“Fiddler on the Roof” Actor Lived Double Life as a Spy

In a Nutshell:

• Chaim Topol, the Israeli actor best known for his role in the 1971 film adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof, was secretly a spy for Israel’s national intelligence agency, the Mossad, according to his family.
• Topol’s family members said in a recent interview that they were uncertain what they would find in his belongings after his death, but that they long believed him to be a spy.
• They claimed that he was involved in “secret missions” on behalf of the Mossad, and that he helped with things such as recording programs, security arrangements, and even bugging an unnamed Arab country’s embassy.

The late Israeli actor, Chaim Topol, best known for his role in the 1971 film version of Fiddler on the Roof, may have had a secret life. Topol’s family revealed in an interview with Haaretz that he was a spy for Mossad, Israel’s national intelligence agency. Topol’s relatives said they were unsure what they would find when going through his belongings, given that they had long believed him to be a spy. However, they did find confirmation that he was involved in “secret missions” for the Mossad.

Topol was an international star, and his fame and status allowed him to go anywhere without anyone questioning his presence. According to Topol’s family, he was involved in missions and duties for the Mossad, but they were unsure of the details. Topol’s wife, Galia, revealed that her late husband was a cover for operations involving secret agent Peter Zvi Malkin, who died in 2005.

Topol’s daughter, Adi, said that Malkin would “come to London and live with [the family] when he needed to,” and her father would “help Zvika with all kinds of things he wanted to check.” Adi was concerned about going through her father’s possessions after his death, as she feared she might find secret listening devices and hidden cameras.

Topol’s family noticed him taking a small camera and a recording device on trips. They also claimed to have witnessed him bugging an unnamed Arab country’s embassy, claiming that he was a dental patient to provide an excuse for the drilling noise.

Topol’s family believes that he had the traits necessary to work in secret for the Mossad. Galia said, “What always motivated Chaimkeh [Topol] were ants in his pants, adventure and courage. Therefore, no one was more suitable than him to be involved even in issues that are not discussed.”

Despite his involvement in secret missions, Topol’s son, Omer, clarified that his father was no James Bond or anything like that. Topol began his film career in Israel in the 1960s and received acclaim in the United States beginning with his role in the 1964 movie Sallah Shabati, for which he won a Golden Globe award for Most Promising Newcomer. In addition, he received a Tony nomination for Leading Actor in a Musical in 1991 when he played the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway.

The revelation of Chaim Topol’s secret life as a Mossad spy adds a new layer of intrigue to his already impressive career in the entertainment industry.

Source: Best Life