Norman Issa
Norman Issa (Arabic: نورمان عيسى, Hebrew: נורמן עיסא; born 17 June 1967) is an Arab-Israeli actor, director in cinema, theatre and television.
Norman Issa | |
|---|---|
 Issa in 2012 | |
| Born | 17 June 1967 Haifa, Israel |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Spouse(s) | Gidona Raz |
| Children | 3, including Lear Issa, Shon Issa |
Early life
Issa was born and raised in Haifa, Israel, to a Maronite Christian-Arab family.
He studied acting at Beit Zvi.
Career
Issa has acted in many plays by William Shakespeare at the Haifa Theatre and Cameri Theatre. He worked at The Arab-Hebrew Theater together with fellow Arab-Israeli actor Yousef "Joe" Sweid.
He started to become famous as the main protagonist of the Israeli television sitcom Arab Labor, created by Arab-Israeli journalist Sayed Kashua.[1]
Personal life
He is married to Jewish-Israeli playwright Gidona Raz, and they have three sons, including actors Lear Issa and Shon Issa. The couple jointly founded the multicultural Elmina Theater in Jaffa, Israel.[2] They reside in Jaffa.
Controversies
In 2015, Issa refused to perform in a settlement in the Jordan Valley (the West Bank), causing the Israeli Minister of Culture Miri Regev to threaten to shut down Israeli government fundings to the Elmina Theater that Issa founded.[3][4]
Filmography
- The Syrian Bride (2004), directed by Eran Riklis
- Arab Labor (2007–present), created by Sayed Kashua
- Ana Arabia (2013), directed by Amos Gitai
- A Borrowed Identity (2014), directed by Eran Riklis
- The 90 Minute War (2016), directed by Eyal Halfon
Awards
At the 2016 Haifa International Film Festival, Norman Issa and Moshe Ivgy were awarded the prize for Best Actor in a Feature Film, for The 90 Minute War.[5]
References
- Shani, Ayelett (2013-08-01). "Playing Sayed Kashua: Actor Norman Issa Feels Like the Third Brother of Arabs and Jews". Haaretz. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
- https://www.mouse.co.il/shows/articles/1.3417076
- "Arab Israeli actor Norman Issa refuses to cross the Green Line". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
- Levy, Gideon (2015-06-11). "The Jewish State Has No More Room for 'Good Arabs'". Haaretz. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
- "The award winners- Haifa International Film Festival 2016". Haifa International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.