{{Short description|Israeli actor and television host}} {{Infobox actor | name = Tom Avni | image = Tom Avni.jpg | native_name = תום אבני | native_name_lang = he | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|04|20}} | birth_place = Eilat, Israel | spouse = Liraz Charhi }}
'''Tom Avni''' (Hebrew: תום אבני) is an Israeli actor, TV host, director and voice actor.
== Background == Avni was born on April 20, 1986 in Eilat, Israel. His father, Nir Avni was a diver of Lithuanian-Jewish and Polish-Jewish descent, being one of the founders of Dolphin Reef. His mother, Ofra Bar Zion, was a dance teacher born in Algeria.{{Citation needed|date=May 2026}}
== Stage career == In 1996, he gained his first significant exposure, when he was 10 years old, when he played Mowgli, the main role in the musical "The Jungle Book", alongside Tuvia Tzafir and Hanoch Rosen.<ref>{{Cite news |last=בוקר |first=רן |date=2024-08-21 |title=28 שנה אחרי - תום אבני פוגש את מוגלי גרסת 2024 |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/entertainment/article/hj4ksjqs0 |access-date=2024-08-24 |work=Ynet |language=he}}</ref> In the following years, Avni participated in the musicals "King of Siam" (2000), "Tiny" (2002), "Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn" (2003) and "Aladdin" (2004).<ref name=":2" /> In 2019, he played Adoniya, the son of David, in the play "The Next One", a political thriller by {{Ill|Shahar Pinkas|he|שחר פנקס}} and directed by {{Ill|Shir Goldberg|he|שיר גולדברג}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=הבא אחריו |url=https://b7t.co.il/shows/%D7%94%D7%91%D7%90-%D7%90%D7%97%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%95/ |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=תיאטרון באר-שבע |language=he}}</ref> In 2022, he acted in the play "{{Ill|I'm Your Grandma|he|אני סבתא שלך}}", written by {{Ill|Itay Sontag|he|איתי סונטג}}, which was performed at the Cameri Theater.<ref>{{Cite web |title=אני סבתא שלך |url=https://www.cameri.co.il/הצגות_הקאמרי/10925/אני_סבתא_שלך |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216150359/https://www.cameri.co.il/%D7%94%D7%A6%D7%92%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%99/10925/%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%99_%D7%A1%D7%91%D7%AA%D7%90_%D7%A9%D7%9C%D7%9A |archive-date=16 December 2022 |access-date=23 August 2024 |website=Cameri}}</ref>
== Film career == Avni's first appearance on television was in 1990, at the age of 4, in the program {{Ill|Garden Party (Israeli TV Show)|lt=Garden Party|he|מסיבת גן}}.
In 1997, he starred and hosted Festigal, and even came in second place in the competition with the song "Luna Park", which he performed together with Nalia Tzachman.
A year later, Avni played the main role in the film "{{Ill|Super Boy (Israeli Film)|lt=Super Boy|he|סופר בוי}}".<ref>{{Cite web |title=סופר-בוי 1998 - וואלה סרטים |url=https://movies.walla.co.il/movie/339 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=וואלה |language=he}}</ref>
In 2002, he became a presenter for Arutz HaYeladim, at the age of only 16.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2009-06-24 |title=כבר ילד גדול: תום אבני נפרד מערוץ הילדים |url=https://www.mako.co.il/entertainment-celebs/local/Article-add0ca8df721221004.htm |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=mako |language=he}}</ref>
In 2003, he participated in five episodes of the Argentinian series Rincón de Luz. In 2004, Avni participated in a show with the stars of the series "Rincón de Luz" in Israel. In the same year, he was the lead voice actor in the movie "Peter Pan".<ref>{{Cite web |title=פיטר פן (2004) |url=https://www.ishim.co.il/m.php?s=%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%98%D7%A8+%D7%A4%D7%9F%232004 |access-date=25 August 2024 |website=ishim}}</ref>
From 2005 to 2008, Avni completed his service in the IDF in a military band of the Education Corps. In 2005 he participated in the show {{Ill|Shir Nold|he|שיר נולד}} and began to star in the children's series of the children's channel HaShminiya where he played the character of Daniel Harris. Later that year he voiced in the movie Racing Stripes. In 2007, a mockumentary program that followed his life called "24/7 - Tom Avni" aired on the children's channel Hot 3.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=קריסטל |first=מירב |date=2007-06-10 |title=תום אבני מגיע ל"אלופה" |url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3410822,00.html |access-date=2024-08-25 |work=Ynet |language=he}}</ref> That year he also participated in Festigal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=אבוטבול |first=משה |date=29 May 2016 |title=בלי הקפוצ'ון: פיזנטי מ"נעלמים" בפסטיגל |url=https://www.frogi.co.il/entertainment/tv/17024 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=frogi}}</ref>
Avni participated in the telenovelas "{{Ill|The Champion (Israeli TV show)|lt=The Champion|he|האלופה}}" and "{{Ill|Bovut|he|בובות (טלנובלה)}}", both on the "Hot 3" channel, in 2007-2008.<ref name=":1" /> In 2008 he joined the cast of the second season of the series "{{Ill|The Island (Israeli TV Series)|lt=The Island|he|האי (סדרת טלוויזיה)}}", in the role of Rick Brody.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=12 September 2019 |title="קשה לי שמסתכלים עלי כשאני משחק. זה הדבר הכי פרטי ואישי" |url=https://www.israelhayom.co.il/article/691649 |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=www.israelhayom.co.il}}</ref>
On June 24, 2009, he left Arutz HaYeladim.<ref name=":0" />
In 2010, he acted alongside Lior Ashkenazi and {{Ill|Gal Zeid|he|גל זייד}} in Sigal Avin's film "You Will Know No More Sorrow", which was made as part of the 48 Hour Film Project.
In 2011, he played the role of Bini Meltzer, the poster boy of the Har Tzur yeshiva, in the drama series of Yes, "{{Ill|Urim VeTumim (TV show)|lt=Urim VeTumim|he|אורים ותומים (סדרת טלוויזיה)}}".<ref name=":2" /> In the same year, he participated in the panel of experts in the show "The Dumbest Man in the World".<ref>{{Cite web |title=האיש הכי מטומטם בעולם (2011) |url=https://www.edb.co.il/title/t0028208/ |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=אידיבי |language=he}}</ref>
Starting in August 2011, Avni appeared in the role of Adam Rosen, Shay and Itamar's brother, in all eight seasons of the comedy series "Savri Maranan", broadcast as part of Keshet Broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Izikovich |first=Gili |date=August 3, 2011 |title=A New Kind of Sitcom the Whole Israeli Family Can Enjoy |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/2011-08-03/ty-article/a-new-kind-of-sitcom-the-whole-israeli-family-can-enjoy/0000017f-db04-df9c-a17f-ff1cc1690000 |access-date=August 20, 2024 |work=Haaretz}}</ref>
In 2016 he played in Avi Nesher's film Past Life in the role of Jeremy Kotler, the husband of Nana Miller, played by Nelly Tagar.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-09-01 |title=Long on storytelling and deep in insight, the Jewish Film Festival of Dallas begins Sept. 7 |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/performing-arts/2017/09/01/long-on-storytelling-and-deep-in-insight-the-jewish-film-festival-of-dallas-begins-sept-7/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}</ref>
In 2018, he played the character of Yanir Nehushtan in the drama series "{{Ill|State Rules (TV Show)|lt=State Rules|he|שלטון הצללים}}" broadcast on HOT,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-04 |title=היציאה מהארון של תום אבני ב"שלטון הצללים" הדהימה אותנו |url=https://www.mako.co.il/pride-culture/cultura/Article-673f9f03856c361006.htm |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=mako |language=he}}</ref> in addition he also played in the series "{{Ill|She Has It (TV show)|lt=She Has It|he|יש לה את זה (סדרת טלוויזיה)}}".<ref>{{Cite web |title=יש לה את זה (2018) |url=https://www.ishim.co.il/m.php?s=%D7%99%D7%A9+%D7%9C%D7%94+%D7%90%D7%AA+%D7%96%D7%94%23%D7%A1%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%94 |access-date=25 August 2024 |website=ishim}}</ref> In the same year he directed the final episode of the series "{{Ill|The Hood (Israeli TV Show)|lt=The Hood|he|שכונה (סדרת טלוויזיה)}}".<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=אורבך |first=זוהר |date=2022-12-22 |title=תום אבני: "לירז חתכה קולרבי דק דק, וזה שבה את ליבי" |url=https://www.mako.co.il/culture-weekend/Article-6f7a209910a3581027.htm |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=mako}}</ref>
In 2020, he played Captain Tamir, an officer in the blacksmith camp, in the series Valley of Tears that aired on Kan 11. In the same year he also participated in Festigal for the third time, as "the surprise" where his daughter performed the same song he performed at a previous Festigal.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-12 |title=בידור - עשינו סדר: כל מה שצריך לדעת על פסטיגל 2020 |url=https://www.frogi.co.il/entertainment/events/33491 |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=פרוגי |language=he}}</ref>
In 2021, he played in Avi Nesher's film "Image of Victory", in the role of Yarah Bleiberg.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simon |first=Alissa |date=2022-07-15 |title=‘Image of Victory’ Review: Israel’s Most Expensive Movie Offers a Nuanced Look at the Price of War |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/reviews/image-of-victory-review-tmunat-hanitzahon-1235317827/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2022, he directed "Identity Cards" in "Big Brother".<ref name=":3" />
In 2023, the series "{{Ill|The Malevolent Bride|lt=The Malevolent Bride|he|מלאך משחית}}" was broadcast on Kan 11, in which Avni played the character of the physicist Dov Baer.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldbart |first=Max |date=2022-01-05 |title=A+E Studios/Ananey’s Israeli Supernatural Thriller Series ‘The Malevolent Bride’ Sets Cast And Commences Production |url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/ae-studios-ananeys-israeli-supernatural-thriller-the-malevolent-bride-sets-cast-and-commences-production-1234904772/ |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2024, Avni played the lead role in the play {{Ill|The Indian Patient|he|החולה ההודי}}, written by Reshef Levi, which was presented at the Cameri Theater.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-13 |title=תום אבני מרגיש בבית בסדרה "מלאך משחית" |url=https://www.kan.org.il/content/kan-news/newstv/p-591147/s1/164192/ |access-date=2025-07-02 |website=כאן {{!}} תאגיד השידור הישראלי |language=he}}</ref>
== Personal life == Avni is married to the singer and actress Liraz Charhi and the two have two daughters.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-28 |title='Tehran' star Liraz Charhi sings for women's freedom in Iran, Israel |url=https://www.jpost.com/jerusalem-report/article-729591 |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en |issn=0792-822X}}</ref> Five members of Avni's family were murdered during the Be'eri massacre amid the October 7 attacks.<ref name=merlin>Merlin-Rozhenzwaig, Orit (29 June 2025). [https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/ry3jarfvgl 'Tehran' star: 'I was told to post "Free Palestine." I refused'] ''YNet''. Retrieved on 30 June 2025</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Tom Avni}} * {{IMDb name}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Avni, Tom}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:People from Eilat Category:Israeli people of Lithuanian-Jewish descent Category:Israeli people of Polish-Jewish descent Category:Israeli people of Algerian-Jewish descent Category:Israeli male television actors Category:Israeli male voice actors Category:Israeli male film actors Category:Israeli male musical theatre actors Category:Israeli male stage actors Category:Israeli male child actors Category:Israeli television presenters Category:Israeli television directors Category:20th-century Israeli male actors Category:21st-century Israeli male actors