Yuval David

Yuval David
David in 2009
Born
Washington D.C.
Alma materUniversity of Maryland
OccupationsActor, filmmaker, advocate
Websiteyuvaldavid.com

Yuval David is an Emmy-award winning actor, filmmaker, journalist, advocate and activist. As an actor, he appeared in shows such as Madam Secretary, Feud, What Would You Do?., The Michael J. Fox Show and Days of Our Lives . His filmmaking includes directing and producing, feature and short films, episodic series, narrative and documentaries, including the creation of man on the street performances. His work has been screened in over 100 film festivals and won more than 80 awards. Yuval David also advocates for rights of the Jewish People, Israel, American democracy and values, and LGBT community, environmental and humanitarian causes.

Early life and education

David's grandparents were survivors of The Holocaust[1] and he was raised in both Israel and Washington D.C.[2] He began performing in theatre, voice overs, film and television at a young age. He went to Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School prior to attending the University of Maryland on an acting scholarship where he studied the arts, film, acting, and journalism. While there he worked professionally as an actor, dancer, and journalist, in addition to performing in theatre and dance performances every semester, directing plays and productions, involved in advisory councils, and was a member of Gymkana the exhibitional gymnastics troupe. He was also a member of Kol Sasson, UMD’s premiere Jewish Acappella group.[3]

Career

Acting

After college, David moved to New York to pursue acting. He traveled between New York City and Los Angeles,living in both cities, and took roles in theatre, television, voice overs and film, including off-Broadway plays and independent films.[3] He also played series regular, guest star, and recurring guest star roles in television, such as Matvey Sokolov in the television series Madam Secretary and was a series regular on the ABC hidden-camera show What Would You Do?[4] playing many different characters, and was Feud on FX, The Plot Against America on HBO, Unforgettable on CBS, The Michael J Fox Show on NBC.

David is the creator of film projects using man on the street encounters.[5] One such series is One Actor Short where he has people he meets on the street act in short films.[1] His work has been screened at more than 100 film festivals and won over 80 awards.[6]

Journalism

David is a news commentator appearing in Broadcast News. Appears as a commentator on U.S., Israeli, and international broadcast outlets including Fox News, Newsmax, NewsNation, ABC, NBC, Sky News, Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), and Israel’s i24, Channels 11, 12, 13, and 14. Published in outlets including The Hill, New York Post, Fox News, JNS,[7] Algemeiner, Jerusalem Post,[8] Times of Israel,[9] Jewish Journal, Middle East Forum, Out Magazine, and Washington Blade. [10] Coverage includes breaking news commentary, public policy analysis, and cultural and social issues. He speaks on Middle East, US Politics, Israel, political movements, battles with extremist terrorism, and human rights.[11]

Public Speaking and Advocacy

David is a public speaker who discusses political and social topics pertaining to Jews, America, Israel, LGBT, human rights causes, art, culture, and entertainment. He is a motivational speaker and storyteller, guiding audiences toward media training, creativity, activism, the significance of using art for social change.[11] David is a Jewish advocate and activist. He advises governmental and non-governmental organizations about the Jewish people and speaks on issues such as antisemitism, Jewish identity, and Israel in public, media, and policy settings. [12][13]

As an activist, David advocates for rights of the LGBT community, including acceptance and inclusion of LGBTQ people within religious communities and the prohibition by the FDA on the use of blood plasma from donors based on sexual orientation.[14] He has also partnered with organizations such as the National LGBTQ Task Force and GLAAD[4] He also advocates on behalf of Jewish, LGBTQ, and human rights organizations in the United States and Israel.[15] He hosted Israel’s 70th Anniversary Celebration in Times Square.[11] David was a member of the 2025 Voice of the People cohort.[16] He is a fellow of the Middle East Forum, speaking at conferences and writing on topics pertaining to the Middle East and global affairs.[17]

Personal

David is a Jewish American–Israeli[18] who publicly identifies as a member of the LGBT community.[19] He is married to Mark McDermott.[20] In 2015, a video of David being proposed to by Mark McDermott went viral.[21] In 2010, David visited Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp with his holocaust survivor grandfather.[22]

Awards

David is an Emmy Award winner for work in journalism and media. In 2024, he was named the “#1 Young Zionist Visionary” by the Jerusalem Post and Jewish National Fund USA.[23] Recognized as a “Hero Against Hate” by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).[10] In 2022, David was announced as a notable LGBTQ leader by Crains New York.[24]

Filmography

Actor

Year Title Role Notes
2017-2018 Madam Secretary Actor Matvey Sokolov[4]
2011-2018 What Would You Do? Actor Series regular[4]
2014 The Michael J. Fox Show Actor Reoccurring character (David)[25]
2008-2009 Days of Our Lives Actor Reoccurring character (David)[25]

Filmmaker

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes Ref.
2021 Wonderfully Made Yes Yes Yes
  • Documentary
 [26]
2019-2020 One Actor Short Yes Yes Yes
  • Television series
 [1]
2018 Better World with Yuval David Yes Yes Yes
  • Television series
 [27]
2017 What Makes You Beautiful Yes Yes Yes
  • Television series
 [27]
2014 Pranks of Kindness Yes Yes Yes
  • Television series
 [27]

References

  1. ^ a b c Shahgholi, Hazel (8 December 2020). "Actor and director Yuval David's 'One Actor Short' powered by his 'Brave Space' philosophy". AMNY.
  2. ^ Malcom, Rudy (29 July 2021). "You Should Know…Yuval David". Washington Jewish Weekly.
  3. ^ a b "Almuni Spotlight". CESJDS.
  4. ^ a b c d Andrew, Corey (21 May 2020). "Actor, Director Yuval David Brings Strangers Together In Buzz-Worthy 'One Actor Short'". Instinct.
  5. ^ Meyers, David (6 May 2021). "A Jewish Artist Finds Hope Amid COVID and a Life in Entertainment". The Algemeiner.
  6. ^ "Actor Yuval David Doesn't Wait For Opportunities. He Creates Them". Daily Actor.
  7. ^ "Yuval David". JNS. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  8. ^ "Yuval David". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  9. ^ "Yuval David". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  10. ^ a b "Yuval David". Middle East Forum. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  11. ^ a b c "Yuval David". AICF. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  12. ^ "Want to combat antisemitism? Be more Jewish, says journalist and activist Yuval David". Ynet. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  13. ^ "Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Yuval David's vision for a new type of Zionist advocacy". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  14. ^ Riley, John (24 April 2020). "Andy Cohen, Yuval David call out FDA restrictions on gay and bi male blood and plasma donors". Metro Weekly.
  15. ^ Cohen, Haley. "Self-described 'queer Zionist' Yuval David takes hits from both the Right and Left". The Jerusalem Post.
  16. ^ "Should Jewish philanthropists stop giving to non-Jewish causes?". Ynet. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  17. ^ "Writing Fellows". Me Forum. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  18. ^ "Israeli actor invites Kieran Culkin to visit US Holocaust Museum". Jewish News. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  19. ^ "Yuval David". JNF. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  20. ^ "A gay couple describes producing a new documentary for LGBTQ Catholics". Outreach. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  21. ^ "Gay marriage proposal dances into YouTube's heart". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  22. ^ "LGBTQ Filmmaker Puts His Faith in 'Gifting The Story'". USC Shoag Foundation. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  23. ^ "Yuval David - Visionary". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  24. ^ "Yuval David". Crains New York. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
  25. ^ a b Shapiro, Eileen. "Yuval David - The Real Deal". Get Out.
  26. ^ Shah, Hazel (24 January 2021). "'Wonderfully Made': New documentary tackles troubled relationship between LGBTQ+ believers and Catholic Church". AMNY.
  27. ^ a b c Cristi, A.A. (22 July 2020). "'Man on the Street' Content Creator Yuval David Uses NYC Streets as Canvas for Uplifting Work". Broadway World.
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