Ofer Shechter

Ofer Shechter (Hebrew: עפר שכטר; born April 8, 1981) is an Israeli‑born actor, stand‑up comedian, television presenter and former model whose career has spanned more than two decades across film, television, stage and advertising. Raised in the moshav of Hadar Am to an Ashkenazi Jewish family, Shechter first entered the public eye at age seven when he appeared in a televised commercial for a watermelon ice pop, foreshadowing a lifelong comfort with cameras and audiences. After completing his mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces, he honed his craft at the Yoram Loewenstein Performing Arts Studio, studying on‑camera acting techniques that would later become his trademark. In 2003 he was tapped to co‑host the youth‑oriented show Exit on the newly launched Channel 10, alongside peers such as Mali Levi and Yael Goldman; his provocative on‑air antics—including a notorious live moment in which he exposed his buttocks—generated extensive media buzz and helped the program migrate to cable. That same year he secured a role in the Hot 3 telenovela Mishak Hahayim and performed in the children’s song contest The Festigal, establishing him as a versatile performer.

From 2004 onward Shechter expanded into musical theatre, starring in an Israeli production of Peter Pan and hosting the Samakh music festival, before landing leading roles in popular telenovelas such as Telenovela Ba'am (2005) and Ha‑Alufa (2006‑2009) opposite stars like Yael Bar‑Zohar and Yehuda Levi. His commercial appeal was leveraged by major brands, including Cellcom, Bamba and the swimwear label Pilpel, where he fronted a nationwide swimsuit campaign in 2006. Shechter also lent his voice to Hebrew dubs of animated series and movies, notably portraying Zuko in the first season of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Lightning McQueen in Cars. His film credits feature the Wolgin‑award‑winning NO exit (2006) and the drama Phobidilia (2009), while television appearances range from the drama series To Love Anna to the satirical sketch show Shavua Sof. In 2023 he competed in the ninth season of Israel’s Rokdim Im Kokhavim (Dancing with the Stars), finishing eleventh, demonstrating his continued relevance in Israel’s entertainment landscape.