Kevin Spacey makes surprise trip to Israel, visits soldiers, sites of Oct. 7 massacre

The actor also gave a two-hour masterclass at the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Tel Aviv.

 American actor Kevin Spacey visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City. December 3, 2024. (photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
American actor Kevin Spacey visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City. December 3, 2024.
(photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

American actor Kevin Spacey made a surprise trip to Israel on Friday, and visited the Gaza border communities, spoke to lone soldiers, and held a two-hour acting masterclass in Tel Aviv.

According to Ynet, Spacey was accompanied on his trip by Douglas Murray. Spacey reportedly paid a surprise visit to a lone solider named Ayla Lowenstein, who is the daughter of his manager, Evan Lowenstein.

Spacey also visited the site of the Nova music festival massacre. In videos published by Ynet, Spacey can be seen touring houses in Gaza border kibbutzim targeted during the October 7 massacre. Flash90 also published videos of Spacey at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Israeli media also reported that Spacey visited wounded Israeli soldiers at Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer.

Speaker of the Knesset, Amir Ohana, posted pictures of his meeting with Spacey, alongside a handwritten note from the actor in the Knesset guest book. The note reads: “For the people of Israel, My heart is filled with admiration and strength for your struggle. I will share the stories I have heard and what I have witnessed with my own eyes. With love, Kevin Spacey.”

The actor, who is known for his appearances in American Beauty, The Usual Suspects, and House of Cards, also gave a two-hour masterclass at the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Tel Aviv, according to Ynet.

Back to Israel

In 2019, Spacey visited Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. During his visit, Spacey donned a kippah while paying a condolence call at the Jerusalem Gardens Hotel to mourn the passing of Rabbi Jaeger, the brother-in-law of his manager, Evan Lowenstein. Lowenstein, an Orthodox Jew and former member of the singing duo Evan & Jaron, had been managing Spacey for about three years at the time.

Spacey also dined at the upscale Happy Fish kosher restaurant in Jerusalem and was spotted exploring the trendy Nahalat Binyamin neighborhood in Tel Aviv, where he ultimately chose to eat at Coco Bambino, a restaurant run by Israeli chef Tom Aviv.