/gil-ofarim-hotel-star-of-david-b1934034.html Protests break out over German-Israeli singer who said he was turned away from German hotel for wearing Star of David | The Independent]</ref><ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/06/german-singer-says-hotel-staff-asked-him-to-hide-his-star-of-david German singer says hotel staff asked him to hide his Star of David | Germany | The Guardian]</ref> His Instagram video was shared widely, including by the American Jewish Congress, which started an online petition calling on the hotel owner, Marriott, to apologize and educate its employees about antisemitism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-video-seems-to-challenge-singers-claim-of-antisemitism-at-german-hotel/|title=New video seems to challenge singer's claim of antisemitism at German hotel|date=2021-10-18|author=Toi Staff|publisher=The Times of Israel|language=en}}</ref> On October 5, about 600 people gathered at the hotel to protest antisemitism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.volksstimme.de/panorama/vermischtes/antisemitismus-in-leipziger-hotel-hunderte-menschen-versammeln-sich-zu-kundgebung-3256863|title=Nach Diskriminierung von Sänger Gil Ofarim: 600 Menschen demonstrieren in Leipzig gegen Antisemitismus|date=2021-10-05|website=Volksstimme|language=de|trans-title=After discrimination of singer Gil Ofarim: 600 people protest in Leipzig against antisemitism}}</ref>

Later, two hotel employees and three guests contradicted the statements by Ofarim, and closed-circuit television recordings showed that Ofarim had not worn a visible necklace during the supposed incident. Confronted with the footage, Ofarim claimed that the exclamation had come from behind, and the incident was not about the necklace but “about something far bigger”, as he said he often wore the pendant on television and had been recognised. Ofarim also claimed the hotel had not released the whole footage.<ref>{{cite news|last=Liphshiz|first=Cnaan|title=Singer doubles down on accusations of antisemitism at German hotel|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/singer-doubles-down-on-accusations-of-antisemitism-at-german-hotel/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=The Times of Israel|date=19 October 2021 |language=en-US |issn=0040-7909}}</ref> Five witnesses said in a police investigation that Ofarim had used swearwords against the hotel while in the lobby and threatened to "post an Instagram video that will go viral".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bild.de/regional/leipzig/leipzig-news/davidstern-affaere-fuenf-zeugen-belasten-gil-ofarim-78073954.bild.html|title = Davistern-Affäre: Fünf Zeugen belasten Gil Ofarim |date = 28 October 2021}}</ref>

In March 2022, the German Public Prosecutor's Office discontinued proceedings against the hotel manager, and brought charges against Ofarim for libel and false suspicion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=LTO |title=Staatsanwaltschaft erhebt Anklage gegen Gil Ofarim |url=https://www.lto.de/recht/nachrichten/n/gil-ofarim-vorwurf-antisemitismus-anklage-staatsanwaltschaft-verleumdung-falsche-verdaechtigung/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Legal Tribune Online |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=|title= German-Israeli singer charged with lying about antisemitism at hotel|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/german-israeli-singer-charged-with-lying-about-antisemitism-at-hotel/ |date=31 March 2022|website=Times of Israel}}</ref>

During the trial, witnesses testified that the hotel's booking system had malfunctioned that day, so guests had to wait to be manually checked in, except regular guests whose cards were already prepared. Ofarim was angry that other guests were checked in before him; after a 20-minute wait, he complained indignantly and threatened to use his social media audience to insult the hotel to the world. In response, the manager decided Ofarim could not check in unless he apologised, after which Ofarim left the hotel and recorded the video falsely accusing the hotel of antisemitism.<ref name="faz_hotel">{{cite news |last1=Locke |first1=Stefan |title=Gil Ofarim räumt Vorwürfe ein und entschuldigt sich: Überraschende Wende |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft/menschen/gil-ofarim-raeumt-vorwuerfe-ein-und-entschuldigt-sich-ueberraschende-wende-19345124.html |access-date=12 January 2026 |work=FAZ.NET |date=28 November 2023 |language=de}}</ref> The hotel manager testified that the false accusations against him had led to death threats, and that he and his partner had to be taken to a secure location.<ref name="ja">{{cite news |title=Gil Ofarim legt Geständnis ab: Davidstern-Video war eine Lüge |url=https://www.juedische-allgemeine.de/politik/gil-ofarim-gesteht/ |access-date=12 January 2026 |work=Jüdische Allgemeine |date=28 November 2023 |language=de}}</ref>

On November 28, 2023, on the 6th day of the trial, Ofarim confessed that he had fabricated the allegations against the hotel manager and apologized to him; the hotel manager accepted Ofarim's apology. The proceedings against Ofarim were discontinued on the condition that he pay 5,000 euros each to the Jewish Community of Leipzig and the House of the Wannsee Conference, a memorial and educational center (10,000 euros in total). Ofarim also had to pay an undisclosed sum to the manager as compensation.<ref name="zeit">{{cite news |last1=Hähnig |first1=Anne |title=Gil Ofarim: Nichts davon stimmt |url=https://www.zeit.de/gesellschaft/zeitgeschehen/2023-11/gil-ofarim-leipzig-prozess-antisemitismus-falschaussage/komplettansicht |access-date=12 January 2026 |work=Die Zeit |date=28 November 2023 |language=de-DE}}</ref> The court justified the discontinuation of the trial by explaining that the hotel manager had been vindicated more effectively by Ofarim's apology than would have been possible through a verdict.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/singer-gil-ofarim-admits-he-lied-about-antisemitic-incident/a-67574882 |title=Singer Gil Ofarim admits he lied about antisemitic incident |work=DW |date=28 November 2023 |access-date=22 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=LTO |title=Gil Ofarim legt vor Gericht Geständnis ab |url=https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/gil-ofarim-legt-vor-dem-landgericht-leipzig-gestaendnis-ab-a-7d00b294-b15d-44e7-8206-a4cdb08f8418 |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=Spiegel |date=28 November 2023 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=mdr.de |title=Wende im Prozess: Ofarim gesteht Falschaussage und entschuldigt sich {{!}} MDR.DE |url=https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/sachsen/leipzig/gestaendnis-ofarim-prozess-hotel-antisemitismus-100.html |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=www.mdr.de |language=de}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak positions |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| GER <ref name="ger">{{cite web | url=http://germancharts.de/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Gil+Ofarim | title=Gil Ofarim discography | work=germancharts.com | publisher=Hung Medien |accessdate=16 June 2020}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| AUT <ref name="aut">{{cite web | url=http://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Gil+Ofarim| title=Gil Ofarim discography | work=austriancharts.at | publisher=Hung Medien |accessdate=16 June 2020}}</ref> ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SWI <ref name="sui">{{cite web | url=http://hitparade.ch/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Gil+Ofarim | title=Gil Ofarim discography | work=hitparade.ch | publisher=Hung Medien |accessdate=16 June 2020}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''Here I Am'' | * Released: 25 May 1998 * Label: RCA Local * Formats: CD | 20 || 47 || 34 |- ! scope="row"| ''The Album'' | * Released: 2 May 2000 * Label: Ariola * Formats: CD | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| ''On My Own'' | * Released: 26 May 2003 * Label: Neotone * Formats: CD, digital download | — || — || — |- ! scope="row"| ''Alles auf Hoffnung'' | * Released: 28 February 2020 * Label: We Love Music * Formats: CD, digital download | 5 || 71 || 41 |- |}

===Singles=== * "Round 'n' Round (It Goes)" (1997) * "Never Giving Up Now" (1998) * "If You Only Knew" (featuring the Moffatts) (1998) * "Here I Am" (1998) * "Let the Music Heal Your Soul" (with various artists) (1998) * "Talk to You" (1998) * "Calling" (1998) (featuring Karylle) * "Walking Down the Line" (1999) * "Out of My Bed (Still in My Head)" (1999) * "It's Your Love" (2000) * "The Reason" (2003) * "She" (2003, not released) * "In Your Eyes" (2004) * "I'm Alive" (Zoo Army) (2006) * "Still" (Acht) (2010)

== Participation in TV shows in Germany ==

* 2017: ''Let’s Dance'' (RTL, winner) * 2018: ''Schlag den Star'' (ProSieben, winner) * 2019: ''Das große Promibacken'' (Sat.1, participant) * 2019: ''The Masked Singer'' (ProSieben, participant) * 2020: ''Die! Herz! Schlag! Show!'' (ProSieben, participant) * 2026: ''Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!'' (RTL, winner)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.gilofarim.de Official website] * [http://www.zooarmy.com/ Official Zoo Army website] * [http://www.achtmusik.de/ Official Acht website] *{{IMDb name|1356074}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ofarim, Gil}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:Singers from Munich Category:German people of Israeli descent Category:German pop singers Category:20th-century German Jews Category:Jewish singers Category:Jewish songwriters Category:German male singer-songwriters Category:German singer-songwriters Category:21st-century German male singers Category:Racial hoaxes Category:Hoaxes in Germany Category:21st-century German Jews Category:Let's Dance (German TV series) winners Category:The Voice of Germany contestants Category:Male actors from Munich