Aaron Cohen (born 28 February 1976) is an American-Canadian actor, ex-Israeli special forces agent, and counterterrorism analyst best known for his on-camera appearances on various major news cable programs.
Aaron Cohen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 28 February 1976 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | writer, director, actor, celebrity bodyguard, on-camera news commentator |
| Parent | Abby Mann (father) |
Early life and education
editCohen was born to a Jewish family in Montreal, Quebec.[1] His parents divorced when he was young and the family moved to Miami and settled in Los Angeles.[1] He then spent the next several years shuttling between California, Canada, and Florida.[1] For secondary school he attended the Robert Land Academy, a military academy in Canada,[1] and graduated Beverly Hills High School in 1995.[2]
Military Service
editAfter high school, Cohen left Los Angeles for Israel, working on a kibbutz before enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces. After passing the consolidation, a demanding screening process for elite unit candidates, Cohen was one of the few non-Sabra volunteers accepted.[1] In the mid-1990s, he became a member of the undercover Duvdevan Unit (Hebrew: דובדבן; lit. cherry) of the IDF Commando Brigade, performing counter-terror operations targeting suspects among the Palestinian Arab population in the West Bank.[4] He has stated his belief in Zionism and has said his family has a strong Jewish identity.[5]
Post Military
editAfter his service, Cohen returned to Los Angeles and founded IMS Security Consultants, Inc., a Hollywood VIP protection service that has done security work for Hollywood actors, VIPs, rock stars and dignitaries,[6] as well as providing tactical counter-terrorist and "active shooter" training to vetted members of local, State and Federal law enforcement as well as police SWAT teams and the U.S. military Special Forces.[7]
Film and television
editCohen got his Hollywood start tech advising for numerous films including Steven Soderbergh's Haywire and providing tactical training for actors including Keanu Reeves for the John Wick franchise, and quickly transitioned into acting, supporting in various film and TV projects including 211 with Nicolas Cage, Rambo 5: Last Blood with Sylvester Stallone and a recurring role on the Netflix series Luis Miguel. In 2022 he was cast in a supporting role opposite Antonio Banderas in the crime thriller The Enforcer. [8]
UCLA Gaza encampment
editIn May 2024, Cohen claimed that he "ran a quiet infiltration operation" into the pro-Palestinian solidarity encampment at UCLA[broken anchor].[9] He then spoke about his experience on Fox News.[10][11]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Brotherhood of Warriors By Aaron Cohen and Douglas Century Harpercollins.comy
- ^ Shuman, Phil (10 October 2002). "Security—Israeli Style". Jewish Journal of Los Angeles. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
- ^ Martin, Douglas. "Abby Mann, 'Nuremberg' Screenwriter, Dies at 83". The New York Times.
- ^ "Fearing a third intifada, the IDF's elite undercover unit steps up its training". The Times of Israel.
- ^ "Aaron Cohen: Soldier, Actor, Writer, Spy". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. 11 September 2019.
- ^ Jo Piazza. "Celebs shell out big bucks for security". CNN.
- ^ "Montgomery Police Department's SWAT Team Learns Israeli Tactics". Wsfa.com.
- ^ Andreas Wiseman. "'The Enforcer': Mojean Aria, Zolee Griggs, Alexis Ren & Aaron Cohen Join Antonio Banderas, Kate Bosworth & 2 Chainz; Filming Begins In Greece". Deadline.
- ^ Farooq, Umar A (7 May 2024). "Ex-Israeli special forces agent says he went 'undercover' at UCLA protest encampment". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Anti-Israel protests 'systematic,' there's leadership in place: Aaron Cohen". Fox News. 3 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "There were a bunch of 'spoiled kids' at UCLA's encampment: Aaron Cohen | Fox Business Video". Fox Business. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
Further reading
edit- "Haywire Technical Adviser and Tactical Weapons Trainer To The Actors on With Jeff Shubert" Filmnut.TV, 18 January 2012
- "Exclusive: Director Steven Soderbergh on Haywire" ComingSoon.net, 18 January 2012
- " Haywire Technical Advisor Aaron Cohen on Creating Gun Jitsu" The Wall Street Journal, 17 January 2012
- "Whats Next For Michael Fassbender" Gotchya Movies.com, 17 January 2012
- "Aaron Cohen Former Special Ops Fighter Trains Mixed Martial Arts Champion For Film" Los Angeles Times, 1 January 2012
- "Security Expert Aaron Cohen on Good Day LA" Fox 11 News, 16 September 2011
- "Security Expert Aaron Cohen on Good Day LA" Fox 11 News, 1 July 2011
- "Bodyguard: Aaron Cohen keeps L.A.'s elite out of harm's way. Ask him to take a bullet? That would be missing the point" Los Angeles Magazine, 1 March 2008
- "Paparazzi, Beware! Hollywood Stars Have a Secret Weapon: Israeli Commandos" The Forward, 24 October 2007
- Transcript of "Special Report With Brit Hume, Fox News Interview on air with Aaron Cohen"
- "US Homeland Security Industry Expanding" by Mike O'Sullivan in Voice of America News, 13 September 2006 [permanent dead link]
- "Cho Seung Hui's Murderous Rampage at Virginia Tech" CNN International, 20 April 2007