Israeli actor Guy Kapulnik has died at the age of 46 after a plane crash, his family have confirmed. He was killed alongside Taylor Laska, 33, when the plane they were in plummeted to the ground near Hesperia Airport in California.
Emergency services were called to the Summit Valley Road just before 10am local time on Thursday (September 24) when they discovered the plane – a single-engine Aeronca Champion – nose down in an open field. Both members on board were pronounced dead at the scene.
Family Statement and Tributes
It is believed the plane was operated by Midfield Aviation in Apple Valley, which provides flight training and rents aircraft for lessons.
"Alongside acting, in recent years his great love of aviation became a central part of his life. He learned to fly in California, became certified as a flight instructor and taught many students. Following his death, students and friends began posting tributes, describing a beloved man and an influential instructor who taught them not only how to fly, but also to love the world of aviation," his family said in a statement.
"Guy was a man of action, curiosity and adventure. An actor and creator, a skipper and a man of the sea. Throughout his life, he moved between the stage and the camera, the sea and the skies, repeatedly daring to choose new paths."
Career and Background
Kapulnik graduated from the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Jerusalem and went on to earn a degree in information systems from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. He built a successful career in the industry, appearing in films including Lebanon (2009), Watch Over Me (2010), Salsa Tel Aviv (2011) and Room 514 (2012).
Prior to his career in acting, Kapulnik was an officer in the Israel Defense Forces' elite 669 search and rescue unit. In recent years, he moved to Los Angeles and worked as a flying instructor while continuing to act.
Investigation and Legacy
Tributes have flooded in for Kapulnik online, with his former agent Zohar Jacobson describing him as "extraordinary". "Guy was a talented actor and an extraordinary person. He was intelligent, sensitive and modest, with a huge heart," she said.
"Guy was my flight instructor, he taught me how to fly," another person shared. "He was such a nice guy. He came here from Israel to chase his dreams to be an airline pilot."
A third penned: "Deeply saddened by the loss of Guy Kapulnik, a talented Israeli actor and skilled pilot, who tragically died in a light plane crash in California. His passion and dedication continue to inspire us all. May his memory be honored."
The incident is being investigated by The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board. Kapulnik is survived by his wife and three children.
