Yosef "Sefi" Rivlin born and grew up in Nahalat Yehuda (present-day Rishon LeZion). He born to the Rivlin family. He studied acting at the Beit Zvi School for the Performing Arts. He was married to Rina, with whom he had four children.

Rivlin was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in 2007. In 2010, he announced that he was cured, but in 2012, he underwent further treatment that left him unable to speak. He died in Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan at the age of 66 although rumors of his death began to circulate earlier, after the death of Israeli singer Arik Einstein.[2] A memorial ceremony held at Habimah Theater in Tel Aviv on the morning of the funeral was attended by a large crowd of Israeli entertainers and politicians. Rivlin was buried in the old cemetery of Rishon LeZion.