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Raz Degan

Raz Degan (born August 25, 1968) is an artist, actor, director, cinematographer, and public figure, whose career spans feature films, documentary filmmaking, photography, and immersive storytelling. He has worked with Academy Award-winning filmmakers such as Oliver Stone and Ermanno Olmi, bringing historical and deeply introspective roles to life. His documentary films, including ‘’The Last Shaman’’, executive-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, explore human resilience, spiritual awakening, and indigenous cultures, while his artistic photography has been exhibited internationally.

Career

Acting & Filmmaking

Degan began his acting career in the mid-1990s and quickly established himself as a versatile performer in international cinema. His film debut was a cameo in Robert Altman's ‘’Prêt-à-Porter’’ (1994), which led to a series of roles in Italian and international productions.

In 2004, he portrayed Darius III of Persia in Oliver Stone's historical epic ‘’Alexander’’, sharing the screen with Colin Farrell, Angelina Jolie, and Anthony Hopkins. His performances in art-house European films, such as Ermanno Olmi's ‘’One Hundred Nails’’ (2007) and the medieval war drama ‘’Barbarossa’’ (2009), positioned him as a serious, transformative actor.

Degan's interest in authentic storytelling led him into documentary filmmaking and cinematography. In 2016, he directed ‘’The Last Shaman’’, an intimate look at Amazonian shamanic healing and mental health, executive-produced by Leonardo DiCaprio. The film received critical acclaim (allegedly)for its raw, immersive approach to exploring ancient healing traditions.

Photography & Art

A lifelong photographer, Degan's work focuses on vanishing cultures, human resilience, and the intersection between nature and identity. His photography has been published in leading international magazines and showcased in exhibitions across Milan, Bali, New York, and Tel Aviv. His solo exhibition “Ancient Light”, held in multiple locations, presented his visual anthropology of remote civilizations.

Television & Reality Survival

Degan has merged his adventurous spirit with television storytelling, bringing his real-life experiences into mainstream media: • 2010–2011: Hosted ‘‘Mistero’’, a documentary series investigating ancient civilizations, unsolved mysteries, and the unexplained. • 2017: Won ‘’L’Isola dei Famosi’’ (Italy's version of ‘‘Survivor’’) with an overwhelming 89% of the public vote, proving his survival skills and adaptability in extreme conditions. • 2018: Created, directed, and hosted ‘’Raz & The Tribe’’, a docu-reality series on Sky Atlantic, where he and guests—such as Luca Argentero, Asia Argento, and Piero Pelù—lived among remote indigenous cultures in Ethiopia, Sumatra, and New Guinea. • 2025: Cast in ‘‘Un passo dal cielo 8’’, playing Stephan Anderson, further expanding his presence in Italian television and drama.

Humanitarian Work & Exploration

Degan has used his platform to advocate for environmental conservation, indigenous rights, and displaced communities. He has collaborated with UNHCR and various environmental NGOs, using his films and photography to bring awareness to fragile ecosystems and cultures on the brink of extinction. ---

Filmography

Films

Television

References

1. Degan, Raz. “The Last Shaman.” Raz Degan Official Website. Accessed March 1, 2025. https://www.razdegan.com/the-last-shaman 2. Scardi, Rosanna. “Raz Degan, l’attore israeliano che vive in un trullo a Ostuni, paparazzato con la compagna per le vie di Roma. ‘In Puglia coltiviamo la terra’.” Corriere della Sera, February 1, 2025. https://lecce.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/25_febbraio_01/raz-degan-l-attore-israeliano-che-vive-in-un-trullo-di-ostuni-paparazzato-con-la-compagna-a-roma-in-puglia-coltiviamo-la-terra-08e9ce48-7f01-47c2-baae-31bac104fxlk.shtml 3. Redazione People. “Raz Degan presenta la fidanzata Cindy: ‘Stiamo insieme da sei anni. La vita insieme è un’avventura’.” Vanity Fair Italia, December 17, 2023. https://www.vanityfair.it/article/raz-degan-presenta-fidanzata-cindy-stiamo-insieme-da-sei-anni-la-vita-insieme-avventura 4. Mercuri, Roberta. “Raz Degan: ‘Le cicatrici della guerra sono incise sulla mia pelle, così come su quella dei ragazzi palestinesi’.” Vanity Fair Italia, October 17, 2023. https://www.vanityfair.it/article/raz-degan-kibbutz-israeliano-cicatrici-guerra-palestinesi 5. Degan, Raz. “Photography.” Raz Degan Official Website. Accessed March 1, 2025. https://www.razdegan.com/photography 6. Mercuri, Roberta. “Raz Degan, 50 anni da leone (libero).” Vanity Fair Italia, August 25, 2018. https://www.vanityfair.it/people/italia/2018/08/25/raz-degan-50-anni-da-leone-libero 7. Degan, Raz. “The Lost Sadhu.” Raz Degan Official Website. Accessed March 1, 2025. https://www.razdegan.com/the-lost-sadhu 8. Degan, Raz. “Raz in the Urban Jungle.” Raz Degan Official Website. Accessed March 1, 2025. https://www.razdegan.com/raz-in-the-urban-jungle 9. Degan, Raz. “The Last Shaman OnDemand.” Raz Degan Official Website. Accessed March 1, 2025. https://www.razdegan.com/the-last-shaman-ondemand 10. Mercuri, Roberta. “Raz Degan: ‘Il nostro kibbutz è stato evacuato, mia sorella sta arrivando in Italia. Ma mio padre, 80 anni, non vuole lasciare la sua casa’.” Vanity Fair Italia, October 15, 2023. https://www.vanityfair.it/article/raz-degan-kibbutz-evacuato-sorella-sta-arrivando-in-italia-padre-80-anni 11. Costantini, Emilia. “Raz Degan: ‘Nato in un kibbutz, da qualche anno vivo in un trullo. Sono un attore-contadino’.” Corriere della Sera, January 5, 2025. https://www.corriere.it/spettacoli/25_gennaio_05/raz-degan-nato-in-un-kibbutz-da-qualche-anno-vivo-in-un-trullo-sono-un-attore-contadino-c2392069-585d-4048-b8a9-4b09bb81exlk.shtml 12. Siri, Simona. “Raz Degan: ‘Guardatemi bene. Fra poco scompaio’.” Vanity Fair Italia, August 25, 2023. https://www.vanityfair.it/article/raz-degan-guardatemi-bene-fra-poco-scompaio-intervista 13. Redazione Online. “Che fine ha fatto Raz Degan: il Gf ‘spazzatura’, la compagna misteriosa, il padre rivisto dopo 16 anni.” Corriere della Sera, August 25, 2023. https://www.corriere.it/spettacoli/cards/che-fine-ha-fatto-raz-degan-gf-spazzatura-compagna-misteriosa-padre-rivisto-16-anni/cameriere-new-york-modello-caso_principale.shtml

External links