Trivia

Was fluent in Hebrew, English, German, French, Italian and Spanish.

Started a successful singing career in the 1970s and became probably the most popular singer in Germany at that time. Her biggest hits were "Oh, wann kommst Du?" ("Oh, When Will You Come"?) and "Willst Du mit mir gehen?" ("Do You Want to Go With Me?").

Was born in what was then known as Mandatory Palestine, the daughter of Ruth (Klammer) and Reuben Lewinbuk. Her parents were European Jews from Germany and Wroclaw, Poland.

At her tenth birthday party she met Kirk Douglas, who was filming The Juggler (1953) in her town in Israel, and he arranged for her to study ballet. A decade later they worked together in Vincente Minnelli's Two Weeks in Another Town (1962) and she received a Golden Globe for most promising newcomer (female) for her work.

Died in Asheville, NC, but her funeral and interment took place in Israel.

Had studied ballet in Stockholm, Sweden, but returned to Israel in 1955 because her father had died.

After several years of singing and appearing on German television, she retired to Asheville, NC, with her fourth husband, businessman Charles Gans.

Survived by her husband Charles E. Gans; daughter, Kathy Rothman; three sons: Rouben, Alexander and Stephen Gans; five grandchildren and a sister.

Was born Daliah Levenbuch. Her stage name "Lavi" means "lion" in Hebrew.

Had one child with husband Peter Rittmaster, Alexander. The couple divorced in 1975.

Recorded German-language covers of Melanie's "Look What They've Done to My Song, Ma" and Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind".

After her film career faded, she was "discovered" by record producer Jimmy Bowien and she began a successful singing career in Germany, with hits such as "Oh, wann kommst du?", "Willst du mit mir gehn?" and "C'est ça, la vie (So ist das Leben)".

Re-appeared as an actress on German television in the 1990s.

Her second husband was a writer named John Sullivan. The couple wed in 1967 but divorced in 1970. They had one son, Rouven.

She died only seven days before her Casino Royale (1967) co-star Geoffrey Bayldon.

Became a naturalized citizen of the United States in April 1987.

In 1970, she was discovered by record producer Jimmy Bowien and began a successful schlager singing career in Germany.

Lavi played European entertainer Ilona Bergen in the 1965 mystery "Ten Little Indians", an adaptation of Agatha Christie's thriller.

In 1955, Lavi appeared in her first film "Hemsöborna" a Swedish adaptation of August Strindberg's 1887 novel The People of Hemsö.

Her portrayal of The Girl, Peter O'Toole's love interest, in 1965's "Lord Jim", was to have been her breakout American role. However, the tepid reaction of audiences prompted Lavi to accept a new career path.