Amit Rahav (Hebrew: עמית רהב; born 9 August 1995) is an Israeli actor.
A graduate of Yoram Loewenstein Performing Arts Studio in Tel Aviv, he began his career on the Israeli stage. He landed his first TV role in Mishpacha Sholetet (2014–2016). He became known to international audiences for his role as Yanky Shapiro in the Netflix miniseries Unorthodox (2020). He has since starred in the Netflix miniseries Transatlantic (2023) and the Holocaust family drama limited series, We Were the Lucky Ones (2024) for Hulu.What Yanky Shapiro of Unorthodox did next The Jewish Chronicle. 14 February 2024
Early life Rahav was born in Tel Aviv, Israel to a British mother and Israeli father, and he grew up in an English-speaking household. His parents are divorced. He was raised as a secular Jew and continues to define himself as such. His grandmother is a Holocaust survivor.‘We Were the Lucky Ones’ Actor Amit Rahav Honors His Grandmother, a Holocaust Survivor, With Hulu's WWII Drama Variety. 5 April 2024
He was a drama counselor in Clayton, Georgia at Camp Ramah Darom for three months in summer 2016 through the Jewish Agency for Israel.
Career Since he left the military, Rahav has appeared in various movies and television shows. His first significant role was on the Israeli TV show, Mishpacha Sholetet, and he has since acted in various other Israeli shows. In 2015, he appeared in two episodes of the American thriller TV series Dig.
In 2016, he appeared in Flashback, an Israeli show for teenagers. He made history, as his character, Aviv was the first on an Israeli teen show to come out as gay.Work in Progress: Amit Rahav iheart. 11 July 2024
In 2021, Rahav starred as Yanky Shapiro in the German-American Netflix original miniseries Unorthodox. In April 2020, he signed with talent agency Lighthouse Management & Media.
In 2021, he played the protagonist, Yehonatan alongside Daniel Litman in The One My Soul Loves at the Habima Theatre. The play is based on the true events of the Tel Aviv gay centre shooting and deals with conversion therapy.Summer 2022 Jerusalem Theatre. Retrieved on 9 July 2024 He returned to the role for a special performance at Nicosia Municipal Theatre in Nicosia in Cyprus in October 2022 and then for a second run at Habima Theatre in December 2023.Israeli play featuring Netflix actors opens major theater festival in Cyprus The Jerusalem Post. 22 December 2022HaBima-National Theatre's performance in Cyprus Embassy of Israel in Cyprus. 29 October 2022The One my Soul Loves The Times of Israel. 17 December 2023
In 2022 he starred in the Haredi comedy film, Matchmaking. In 2024, he starred in a sequel to the film, alongside Niv Sultan.Brown, Hannah (19 October 2024). Love, laughter, and high-stakes Haredi dating in 'Matchmaking 2' - review The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved on 8 January 2026.
Personal life Rahav is a graduate of the Yoram Loewenstein Performing Arts Studio in Tel Aviv. He took time off school to film Unorthodox and had to re-audition to continue attending.
Rahav and his Unorthodox co-star Shira Haas have been friends since 2010, after meeting at a party at age 15. The two are neighbors in Tel Aviv.
He speaks fluent Hebrew and English, and he is a vegetarian. He has Israeli and British nationality.
In 2024, he relocated to Los Angeles.
Filmography
Television YearTitleRoleNotesRef.2014-2016Mishpacha SholeletHananOccurring character2015DigAaron2 episodes USA Network TV series2015L'HitgaberIsraeli teen TV series2015Total Drama Presents: The Ridonculous RaceMickeyHebrew voiceover2016Wild HorsesNadav1 episode2016FlashbackAvivIsraeli teen TV series2018TreningStavIsraeli children's series2020Cash RegisterMichael Eshet Bloom1 episode2020UnorthodoxYanky ShapiroMain role Netflix miniseries2023TransatlanticThomas LovegroveNetflix miniseries2024We Were the Lucky OnesJakobHulu limited series
Film YearTitleRoleNotesRef.2018The DamnedAvivIsraeli film2022MatchmakingMotiIsraeli film2024Matchmaking 2AvivIsraeli filmהחלו צילומי סרט ההמשך הישראלי "בחורים טובים 2" עם הזוג ניב סולטן ומאור שוויצר edb.co.il. 26 February 2024
Stage YearTitleRoleVenue2021The One My Soul LovesYehonatanHabima Theatre
Awards YearOrganizationCategoryNominated workResult2021Independent Spirit AwardsBest Male Performance in a New Scripted SeriesUnorthodox
References
External links