Daliah Lavi, 'Casino Royale' and 'The Silencers' star, dies at 74
Mike Barnes
May 4th 2017 5:32PM
Daliah Lavi, the exotic beauty who starred in the swinging 1960s spy spoofs Casino Royale and The Silencers, has died. She was 74.
Lavi died Wednesday at her home in Asheville, N.C., her family announced.
In The Silencers (1966), the first of the four Matt Helm movies that starred Dean Martin as the American superspy, Lavi played the femme-fatale Tina Batori; she saves the hero from getting a dagger in the back while he is in the embrace of a gorgeous female enemy agent.
The dark-haired, dark-eyed sex symbol then returned for another spy spoof, playing one of the "James Bonds," aka The Detainer, in Casino Royale (1967) opposite David Niven, Peter Sellers, Ursula Andress and Woody Allen.
See photos of Daliah Lavi through the years:
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Daliah Lavi through the years
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Daliah Lavi through the years
(GERMANY OUT) Daliah Lavi *12.10.1942(eigentlich Daliah Levenbuch)Schauspielerin, S�gerin, Israel/USA mit langen schwarzen Handschuhen und Perlenkette. - 60er Jahre (Photo by Conti-Press/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi during a photo shoot in the 'Casa de Campo', 1964, Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gianni Ferrari/Cover/Getty Images).
Israeli actress, singer and model Daliah Lavi arrives at London Airport, UK, 15th November 1967. (Photo by Michael Stroud/Daily Express/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans, Rudi Carrell, ARD-Show 'Rudi Carrell Show?', Folge 26 - 'Messe', Deutschland, Europa, Auftritt, B�hne, Buchladen, Buch, Regale, Kette, Schmuck, S�gerin, Ex-Schauspielerin, Ex-Model, Schauspielerin, Show-Master, S�ger, Schauspieler, SI, 13.10.1973; (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans, Ehemann Peter;Rittmaster, Sunset Island/Miami;Beach/Florida/USA/Amerika/USA, Hochzeit,;Standesamt, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans, Portr�, geb.: 12. Oktober 1942, Sternzeichen: Waage, Miami, Florida, USA, Nord-Amerika, S�gerin, Schauspielerin, MW/SI, 01.08.1974; (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans , , Ehemann Peter; Rittmaster, Sohn Rouven, Boot, Sunset; Island/Miami Beach/Florida/USA/Amerika/USA, Promi, Foto: P.Bischoff, , Sc (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans , (schwanger), Ex-Ehemann Peter Rittmaster, Sohn Rouven, Sunset Island, Miami Beach, Florida, United States of America (USA), Nord-Amerika, Baby-Bauch, H�gematte, umarmen, Ex-Schauspielerin, Ex-Schlager-S�gerin, Ex-Model, Promi, MW, PH, SC; 01.08.1974; (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi, Personality-TV-Show, Insel Sardinien, Italien, Europa, altes Gem�er, alte Architektur, Ruine, T�r, Overall, S�gerin, Ex-Schauspielerin, Ex-Model, SI/NB, 01.09.1976; (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans, Portr� , geb.: 12. Oktober 1942, Sternzeichen: Waage, Miami, Florida, USA, Nord-Amerika, S�gerin, Schauspielerin, MW/SI, 01.01.1977; (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
(GERMANY OUT) Daliah Lav, Actress, Singeri (Photo by action press/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans Tochter Kathy, S�hne; Alexander, Steven, Rouven, Ehemann Chuck; Gans, Miami/Florida/Amerika/USA, Familie,; Homestory, Swimming-Pool, Bikini,; Sommerliege, Promi, Foto: P.Bischoff, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans, Portr� , geb.: 12. Oktober 1942, Sternzeichen: Waage, Miami, Florida, USA, Nord-Amerika, Sonnenbrille, S�gerin, Schauspielerin, MW/SI, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans , , Sohn Rouven, Sohn Steven (li.), Homestory, Miami, Florida, USA, Nordamerika, musizieren, Gitarre, Musikinstrument, Poster, Plakat, S�gerin, Ex-Schauspielerin, Ex-Model, Promi, SI, SC; P.-Nr.: 1990/203, 28.07.1990; ; (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
'Daliah Lavi, Roberto Blanco, private Bootsfahrt w�rend Promotion-Reise seiner spanisch gesungenen LP ''Por tu amor'' am 20.08.1991 in Miami, USA. (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
'
(Daliah Lavi - Gans, Roberto Blanco, Miami / Florida / USA / Nord - Amerika, Gl�er,;30.08.1991, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images))
Daliah Lavi-Gans, am Fl�gel, B�hnen-Comeback, ICC, Berlin, Brandenburg, Deutschland, Europa, Klavier, Musikinstrument, musizieren, S�gerin, Schauspielerin, SI, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
(Daliah Lavi-Gans, Ehemann Chuck Gans,;Tochter Kathy, Hochzeit von Tochter Kathy;& Jason Rothman, New York, USA/Amerika, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images))
Daliah Lavi-Gans, Portr� , geb.: 12. Oktober 1942, Sternzeichen: Waage, Blumen, S�gerin, Schauspielerin, Promis, Prominenter, Prominente, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi und Ehemann Chuck Gans, S�gerin, Schauspielerin, Promis, Prominenter, Prominente, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi, Brigitte Mira, 'Boulevard;Bio'-'St�ken der Frauen' ARD-Show, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans, ZDF-Musikshow 'Zauber der Musik-Ein musikalischer Sommernachtstraum aus Maastricht', Holland, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans , Tochter Kathy Rothman,; Enkeltochter Sophie, Homestory, Brookline; (Bei Boston), USA/Amerika, Promi, Foto: P.Bischoff, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images
Daliah Lavi-Gans, Ehemann Chuck Gans, Urlaub, Jerusalem, Israel, Naher Osten, Sonnenbrille, zeigen, lachen, Urlaub, Schlager-S�gerin, Urlaub, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans, Sternzeichen an der 'Wunschbr�cke' ('Wishing Bridge'), Urlaub, Jaffa, Israel, Naher Osten, Blick auf Mittelmeer, Urlaub, alte Heimat der S�gerin, Urlaub, Sonnenbrille, Schlager-S�gerin, Urlaub, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi-Gans, Hotel 'Interconti', Zimmer mit Blick auf Tel Aviv, Urlaub, Israel, Naher Osten, Skyline, Hochhaus, Hochh�ser, H�ser-Meer, Urlaub, alte Heimat der S�gerin, Urlaub, Schlager-S�gerin, Urlaub, (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
LEIPZIG, GERMANY - DECEMBER 18: Singer Daliah Lavi performs during the Jose Carreras Gala Rehearsals on December 18, 2008 in Leipzig, Germany. The Jose Carreras Gala is an annual TV Show and a fundraising campaign for the fight against leukaemia. (Photo by Marco Prosch/Getty Images)
Daliah Lavi, Tournee 'Meine Abschiedstournee' ('C�st la vie - so ist das Leben'), Konzerthaus 'Glocke', Bremen, Deutschland, Europa, Auftritt, B�hne, Konzert, Abschied, Mikrofon, singen, S�gerin, MW, FTP;P.-Nr: 295/2009, 02.03.2009; (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)
Israeli actress and singer Daliah Lavi on stage during the live broadcast of the German TV show 'Willkommen bei Carmen Nebel' on November 12, 2011 in Dortmund, western Germany. The talk and pop music show presenting national and international stars celebrated the broadcast of its 50th episode. AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ (Photo credit should read PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images)
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Her other work in the comic genre included The Spy With a Cold Nose (1966), starring Lawrence Harvey, and Some Girls Do (1969).
At her 10th birthday party, Lavi met Kirk Douglas, who was filming The Juggler in her town in what is now Israel, and 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.
Lavi (that's her stage name; it means "lioness" in Hebrew) had appeared in such European fare as The Return of Dr. Mabuse (1961), The Demon (1963) and The Whip and the Body (1963) before attracting attention as The Girl in writer-director Richard Brooks' Lord Jim (1965), starring Peter O'Toole.
She played the pretentious actress Ilona Bergen in the Agatha Christie remake Ten Little Indians (1965) and also showed up rather nicely in Those Fantastic Flying Fools (1967), Nobody Runs Forever (1968), opposite Rod Taylor, and Catlow (1971), starring with Yul Brynner.
In the early 1970s, Lavi turned to singing and performed "Oh, wann kommst du?" (When Are You Coming?) and "Willst du mit mihr geh'n?" (Do You Want to Go With Me?), which became big pop hits in Germany. She reappeared as an actress on German television in the 1990s.
Fluent in five languages, Lavi lived in Asheville with her husband, Charles, since 1992.
Survivors also include her children Kathy, Rouben, Alexander and Stephen; grandchildren Sophie, Ben, Emma and Hannah and Levi; and sister Michal.
Her funeral and interment will take place in Israel, the family noted.
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