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Actor

Yaakov Peri

2 films on Movie OTT · Active 20122025

Yaakov Peri — born Yaakov Pirzoner on February 20, 1944 — isn't an actor in any traditional sense, and that's exactly what makes his presence in documentary cinema so arresting. A former head of the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service, Peri appears on screen as himself: a real architect of real decisions, sitting for the camera and answering for them. What's striking is how much weight that carries when you know the résumé behind the face. He led the Shin Bet from 1988 to 1994 (Wikipedia), a period that overlapped with the First Intifada and some of the most contested chapters in Israeli security history. Before intelligence work swallowed his career whole, he'd been something else entirely — an orchestral trumpeter, of all things, playing with the Gadna Symphonic Orchestra and the Haifa Symphony (Wikipedia). That biographical whiplash, from concert hall to interrogation room, is the kind of detail that doesn't quite fit any tidy narrative. After leaving the Shin Bet, Peri didn't retreat from public life. He ran Cellcom Israel as CEO from 1995 to 2003, then entered politics, serving as Israel's Minister of Science, Technology, and Space from 2013 to 2014 (Wikipedia). His film appearances — all documentary, all as himself — are best understood as a continuation of that public accountability, not a departure from it.

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About Yaakov Peri

Yaakov Peri — born Yaakov Pirzoner on February 20, 1944 — isn't an actor in any traditional sense, and that's exactly what makes his presence in documentary cinema so arresting. A former head of the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security service, Peri appears on screen as himself: a real architect of real decisions, sitting for the camera and answering for them. What's striking is how much weight that carries when you know the résumé behind the face.

He led the Shin Bet from 1988 to 1994 (Wikipedia), a period that overlapped with the First Intifada and some of the most contested chapters in Israeli security history. Before intelligence work swallowed his career whole, he'd been something else entirely — an orchestral trumpeter, of all things, playing with the Gadna Symphonic Orchestra and the Haifa Symphony (Wikipedia). That biographical whiplash, from concert hall to interrogation room, is the kind of detail that doesn't quite fit any tidy narrative.

After leaving the Shin Bet, Peri didn't retreat from public life. He ran Cellcom Israel as CEO from 1995 to 2003, then entered politics, serving as Israel's Minister of Science, Technology, and Space from 2013 to 2014 (Wikipedia). His film appearances — all documentary, all as himself — are best understood as a continuation of that public accountability, not a departure from it.

Currently streaming

1 of 2 on platforms

Early life & background

Yaakov Peri was born Yaakov Pirzoner on February 20, 1944. Before his decades in intelligence and politics, he pursued a career in music — specifically as a trumpeter — performing with the Gadna Symphonic Orchestra and the Haifa Symphony (Wikipedia). That early chapter in the arts is one of the more unexpected biographical facts attached to a man who'd go on to lead one of Israel's most secretive institutions. No additional details about his family background, formal education, or early upbringing are confirmed in available sources at this time.

Career

Peri's career doesn't follow any recognizable arc — it jumps. Orchestral musician. Intelligence chief. Corporate executive. Politician. Each phase substantial enough to anchor an entire biography on its own. His most consequential role was as head of the Shin Bet, Israel's internal security agency, from 1988 to 1994 (Wikipedia, Shabak.gov.il). That six-year tenure placed him at the center of Israeli security policy during an extraordinarily volatile period, and it's the role that eventually brought him in front of documentary cameras. His most visible film credit is Dror Moreh's *The Gatekeepers* (2012), in which Peri appears as himself alongside five other former Shin Bet directors. The film — which went on to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature — gave each subject room to reflect on decisions made under pressure, and Peri's segments don't shy away from the moral weight of that history. He's also credited as himself in *From Mossad to Eichmann* (2020) and *The Palestine Laboratory* (2025) (IMDb). Hard to say if more documentary projects are in development; no upcoming titles are currently listed (Letterboxd). Outside the documentary world, Peri served as CEO of Cellcom Israel from 1995 to 2003, then transitioned into electoral politics. He held the post of Minister of Science, Technology, and Space from 2013 to 2014 (Wikipedia). For viewers arriving here from a streaming guide expecting an acting filmography, it's worth being direct: there isn't one. Peri's screen presence is entirely nonfiction, which — given what he has to say — is probably more than enough.

Cite this page

For Wikipedia, journalism, or academic references — copy the citation below:

Movie OTT. "Yaakov Peri." Accessed Aug 7, 2026. https://movieott.com/talent/yaakov-peri

Cross-references: Wikipedia

Last updated July 2, 2026 · Sources: tmdb+wikipedia+perplexity+tmdb-credits+ai-claude

Filmography

Frequently asked questions

What films is Yaakov Peri known for?

Yaakov Peri has 2 titles indexed on Movie OTT, including The Palestine Laboratory, The Gatekeepers.

Where can I watch Yaakov Peri's films?

1 of Yaakov Peri's films are currently streaming, available on Prime Video.

How long has Yaakov Peri been active?

Yaakov Peri's film career on Movie OTT spans from 2012 to 2025 — 13 years of work.