Gilles Ben-David

Gilles Ben-David, sometimes credited as Gil Ben-David, is an Israeli actor and puppeteer who performs Moishe Oofnik, Israel's answer to Oscar the Grouch. Fluent in English and French, as well as Hebrew, Ben-David first played the role on Rechov Sumsum in 1982. He reprised the part on Shalom Sesame, Sesame Street Stays Up Late, the 1997 Rechov Sumsum — Shara'a Simsim co-production with Palestine, live appearances, and most recently, the 2006 revival of Rechov Sumsum. He also performed Noah on Sippuray Sumsum and trained puppeteers for the new season of Rechov Sumsum.

Ben-David's career as a performer has encompassed the political series Hartzufim, a Spitting Image-style effort, performing Israel's Foreign Minister David Levy and other figures, as well as stage acting, and reciting Jules Verne in French and Hebrew at the Institut Francais 2005 Science and Imagination conference. On camera, he has appeared in various live-action films, in either English or Hebrew, including the thrillers The Ambassador and The Human Shield and the short film Pepe's Choice.