Biography
Who is Aliza Gur?
Early life and military service
Born as Alizia Gross, she grew up in Ramat Gan, which was part of the British Mandate of Palestine at the time. Her family consisted of Ashkenazi Jewish individuals who escaped Nazi Germany during the rule of Hitler. She spent her youth in Ramat Gan alongside her brother. She later attended the University of Haifa for her higher education. To cover her tuition costs, she used her skills to design and manufacture dresses.
Before her career in entertainment, she served as a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces. Her interest in the arts led her to study acting in Tel Aviv. Her instructor was Peter Fry, who was a well-known director in the area. She eventually achieved success in national beauty competitions, including winning the title of Miss Haifa, which helped launch her path into the public eye.
Pageantry and film career
In 1960, she earned the title of Miss Israel. This victory allowed her to compete internationally as a semifinalist at the Miss Universe pageant held in Miami Beach. While in the United States that same year, she participated in a tour to help promote the purchase of Israeli Bonds. She eventually moved to California to pursue work in film and television.
She appeared in numerous television shows, such as The Big Valley, Daniel Boone, Get Smart, The Wild Wild West, and Adventures in Paradise. In 1965, she played the character Dr. Nina Rivelli on an episode of Perry Mason titled The Case of the Baffling Bug. Her film credits include roles in Exodus in 1960, A Place to Go in 1962, and Night Train to Paris in 1964. She also acted in Agent for H.A.R.M. In 1966, Kill a Dragon in 1967, and The Hand of Night in 1968. Her final movie role was in Tarzan and the Jungle Boy, released in 1968.
Famous James Bond role
The most well-known role for Aliza Gur was playing Vida in the 1963 James Bond movie From Russia with Love. Her character was one of two gypsies who engaged in a fight scene. Her onscreen opponent during this sequence was Martine Beswick, who played Miss Jamaica. The female lead of the film, Daniela Bianchi, had been a roommate of hers during the 1960 Miss Universe competition.
Family and personal life
Aliza Gur was married three times during her life. Her first marriage occurred in 1961 to Sabby Sagall. She later married Sy Shulman, the director of the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, in 1964. Her third husband was Sheldon Schrager, who worked as a film producer and vice-president of production at Columbia Pictures; they married in 1978. She had one son from her second marriage, and all three of her marriages ended in divorce. Her parents eventually emigrated to the United States and lived in Cleveland, Ohio, until they passed away in the 1970s.
Birthday and age
Aliza Gur was born on April 1, 1940, which makes Aliza 86 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aries sign. Aliza shares the date with 56 other famous people.
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