Israeli actor Alon Aboutboul, known for his role as Dr. Leonid Pavel in The Dark Knight Rises, has died at age 60 after collapsing on HaBonim Beach in Tel Aviv. Witnesses say he had been swimming and complained of feeling unwell before collapsing. Paramedics spent nearly an hour trying to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of death is not yet known.
Shelly Aloni, CEO of his talent agency, confirmed his passing and remembered him as “a father, a man, an actor, an artist, and above all, our beloved longtime friend.”
Israel’s Minister for Culture and Sport, Miki Zohar, paid tribute on X, calling Aboutboul’s work a profound contribution to Israeli culture.
Born May 28, 1965, in Kiryat Ata, Israel, Aboutboul launched his acting career with Two Fingers from Sidon in 1986. He appeared in Rambo III, Body of Lies, London Has Fallen, and Septembers of Shiraz. On TV, he had roles in Snowfall, Homeland, NCIS, Fringe, Castle, and more.
He was set to star in the upcoming film Jacob’s Dream, currently in pre-production. Aboutboul earned multiple awards, including Best Actor at the Jerusalem Film Festival and a Best Supporting Actor honor from the Israeli Film Academy.
He is survived by his wife, Shir Bilia, and their four children.
