Lior Raz Biography: Movies, Parents, Wife, Religion, Height, Ethnicity, Awards

Lior Raz is an Israeli actor, screenwriter, and producer best known for co-creating and starring in the internationally acclaimed political-thriller series Fauda. Through his portrayal of Doron Kabilio, an undercover Israeli counter-terrorism operative, Raz became one of Israel’s most recognizable entertainment figures.

Profile

• Full name: Lior Raz
• Date of birth: 24 November 1971
• Age: 54 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Ma’ale Adumim, Israel
• Nationality: Israeli
• Profession: Actor, screenwriter, producer
• Height: 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
• Weight: 72 kg
• Eye color: Brown
• Parents: Father – served in Israeli special forces (of Iraqi-Jewish origin); Mother – teacher (of Algerian-Jewish origin)
• Siblings: One sister
• Spouse: Meital Berdah (actress, married)
• Children: 4
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Judaism
• Ethnicity: Mizrahi Jewish (Iraqi and Algerian heritage)
• Net worth: US$6–8 million

Early Life and Education

Lior Raz (54 years old) was born on November 24, 1971, in Ma’ale Adumim, a city near Jerusalem. His father, originally from Iraq, served in Israel’s elite special forces and later worked for the Ministry of Defense, while his mother, who emigrated from Algeria, was a Hebrew teacher. Growing up, Raz was raised in a multicultural home where both Hebrew and Arabic were spoken, a background that would later influence his acting and writing career.

After completing high school, Raz enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces and joined Sayeret Duvdevan (Unit 217), an elite undercover counter-terrorism unit known for operating in Palestinian territories.

Following his military service, Raz moved to the United States, where he worked as a bodyguard for celebrities, including actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Upon returning to Israel, he studied acting at the Nissan Nativ Drama Studio in Tel Aviv, where he began to refine his craft for both stage and screen.

Personal Life

Lior Raz is married to Israeli actress Meital Berdah, best known for her roles in Kadosh and Fauda (as Nurit). The couple has four children and resides in Ramat Hasharon, Israel. Raz is also known for his personal resilience. At age 19, his girlfriend, Iris Azulai, was killed in a terrorist attack in Jerusalem. This tragedy profoundly shaped his emotional worldview and later influenced his storytelling in Fauda, where he explores grief, vengeance, and the human cost of violence.

Career

Lior Raz’s career has evolved from small acting roles to international stardom. He began in theatre, performing in plays such as Macbeth and Don Juan. His early screen appearances included minor roles in Israeli television series and films like Mabul (2010) and The Kindergarten Teacher (2014). In 2015, Raz co-created Fauda with journalist Avi Issacharoff, drawing from their real-life military experiences.

Raz stars as Doron Kabilio, an undercover operative dealing with the psychological toll of counterterrorism operations. The series, distributed globally by Netflix, received critical acclaim for its authenticity, balanced storytelling, and humanization of both Israeli and Palestinian characters.

Fauda became one of the most-watched non-English shows on Netflix and expanded to four seasons by 2023.

Following Fauda, Raz appeared in major international productions, including Operation Finale (2018), where he portrayed Mossad director Isser Harel alongside Oscar Isaac and Ben Kingsley; 6 Underground (2019), directed by Michael Bay; and Hit & Run (2021), a Netflix thriller series he also co-created. In 2024,Raz was cast in Ridley Scott’s epic Gladiator II, marking a significant milestone in his global acting career.

Raz is also a producer and continues to develop new projects under his production company, Faraway Road Productions, which focuses on international storytelling from Israeli and Middle Eastern perspectives.

Awards

• Israeli Television Academy Award for Best Drama Series – Fauda (2016)
• Israeli Television Academy Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series – Fauda (2016)
• Israeli Television Academy Award for Best Screenplay – Fauda (2016, shared with Avi Issacharoff)
• Forbes Israel “Most Influential Israeli Entertainers” list (2019, 2021)

Net Worth

Lior Raz’s net worth is estimated between US$6–8 million. His income stems primarily from salary and royalties from Fauda, acting, production partnerships etc.

Social Media

• Instagram: @liorraz
• Twitter/X: @liorraz
• TikTok: @liorrazofficial
• YouTube: Lior Raz Official

Filmography

• Delta Force One: The Lost Patrol (2000)
• Mabul (2010)
• Policeman (2011)
• Haolam Mats’hik (2012)
• The Kindergarten Teacher (2014)
• Fauda (2015–2023, TV Series)
• Mary Magdalene (2018)
• Operation Finale (2018)
• 6 Underground (2019)
• Hit & Run (2021, Netflix)
• Soda (2024)
• Gladiator II (2024)