Hanan Goldblatt

Hanan Goldblatt, born on October 10, 1941, in Tel Aviv, is an Israeli actor, comedian, and singer whose work spanned theater, film, and television across several decades. He is known for roles in plays, musical films, children's television series, and for two Broadway productions during the 1970s.

Goldblatt's early training took place at the youth village HaKfar HaYarok, where he performed in skits alongside Yisrael Poliakov. He subsequently completed mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces, serving in the Nahal Brigade's performance troupe. Following his discharge, he co-founded the musical group HaTarnegolim, or The Roosters, with other veterans of Israeli military bands, working under the musical direction of Naomi Polani. By the early 1960s he had left the group to pursue theater. In 1962 he appeared in the play Root of All Evil at the Hamam Club in Jaffa, performing alongside Yoram Gaon, Bomba Tzur, Yosef Carmon, and Margalit Ankori.

In 1966, Goldblatt appeared in the Israeli musical film The Flying Matchmaker with Mike Burstyn, Mordechai Arnon, and Oshik Levy. Toward the end of that decade, he formed the entertainment trio Shlishyat HaTeomim with Arnon and Levy, a group that performed together until 1970. After the trio disbanded, Goldblatt traveled to the United States, where he appeared on Broadway. His Broadway credits, spanning 1971 to 1976, include Don't Step on My Olive Branch and To Live Another Summer, To Pass Another Winter.

Returning to Israel at the end of the 1970s, Goldblatt joined the cast of the children's television series Carousel, in which he portrayed a balloon seller named Hanan Annan. He subsequently appeared in the Educational TV series Bli Sodot, playing a detective character called Gashash Balash, a role for which he became widely recognized. The cast of that series later mounted a theatrical production for children. During the 1980s, Goldblatt wrote and performed in the children's play An Amazing Moment in the Carousel alongside Tzipi Moore and the magician Yoreinu. He also recorded a solo album consisting entirely of songs he had written himself, began directing shows for military bands, and appeared in the films Melech LeYom Ehad (1982), Irit, Irit (1985), and Ko'ach Meshiha (1988). Throughout his career Goldblatt provided Hebrew dubbing voices for various characters in Israeli television programs and films.

In the 1990s he participated in the children's educational series BeSod HaInyanim and directed the summer television program Dagi Digitaly. He also taught theater at several acting schools over the course of his career. In 2004, following the sudden death of host Uzi Hitman, Goldblatt began presenting the program Adam UMelo'o on Channel 33. He additionally appeared in two episodes of the Israeli sitcom HaPijamot in a cameo role as Micah, the uncle of the character played by Alona Tal.

In August 2005, Goldblatt was arrested on suspicion of rape and sodomy involving acting students, including minors, who had come to his apartment for instruction. Three women initially filed complaints, and six additional women subsequently pressed charges, though two of those cases could not be prosecuted due to the statute of limitations. He was formally indicted in the Tel Aviv District Court on August 21, 2005. Goldblatt denied the charges and pleaded not guilty. On July 3, 2008, following a lengthy trial, he was convicted of two counts of rape and sodomy, two counts of indecent assault, committing an indecent act, abuse of authority, and aggravated fraud. The court noted that the offenses had taken place over many years, beginning in 1986 and continuing until 2004. He was acquitted on several other counts. Goldblatt was sentenced to seven years in prison, two years of probation, and was ordered to pay 25,000 NIS in compensation to two victims. He appealed to the Supreme Court, which in February 2011 partially accepted the appeal, replacing one rape conviction with fraud under aggravating circumstances and reducing his sentence by one year. In 2009, the state began seizing his assets after he failed to pay the court-ordered compensation. On November 25, 2012, Goldblatt was released from prison after serving four years, having been granted early release by the Board of Pardons for good behavior and participation in rehabilitation programs. Upon his release he confessed to his guilt and apologized for his actions.

In his personal life, Goldblatt met Rebecca Wilner at a military bands event at HaKfar HaYarok, and the two married in 1984. They have a son and a daughter. The couple divorced in 1997. In June 2021, Goldblatt married Shulamit Logasi, his partner since 2014, in what was his fourth marriage. The couple resides in Azor.