
Rika Zaraï
Known for Acting · 16 credits
- Born
- 1938-02-19
- Died
- 2020-12-23
- Place of birth
- Jerusalem, Palestine [now Israel]
- Also known as
- Rika Gozman · ריקה זראי
Biography
Rika Zaraï (Hebrew: ריקה זראי; 19 February 1938 – 23 December 2020) was a Franco-Israeli singer and writer.
Rika Gozman (later Zarai) was born in Jerusalem. Her father came from Odessa (now Ukraine) in the Russian Empire, and her mother from Valozhyn (now Belarus), then in Poland.
She passed her baccalaureate at the age of 17 and enlisted directly in the Israel Defense Forces, a year before her compulsory service would have drafted her. She attended the Jerusalem Music Conservatory where she obtained a first prize in piano. During her 18 months of army service, she was appointed producer of the entertainment troupe of the IDF Central Command.
In 1958, she married Hungarian-born composer Yochanan Zarai [he], with whom she had her daughter Yael (Yaël Bolender). She would later divorce Zarai and marry French musician Jean-Pierre Magnier.
On November 9, 1969, she was the victim of a car accident. The singer sank into a coma for six days and remained immobilized in a cast for eight months. Despite a reserved medical prognosis, she recovered completely after three years. It was during her painful convalescence that Rika composed, as a snub to her suffering, the song Balapapa, with joyful lyrics and which would be a great success.
Known For
TV Shows (14)

Champs-Elysées
1982
as Self

Midi Première
1975
as Self

Sacrée soirée
1987
as Self

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975
as Self

Le monde est à vous
1987
as Self
Midi trente
1972
as Self

Fan School
1977
as Self

Discorama
1959
as Self

Nulle part ailleurs
1987
as Self
Samedi soir
1971
as Self

La Chance aux chansons
1984
as Self
Système 2
1975
as Self

À bout portant
1968
as Self

Cadet Rousselle
1971
as Self
Movies (2)
About Rika Zaraï
Rika Zaraï (Hebrew: ריקה זראי; 19 February 1938 – 23 December 2020) was a Franco-Israeli singer and writer. Rika Gozman (later Zarai) was born in Jerusalem. Her father came from Odessa (now Ukraine) in the Russian Empire, and her mother from Valozhyn (now Belarus), then in Poland. She passed her baccalaureate at the age of 17 and enlisted directly in the Israel Defense Forces, a year before her compulsory service would have drafted her. She attended the Jerusalem Music Conservatory where she obtained a first prize in piano. During her 18 month… With 16 credits spanning from 1959 to 2022, Rika Zaraï has appeared in 2 films and 14 TV shows.
Fans searching for Rika Zaraï movies, Rika Zaraï filmography, or the latest projects starring Rika Zaraï can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Rika Zaraï Movies
- La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président (2022) — as Self (archive footage)
- 38-24-36 (1963) — as Self
Where to Watch Rika Zaraï Films
Most Rika Zaraï movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Rika Zaraï, check our movies catalogue and browse page.

