Daliah Lavi (October 12, 1942 - May 3, 2017) was an Israeli actress, singer, and model whose career moved across European cinema, Hollywood productions, and German popular music. Born Daliah Lewinbuk in Shavei Zion, near Haifa, she grew up in a family with German and Russian Jewish roots. Her early life took an unexpected turn when she studied ballet in Stockholm, Sweden. There she appeared in her first film, the Swedish production Hemsoborna (1955), based on August Strindberg's novel.
After returning to Israel, Lavi worked as a model before establishing herself as an actress. Her language skills, striking appearance, and adaptability helped her find work in productions from several countries. Beginning around 1960, she appeared in German, French, Italian, British, American, and international films, often playing glamorous, mysterious, or romantically charged characters.
Her first significant American film was Vincente Minnelli's Two Weeks in Another Town (1962), in which she appeared alongside Kirk Douglas. She followed it with roles that demonstrated a wider dramatic range, including the title character in Brunello Rondi's Italian-French horror film The Demon (1963) and a central role in Mario Bava's gothic thriller The Whip and the Body (1963). She also appeared in the adventure film Lord Jim (1965), starring Peter O'Toole, and in the ensemble mystery Ten Little Indians (1965).
Lavi became especially associated with the international spy and adventure films that flourished during the 1960s. She played Tina in Dean Martin's The Silencers (1966), the first film in the Matt Helm series, and appeared opposite Laurence Harvey in The Spy with a Cold Nose (1966). Her best-known film role came in the elaborate James Bond spoof Casino Royale (1967), where she played The Detainer, a female agent presented under the 007 designation. The film's deliberately extravagant style and all-star cast made it one of the most recognizable entries in her filmography. Later appearances included Some Girls Do (1969) and the western comedy Catlow (1971), her final feature film.
In the early 1970s, Lavi redirected her career toward music. Discovered by German producer Jimmy Bowien, she became a successful recording artist in the German-speaking market. Her smoky, slightly husky voice gave her recordings a distinctive character, while her repertoire frequently drew on international pop songs adapted into German. Her breakthrough hit, Oh, wann kommst du?, became one of her signature songs and reached the upper levels of the German singles chart. Other popular recordings included Willst du mit mir geh'n, Jerusalem, Wer hat mein Lied so zerstort, Ma?, Ich glaub' an die Liebe, and Meine Art, Liebe zu zeigen.
Lavi continued recording through the 1980s and made occasional television appearances in later decades. Albums such as Herzblut (1985) and C'est la vie - so ist das Leben (2008) reflected her continuing connection with German pop audiences. Live performances and retrospective compilations helped preserve her status as a major schlager performer.
Although her film career was relatively brief, Lavi left a lasting impression through her work in European genre cinema and international spy spoofs. Her later success as a singer gave her career a second, distinct identity, making her unusual among performers who moved from 1960s film stardom into a sustained recording career. She died in Asheville, North Carolina, at age 74.