Omar Sharif
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Omar Sharif ( ar, عمر الشريف ; born Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub , 10 April 193210 July 2015) was an
Egyptian Egyptian describes something of, from, or related to Egypt. Egyptian or Egyptians may refer to: Nations and ethnic groups * Egyptians, a national group in North Africa ** Egyptian culture, a complex and stable culture with thousands of years of ...
actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...
, generally regarded as one of his country's greatest male film stars. He began his career in his native country in the 1950s, but is best known for his appearances in British, American, French, and Italian productions. His career encompassed over 100 films spanning 50 years, and brought him many accolades including three
Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of t ...
s and a
César Award for Best Actor This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Actor (french: César du meilleur acteur). History Superlatives Winners 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Multiple wins and nominations The following indivi ...
. Sharif played opposite
Peter O'Toole Peter Seamus O'Toole (; 2 August 1932 – 14 December 2013) was a British stage and film actor. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began working in the theatre, gaining recognition as a Shakespearean actor at the Bristol Old Vic ...
as Sherif Ali in the David Lean epic ''
Lawrence of Arabia Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer who became renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt (1916–1918) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–191 ...
'' (1962), which earned him an
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
nomination for Best Supporting Actor, and portrayed the title role in Lean's ''
Doctor Zhivago ''Doctor Zhivago'' is the title of a novel by Boris Pasternak and its various adaptations. Description The story, in all of its forms, describes the life of the fictional Russian physician and poet Yuri Zhivago Yuri Andreievich Zhivago is the ...
'' (1965), earning him the Golden Globe for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama. He continued to play romantic leads, in films like '' Funny Girl'' (1968) and ''
The Tamarind Seed ''The Tamarind Seed'' is a 1974 romantic thriller drama film written and directed by Blake Edwards and starring Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif. Based on the 1971 novel of the same name by Evelyn Anthony, the film is about a British Home Office ...
'' (1974), and historical figures like the eponymous characters in ''
Genghis Khan ''Chinggis Khaan'' ͡ʃʰiŋɡɪs xaːŋbr />Mongol script: ''Chinggis Qa(gh)an/ Chinggis Khagan'' , birth_name = Temüjin , successor = Tolui (as regent)Ögedei Khan , spouse = , issue = , house = Borjigin , ...
'' (1965) and '' Che!'' (1969). His acting career continued well into old age, with a well-received turn as a Muslim Turkish immigrant in the French film ''
Monsieur Ibrahim ''Monsieur Ibrahim'' (original title: ''Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran''; (, ''Mister Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Qur'an'') is a 2003 French drama film starring Omar Sharif, and directed by François Dupeyron. The film is based on a b ...
'' (2003). He made his final film appearance in 2015, the year of his death. Sharif spoke five languages: Arabic, English, French, Italian and Spanish. He bridled at travel restrictions imposed by the government of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, leading to self-exile in Europe. He was a lifelong
horse racing Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...
enthusiast, and at one time ranked among the world's top
contract bridge Contract bridge, or simply bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard 52-card deck. In its basic format, it is played by four players in two competing partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. Millions o ...
players. He was the recipient of high civil honors from multiple countries, including the Egyptian Order of Merit and the French
Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon, ...
. He was one of only 25 grantees of
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
's Sergei Eisenstein Medal, in recognition of his significant contributions to world film and cultural diversity.


Early life

Sharif, whose adopted surname means "noble" or "nobleman" in
Arabic Arabic (, ' ; , ' or ) is a Semitic languages, Semitic language spoken primarily across the Arab world.Semitic languages: an international handbook / edited by Stefan Weninger; in collaboration with Geoffrey Khan, Michael P. Streck, Janet C ...
, after converting to
Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
, was born Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub ( ar, ميشيل يوسف ديمتري شلهوب ) in
Alexandria Alexandria ( or ; ar, ٱلْإِسْكَنْدَرِيَّةُ ; grc-gre, Αλεξάνδρεια, Alexándria) is the second largest city in Egypt, and the largest city on the Mediterranean coast. Founded in by Alexander the Great, Alexandria ...
,
Kingdom of Egypt The Kingdom of Egypt ( ar, المملكة المصرية, Al-Mamlaka Al-Miṣreyya, The Egyptian Kingdom) was the legal form of the Egyptian state during the latter period of the Muhammad Ali dynasty's reign, from the United Kingdom's recog ...
(now Arab Republic of Egypt),"Omar Sharif: 'It is a great film, but I'm not very good in it'"
''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
''
to a
Melkite Catholic el, Μελχιτική Ελληνική Καθολική Εκκλησία , image = Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Damascus, Syria.jpg , imagewidth = 200px , alt = , caption = , abbreviatio ...
family of Lebanese descent, making him and his family members of the Antiochian Greek Christian minority (also known as ''
Rūm Rūm ( ar, روم , collective; singulative: Rūmī ; plural: Arwām ; fa, روم Rum or Rumiyān, singular Rumi; tr, Rûm or , singular ), also romanized as ''Roum'', is a derivative of the Aramaic (''rhπmÈ'') and Parthian (''frwm'') ...
''). His father, Yusef Chalhoub, a precious-woods merchant, moved to the port city of Alexandria with his mother in the early 20th century from Zahle. Sharif was later born in Alexandria. His family moved to
Cairo Cairo ( ; ar, القاهرة, al-Qāhirah, ) is the capital of Egypt and its largest city, home to 10 million people. It is also part of the largest urban agglomeration in Africa, the Arab world and the Middle East: The Greater Cairo metro ...
when he was four. His mother, Claire Saada, was a noted society hostess, in whose house Egypt's
King Farouk Farouk I (; ar, فاروق الأول ''Fārūq al-Awwal''; 11 February 1920 – 18 March 1965) was the tenth ruler of Egypt from the Muhammad Ali dynasty and the penultimate King of Egypt and the Sudan, succeeding his father, Fuad I, in 1 ...
was a regular visitor prior to his deposition in 1952. In his youth, Sharif studied at
Victoria College, Alexandria Victoria College, Alexandria, ( ar, كلية فيكتوريا) was founded in 1902 under the impetus of the recently ennobled Evelyn Baring, 1st Earl of Cromer of the Barings Bank, that was heavily invested in Egyptian stability. For years the Br ...
, where he showed a talent for languages. He later graduated from
Cairo University Cairo University ( ar, جامعة القاهرة, Jāmi‘a al-Qāhira), also known as the Egyptian University from 1908 to 1940, and King Fuad I University and Fu'ād al-Awwal University from 1940 to 1952, is Egypt's premier public university ...
with a degree in mathematics and physics. He worked for a while in his father's precious wood business before beginning his acting career in Egypt. In 1955, he adopted the stage name "Omar Sharif".El Mundo Magazine
"Entrevista: Omar Sharif", by Eugenia Yagüe, 2002, retrieved 12 July 2015.
He married fellow Egyptian actress
Faten Hamama Faten Ahmed Hamama ( ar, فاتن حمامه  ; 27 May 1931 – 17 January 2015) was an Egyptian film and television actress and film producer. She was the first wife of Ezz El-Dine Zulficar. She made her screen debut in 1939, when she was ...
. It has been widely reported that Sharif studied acting at the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA; ) is a drama school in London, England, that provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in the Bloomsbury area of Central London, close to the Sen ...
in London, but the academy told ''
Al Jazeera Al Jazeera ( ar, الجزيرة, translit-std=DIN, translit=al-jazīrah, , "The Island") is a state-owned Arabic-language international radio and TV broadcaster of Qatar. It is based in Doha and operated by the media conglomerate Al Jazeera ...
'' that this was not true.


Acting career


Egyptian movie star

In 1954, Sharif began his acting career in
Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
with a role in '' Struggle in the Valley'' (1954) ("Seraa' Fi el-Wadi"). He was also in ''Shaytan el-Sahra'' (1954) ("Devil of the Desert"). He quickly rose to stardom, appearing in '' Our Beautiful Days'' (1955), ''
The Lebanese Mission ''The Lebanese Mission'' (also known as ''Châtelaine du Liban, La'') is a 1956 French thriller film directed by Richard Pottier and starring Jean-Claude Pascal, Gianna Maria Canale, Jean Servais and Luciana Paluzzi. Omar Sharif also appeared i ...
'' (1956) (a French film), '' Struggle in the Pier'' (1956), '' Sleepless'' (1957) ("La Anam"), '' Land of Peace'' (1957), ''
Goha ''Goha'' is a 1958 French-Tunisian film. It starred Omar Sharif and it was the cinema debut of Claudia Cardinale. At the 1958 Cannes Film Festival it was awarded with the Jury Prize and it had been nominated for the Palme d'Or. It was shown as pa ...
'' (1958) (a Tunisian film that marked the debut of
Claudia Cardinale Claude Joséphine Rose "Claudia" Cardinale (; born 15 April 1938) is an Italian actress. She has starred in some of the most iconic European films of the 1960s and 1970s, acting in Italian, French, and English. Born and raised in La Goulette, a ...
), '' Struggle on the Nile'' (1958), ''
Sayyidat al-Qasr ''Sayyidat al-Qasr'' ( ar, سيدة القصر, en, Lady of the Palace) is a 1958 Egyptian romance film starring Faten Hamama and Omar Sharif. The film is directed by the Egyptian film director Kamal El Sheikh and written by Hussein Helmy Almoh ...
'' (1958), ''
A Beginning and an End ''The Beginning and the End'' ( arz, بداية و نهاية) is a 1960 Egyptian film directed by Salah Abouseif and based on the 1950 novel by the same name. It was the first film adapted from a novel written by Naguib Mahfouz. ''The Beginning ...
'' (1960), ''
A Rumor of Love ''A Rumor of Love'' (aka ''The Love Rumor''; Arabic: إشاعة حب – ''Eshaet Hob'' or ''Ishayat hub'') is a 1960 Egyptian film by the director Fatin Abdel Wahab. The movie tells a story of a young man and the trouble he goes through to cour ...
'' (1960), the ''
Anna Karenina ''Anna Karenina'' ( rus, «Анна Каренина», p=ˈanːə kɐˈrʲenʲɪnə) is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Widely considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever writt ...
'' adaptation '' The River of Love'' ("Nahr El-Hob") of
Ezz El-Dine Zulficar Ezz El-Dine Ahmed Mourad Zulficar (Egyptian Arabic: عز الدين ذو الفقار, ; October 28, 1919 – July 1, 1963) was an Egyptian film director, screenwriter, actor and producer known for his distinctive style, which blends romance and ...
(1960). He and his wife co-starred in several movies as romantic leads. Sharif achieved success through other movies like '' Struggle on the Nile'' (1959), ''
A Rumor of Love ''A Rumor of Love'' (aka ''The Love Rumor''; Arabic: إشاعة حب – ''Eshaet Hob'' or ''Ishayat hub'') is a 1960 Egyptian film by the director Fatin Abdel Wahab. The movie tells a story of a young man and the trouble he goes through to cour ...
'' (1960), and ''
There is a man in our House ''There Is a Man in Our House '' or ''A Man in Our House'' ( ar, في بيتِنا رَجِل Fi baitina rajul), is a 1961 Egyptian drama, history, romance film directed by Henry Barakat, an Egyptian film director of Lebanese origin. The film is ...
'' (1961), which made him a huge competitor to
Salah Zulfikar Salah El Din Ahmed Mourad Zulfikar ( ar, صلاح ذو الفقار; ; 18 January 1926 – 22 December 1993) was an Egyptian actor and film producer. He started his career as a police officer in the Egyptian National Police, before becoming an ac ...
,
Shoukry Sarhan Mohamed Shoukry El Husseiny Sarhan (1925–1997, ar, محمد شُكري الحسيني سرحان, Muḥammad Shukrī al-Ḥusaynī Sirḥān), better known as Shoukry Sarhan ( ar, شُكري سرحان, Shukrī Sirḥān), was an Egyptian ...
and Rushdy Abaza, the
Egyptian cinema The cinema of Egypt refers to the flourishing film industry based in Cairo, sometimes also referred to as Hollywood on the Nile. Since 1976, the capital has held the annual Cairo International Film Festival, which has been accredited by the Intern ...
giants at the time.


''Lawrence of Arabia''

Sharif's first English-language role was that of (the fictitious) Sherif Ali in David Lean's historical epic ''
Lawrence of Arabia Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer who became renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt (1916–1918) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–191 ...
'' in 1962. Sharif was given the role when
Dilip Kumar Mohammed Yusuf Khan (; 11 December 1922 – 7 July 2021), better known by his stage name Dilip Kumar, was an Indian actor who worked in Hindi cinema. Credited with pioneering method acting in cinema, he dominated the Indian movie scene from ...
turned it down,
Horst Buchholz Horst Werner Buchholz (4 December 1933 – 3 March 2003) was a German actor who appeared in more than 60 feature films from 1951 to 2002. During his youth, he was sometimes called "the German James Dean". He is perhaps best known in English- ...
proved unavailable and
Maurice Ronet Maurice Ronet (13 April 1927 – 14 March 1983) was a French film actor, director, and writer. Early life Maurice Ronet was born Maurice Julien Marie Robinet in Nice, Alpes Maritimes. He was the only child of professional stage actors Émile Rob ...
could not use the contact lenses necessary to hide his eyes. Casting Sharif in what is now considered one of the "most demanding supporting roles in Hollywood history" was both complex and risky as he was virtually unknown at the time outside Egypt. However, as historian Steven Charles Caton notes, Lean insisted on using ethnic actors when possible to make the film authentic.Caton, Steven Charles. ''Lawrence of Arabia: A Film's Anthropology'', University of California Press (1999) Sharif would later use his ambiguous ethnicity in other films: "I spoke French, Greek, Italian, Spanish and even Arabic", he said. As Sharif noted, his accent enabled him to "play the role of a foreigner without anyone knowing exactly where I came from", which he stated proved highly successful throughout his career. To secure the role, Sharif had to sign a seven-film contract with Columbia at $50,000 a film. ''Lawrence'' was a box office and critical sensation. Sharif's performance earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nomination and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, as well as a shared
Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor The Golden Globe for New Star of the Year – Actor was an award given by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at their annual Golden Globe Awards. History The award was first introduced at the 6th Golden Globe Awards in 1948, where it was ...
. Sharif went on to star in another Hollywood film, Anthony Mann's '' The Fall of the Roman Empire'' (1964) where he played the support role of Sohaemus of Armenia. Sharif was third-billed in Columbia's ''Behold a Pale Horse'' (1964), playing a priest in the
Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, link ...
alongside Gregory Peck and
Anthony Quinn Manuel Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca (April 21, 1915 – June 3, 2001), known professionally as Anthony Quinn, was a Mexican-American actor. He was known for his portrayal of earthy, passionate characters "marked by a brutal and elemental v ...
. Director
Fred Zinnemann Alfred ''Fred'' Zinnemann (April 29, 1907 – March 14, 1997) was an Austrian Empire-born American film director. He won four Academy Awards for directing and producing films in various genres, including thrillers, westerns, film noir and pla ...
said he chose Sharif partly on the suggestion of David Lean. "He said he was an absolutely marvellous actor, 'If you possibly can, take a look at him.'"Zinnemann, Fred. ''Fred Zinnemann: Interviews'', Univ. Press of Mississippi (2005) p. 6 Film historian
Richard Schickel Richard Warren Schickel (February 10, 1933 – February 18, 2017) was an American film historian, journalist, author, documentarian, and film and literary critic. He was a film critic for ''Time'' magazine from 1965–2010, and also w ...
wrote that Sharif gave a "truly wonderful performance", especially noteworthy because of his totally different roles in ''Lawrence of Arabia'': "It is hard to believe that the priest and the sheik are played by the same man". The film, like ''Fall of the Roman Empire'', was a commercial disappointment. Sharif was one of many stars in MGM's ''
The Yellow Rolls-Royce ''The Yellow Rolls-Royce'' is a 1964 British dramatic composite film written by Terence Rattigan, produced by Anatole de Grunwald, and directed by Anthony Asquith, the trio responsible for '' The V.I.P.s'' (1963). Apparently adapting an idea fr ...
'' (1964), playing a Yugoslav wartime patriot; the movie was a hit. Sharif had his first lead role in a Hollywood movie when he was cast in the title part of ''
Genghis Khan ''Chinggis Khaan'' ͡ʃʰiŋɡɪs xaːŋbr />Mongol script: ''Chinggis Qa(gh)an/ Chinggis Khagan'' , birth_name = Temüjin , successor = Tolui (as regent)Ögedei Khan , spouse = , issue = , house = Borjigin , ...
'' (1965). Produced by
Irving Allen Irving Allen (born Irving Applebaum, November 24, 1905 – December 17, 1987) was a theatrical and cinematic producer and director. He received an Academy Award in 1948 for producing the short movie ''Climbing the Matterhorn''. In the early 19 ...
and directed by Henry Levin for Columbia, the $4.5 million epic was a box office disappointment. He had a supporting role in a French Marco Polo biopic, ''
Marco the Magnificent ''La Fabuleuse Aventure de Marco Polo'' or ''Marco the Magnificent'' is a 1965 international co-production (Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Egypt, France, Italy) adventure film directed by Denys de La Patellière and Noël Howard. Raoul Levy committed ...
'' (1965), starring Buchholz and Quinn.


''Doctor Zhivago''

While making ''Genghis Khan'', Sharif heard that Lean was making ''
Doctor Zhivago ''Doctor Zhivago'' is the title of a novel by Boris Pasternak and its various adaptations. Description The story, in all of its forms, describes the life of the fictional Russian physician and poet Yuri Zhivago Yuri Andreievich Zhivago is the ...
'' (1965), an adaptation of Boris Pasternak's 1957 novel. Sharif was a fan of the novel and lobbied for one of the supporting roles, but Lean decided instead to cast him in the lead as Yuri Zhivago, a poet and physician. Film historian Constantine Santas explained that Lean intended the film to be a poetic portrayal of the period, with large vistas of landscapes combined with a powerful score by
Maurice Jarre Maurice-Alexis Jarre (; 13 September 1924 – 28 March 2009) allmusic Biography/ref> was a French composer and conductor. Although he composed several concert works, Jarre is best known for his film scores, particularly for his collaborations wit ...
. He noted that Sharif's role is "passive", his eyes reflecting "reality" which then become "the mirror of reality we ourselves see".Santas, Constantine. ''The Epic Films of David Lean'', Scarecrow Press (2012) p. 59 In a commentary on the DVD (2001 edition), Sharif described Lean's style of directing as similar to a general commanding an army. The film was a huge hit. For his performance, Sharif was named best actor in a motion picture drama. ''Doctor Zhivago'' remains one of the top ten highest-grossing films of all time after adjusting for inflation. Sharif followed it with a cameo in ''
The Poppy Is Also a Flower ''The Poppy Is Also a Flower'' is a 1966 American-French-Austrian made-for-television spy and anti-drug film. It was originally made under the auspices of the United Nations as part of a series of television specials designed to promote the org ...
'' (1966). He, O'Toole and ''Lawrence'' producer
Sam Spiegel Samuel P. Spiegel (November 11, 1901December 31, 1985) was an American independent film producer born in the Galician area of Austria-Hungary. Financially responsible for some of the most critically acclaimed motion pictures of the 20th centur ...
were reunited in ''
The Night of the Generals ''The Night of the Generals'' is a 1967 World War II mystery film directed by Anatole Litvak and produced by Sam Spiegel. It stars Peter O'Toole, Omar Sharif, Tom Courtenay, Donald Pleasence, Joanna Pettet and Philippe Noiret. The screenplay ...
'' (1967). His fourth movie for Columbia, Sharif played a German officer in World War II. The film was not a success, nor was the Italian-French fairytale '' More Than a Miracle'' (1967), despite featuring Sophia Loren as co-star.


''Funny Girl''

Sharif was also praised for his portrayal of
Nicky Arnstein Julius Wilford "Nicky" Arnstein (born Arndstein; July 1, 1879October 2, 1965) was an American professional gambler and con artist. He was known primarily as Julius Arnold, but among his aliases were "Jules Arndtsteyn", "Nick Arnold," "Nicholas A ...
in '' Funny Girl'' (1968) for
Columbia pictures Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production studio that is a member of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment, which is one of the Big Five studios and a subsidiary of the mu ...
. He portrayed the husband of
Fanny Brice Fania Borach (October 29, 1891 – May 29, 1951), known professionally as Fanny Brice or Fannie Brice, was an American comedienne, illustrated song model, singer, and theater and film actress who made many stage, radio, and film appearances. S ...
, played by
Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers List ...
in her first film role. His decision to work alongside Streisand angered Egypt's government because she was a vocal supporter of the State of Israel, and the country condemned the film. It was also "immediately banned" in numerous Arab nations.Nickens, Christopher; Swenson, Karen. ''The Films of Barbra Streisand'', Citadel Press (2000) Streisand herself jokingly responded, "You think Cairo was upset? You should've seen the letter I got from my Aunt Rose!" Sharif and Streisand became romantically involved during the filming. He admitted later that he did not find Streisand attractive at first, but her appeal soon overwhelmed him: "About a week from the moment I met her", he recalled, "I was madly in love with her. I thought she was the most gorgeous girl I'd ever seen in my life...I found her physically beautiful, and I started ''lusting'' after this woman."


Other films

Sharif co-starred with
Catherine Deneuve Catherine Fabienne Dorléac (born 22 October 1943), known professionally as Catherine Deneuve (, , ), is a French actress as well as an occasional singer, model, and producer, considered one of the greatest European actresses. She gained recogni ...
in ''
Mayerling Mayerling is a small village (pop. 200) in Lower Austria belonging to the municipality of Alland in the district of Baden. It is situated on the Schwechat river, in the Wienerwald (''Vienna woods''), southwest of Vienna. From 1550, it was in t ...
'' (1968), and the following year was reunited with Gregory Peck in the western, ''
Mackenna's Gold ''Mackenna's Gold'' is a 1969 American Western film directed by J. Lee Thompson, starring an ensemble cast featuring Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif, Telly Savalas, Ted Cassidy, Camilla Sparv and Julie Newmar in lead roles. It was photographed in S ...
'' (1969), an unsuccessful attempt to repeat the success of '' The Guns of Navarone'' (1961). At
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
he played
Che Guevara Ernesto Che Guevara (; 14 June 1928The date of birth recorded on /upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/Ernesto_Guevara_Acta_de_Nacimiento.jpg his birth certificatewas 14 June 1928, although one tertiary source, (Julia Constenla, quoted ...
in ''Che! (1969 film), Che!'' which flopped at the box office. ''The Appointment'' (1969) teamed Sharif with Anouk Aimée and director Sidney Lumet but was not a hit. James Clavell's ''The Last Valley (1971 film), The Last Valley'' (1971) was a huge flop, despite co-starring Michael Caine."ABC's 5 Years of Film Production Profits & Losses", ''Variety'', 31 May 1973 p. 3 ''The Horsemen (1971 film), The Horsemen'' (1971), directed by John Frankenheimer and the last movie under his Columbia contract, also performed poorly at the box office. Sharif later said, "What killed my career was appearing in a succession of films you wouldn't turn down. They were by good directors, but they were bad films." He specifically referenced ''Behold a Pale Horse'', ''The Appointment'' and ''The Horsemen''. ''The Burglars'' (1971), a French crime film with Jean-Paul Belmondo and Dyan Cannon was a huge hit in France but little seen in the English speaking world.


1970s

Sharif played Captain Nemo for European TV in an adaptation of ''La isla misteriosa y el capitán Nemo, Mysterious Island'' (1973). Sharif appeared in a romantic thriller alongside Julie Andrews for Blake Edwards, ''
The Tamarind Seed ''The Tamarind Seed'' is a 1974 romantic thriller drama film written and directed by Blake Edwards and starring Julie Andrews and Omar Sharif. Based on the 1971 novel of the same name by Evelyn Anthony, the film is about a British Home Office ...
'' (1974); it did well at the box office and the critics gave good reviews. He supported Richard Harris and David Hemmings in a thriller, ''Juggernaut (1974 film), Juggernaut'' (1974). Sharif reprised the role of Nick Arnstein in the sequel to ''Funny Girl'', ''Funny Lady'' in 1975. He starred in a West German thriller ''Crime and Passion'' (1976) and had a cameo in Edwards' ''The Pink Panther Strikes Again'' (1976). Sharif had a small role in ''Ashanti (1979 film), Ashanti'' (1979), starring Caine and a bigger one in ''Bloodline (1979 film), Bloodline'' (1979). "I lost money on gambling, buying horses, things like that", he later said. "So I made those movies which I knew were rubbish... I'd call my agent and tell him to accept any part, just to bail myself out."


1980s

Sharif had a lead part in a spy spoof, ''S*H*E'' (1980) and was second-billed (after James Coburn) in ''The Baltimore Bullet'' (1980). He had supporting parts in a Chevy Chase comedy ''Oh! Heavenly Dog'' (1981) and a Ryan O'Neal thriller ''Green Ice'' (1981) (which was made in the 1970s), and a small role in the comedy ''Top Secret!'' (1984). He appeared on stage in a production of ''The Sleeping Prince (play), The Sleeping Prince'' in 1983, saying he "appeared in the bad films of great directors". Sharif worked steadily in television, appearing in ''Pleasure Palace'' (1981), ''Peter the Great (miniseries), Peter the Great'' (1986), and ''Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna'' (1986) (as Nicholas II of Russia). He had supporting parts in ''Grand Larceny'' (1987) and ''The Possessed (1988 film), The Possessed'' (1988). He also appeared in the movie Rambo III (1988) as Masoud. His first notable credit in a while was ''Mountains of the Moon (film), Mountains of the Moon'' (1990) but Sharif's part was only small. He was the subject of ''This Is Your Life (UK TV series), This Is Your Life'' in 1989, when he was surprised by Michael Aspel outside his Paris apartment.


1990s

Sharif was reunited with O'Toole a third time in ''The Rainbow Thief'' (1990). He went to Egypt for ''War in the Land of Egypt'' (1991) and France for ''Mayrig'' (1991) with
Claudia Cardinale Claude Joséphine Rose "Claudia" Cardinale (; born 15 April 1938) is an Italian actress. She has starred in some of the most iconic European films of the 1960s and 1970s, acting in Italian, French, and English. Born and raised in La Goulette, a ...
, an autobiographical tale for Henri Verneuil. The latter was popular enough for a sequel, ''588 rue paradis'' (1992). Sharif could also be seen in ''Memories of Midnight'' (1991), ''Beyond Justice'' (1992), ''Catherine the Great (1995 film), Catherine the Great'' (as Alexei Razumovsky), ''Gulliver's Travels (miniseries), Gulliver's Travels'' (1996), ''Heaven Before I Die'' (1997), and ''Mysteries of Egypt'' (1998). In 1996, Sharif starred in the documentary ''Lebanon... Imprisoned Splendour, Lebanon...Imprisoned Splendour''. The documentary was written and directed by Lebanese-Australian director Daizy Gedeon, who approached Sharif for the project because she wanted someone 'remarkable' to help her tell the true story of Lebanon: a country which, at the time, was still shrouded in the fog of its Lebanese Civil War, Civil War. In the film, Sharif shares personal stories of his upbringing in a Lebanese family, and recites the poetry of famous Lebanese poet Kahlil Gibran, Khalil Gibran. He had his first decent role in a big Hollywood film in a long time with ''The 13th Warrior'' (1999). The outcome of the film's production disappointed Sharif so much that he temporarily retired from film acting, not taking a role in another major film until 2003's ''
Monsieur Ibrahim ''Monsieur Ibrahim'' (original title: ''Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran''; (, ''Mister Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Qur'an'') is a 2003 French drama film starring Omar Sharif, and directed by François Dupeyron. The film is based on a b ...
'': :I said to myself, 'Let us stop this nonsense, these meal tickets that we do because it pays well.' I thought, 'Unless I find a stupendous film that I love and that makes me want to leave home to do, I will stop.' Bad pictures are very humiliating, I was really sick. It is terrifying to have to do the dialogue from bad scripts, to face a director who does not know what he is doing, in a film so bad that it is not even worth exploring."


''Monsieur Ibrahim'' and later films

Sharif did have a small role in ''The Parole Officer'' (2001). In 2003 he said, "I went 25 years without making a good film." In 2003, Sharif received acclaim for his leading role in ''
Monsieur Ibrahim ''Monsieur Ibrahim'' (original title: ''Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran''; (, ''Mister Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Qur'an'') is a 2003 French drama film starring Omar Sharif, and directed by François Dupeyron. The film is based on a b ...
'', a French-language film adaptation of the novel ''M. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran, Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran'', as a Muslim Turkish merchant who becomes a father figure for a Jewish boy. For this performance, Sharif received the
César Award for Best Actor This is the list of winners and nominees of the César Award for Best Actor (french: César du meilleur acteur). History Superlatives Winners 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 2020s Multiple wins and nominations The following indivi ...
. Sharif said of the film:
It has nice big chunks of dialogue, which is what I like to do, rather than riding horses or camels. I'd turned down everything and stopped working for four years. I said, 'I'm going to stop doing that rubbish and keep some dignity.' But when I read the script for 'Monsieur Ibrahim,' I phoned the producers immediately. I said, 'Hang on, I'm coming, wait for me.' My problem is finding parts. When you're young and successful, they write or adapt parts for you. But when you're an old chap, let's be frank, you don't sell tickets anymore. If they need an old Englishman, American or Italian, there are plenty of actors around. So what's open for me? Old Arabs. And that's what I play in this film.
Sharif's later film roles included performances in ''Hidalgo (film), Hidalgo'' (2004), ''Imperium: Saint Peter'' (2005) playing the title role for Italian television, ''One Night with the King'' (2005) (again with O'Toole), and 10,000 BC (film), 10,000 BC (2008) as the narrator. Sharif was seen in ''The Ten Commandments (miniseries), The Ten Commandments'' (2006). Also in 2006, Sharif played the artist Hans Canon in "The Crown Prince", a film about Rudolf, the 19th century crown prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In Egypt he starred in ''Hassan and Marcus'' (2008) with Adel Emam' and was in ''The Traveller (2009 film), The Traveller'' (2009). He had support roles in ''The Last Templar (miniseries), The Last Templar'' (2009) and ''Rock the Casbah (2013 film), Rock the Casbah'' (2013). Sharif's final role was as lead actor in the short science education film ''1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn Al-Haytham'', which was directed by Ahmed Salim and was released as part of the United Nations' International Year of Light campaign, operated by
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
.


Contract bridge career

Sharif said bridge was his personal passion and at one time was ranked among the world's top 50
contract bridge Contract bridge, or simply bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard 52-card deck. In its basic format, it is played by four players in two competing partnerships, with partners sitting opposite each other around a table. Millions o ...
players. At the 1964 World Team Olympiad, World Bridge Olympiad he represented the United Arab Republic bridge squad and in 1968 he was playing captain of the Egyptian team in the Olympiad. In 1967 he formed the ''Omar Sharif Bridge Circus'' to showcase bridge to the world and invited professional players including members of the Italian Blue Team (bridge), Blue team, which won 16 World championship titles, to tour and promote the game via exhibition matches including one watched by the Shah of Iran."Omar Sharif, international heartthrob of 'Lawrence of Arabia' and 'Doctor Zhivago,' dies at 83", Adam Bernstein, 10 July 2015
''Washington Post''
/ref> Touring through Europe, the Circus attracted thousands of spectators who watched the matches via Bridge-O-Rama, a new technology (and predecessor to the modern-day VuGraph) that displayed bidding and cardplay on television monitors. Players included Benito Garozzo, (considered by many as the greatest bridge player of all time) plus his Italian compatriots Pietro Forquet and Giorgio Belladonna and Frenchman Claude Delmouly. In 1970, Sharif and the circus went to London's famous Le Méridien Piccadilly Hotel, Piccadilly Hotel for an 80-rubber match against British experts Jeremy Flint and Jonathan Cansino. The stakes were £1 per point, huge stakes even by today's standards. The event was to present bridge as a rich, exciting spectacle and to break through into television to bring the game within the reach of millions. The Circus ultimately won the match by 5,470 points, but Sharif still incurred a net loss after paying all related expenses. The Circus, under the management of Michael Ledeen, Mike Ledeen, toured Canada and the U.S. in 1970–71. Sharif's team joined with the Dallas Aces for a seven-city tour of Chicago, Winnipeg, Los Angeles, Minneapolis–St. Paul, Dallas, Detroit and Philadelphia. In each city, a team of local experts participated in the exhibition. In 1975, sponsored by the Lancia division of Fiat, Sharif and members of the Italian Blue Team faced off in four challenge matches against American teams. Sharif's team won in Chicago, but was defeated in New York, Los Angeles and Miami. The Omar Sharif World Individual Championship held in 1990 offered the largest total purse ($200,000) in the history of bridge. In 1997, he was a member of the Committee of Honour for the Bermuda Bowl on the first time it was held in an Arab country, Tunisia. He competed in a transnational team (with French, German and Lebanese players) and finished 11th. In 1999 he played in a French senior team at the European Championships in Malta, finishing second. In 2000 at Maastricht, he joined Egypt's senior team, finishing in ninth place. With Charles Goren and later Tannah Hirsch, Sharif contributed to a print syndication, syndicated newspaper bridge column for the ''Chicago Tribune''. He was also both author and co-author of several books on bridge and licensed his name to a bridge video game, ''Omar Sharif Bridge'', initially released in an MS-DOS version and Amiga version in 1992 and is still sold in Windows and mobile platform versions. He was also the hand analyst commentator for the Epson worldwide bridge contests. Sharif was a regular in casinos in France. By 2000 Sharif had stopped playing bridge entirely. Having once proudly declared the game his passion, he now considered it an addiction: "I didn't want to be a slave to any passion anymore. I gave up card playing altogether, even bridge and gambling." Sharif, however, continued to license his name to bridge software games, and co-authored a book with bridge writer David Bird, "Omar Sharif Talks Bridge". Written in 2004, it includes some of his most famous deals and bridge stories.


Personal life


Family and personal relationships

Sharif lived in Egypt from his birth until he moved to Europe in 1965. He recounted that in 1932, his father "wasn't a wealthy man", but "earned quite a bit of money". Before the Egyptian Revolution of 1952,
King Farouk Farouk I (; ar, فاروق الأول ''Fārūq al-Awwal''; 11 February 1920 – 18 March 1965) was the tenth ruler of Egypt from the Muhammad Ali dynasty and the penultimate King of Egypt and the Sudan, succeeding his father, Fuad I, in 1 ...
frequented Sharif's family home, and became a friend and card-game partner of Sharif's mother. His mother was an elegant and charming hostess who was all too delighted with the association because it gave her the privilege of "consorting only with the elite" of Egyptian society. Sharif also recounted that his father's timber business was very successful during that time in ways that Sharif describes as dishonest or immoral. By contrast, after 1952, Sharif stated that wealth changed hands in Egypt under Gamal Abdel Nasser, Nasser's nationalisation policies and his father's business "took a beating". In 1954, Sharif starred in the film ''Sira` Fi al-Wadi, Struggle in the Valley'' with
Faten Hamama Faten Ahmed Hamama ( ar, فاتن حمامه  ; 27 May 1931 – 17 January 2015) was an Egyptian film and television actress and film producer. She was the first wife of Ezz El-Dine Zulficar. She made her screen debut in 1939, when she was ...
, who shared a kiss with him although she had previously refused to kiss on screen. The two fell in love; Sharif converted to Islam, changed his name, and married her. They had one son, Tarek Sharif, born in 1957 in Egypt, who appeared in ''Doctor Zhivago'' as Yuri at the age of eight. The couple separated in 1966 and their marriage ended in divorce in 1974. Sharif never remarried; he stated that after his divorce he never fell in love with another woman again. Before their divorce, Sharif dated actresses Pat Sheehan (model), Pat Sheehan and Dodie Marshall. The Nasser government imposed travel restrictions in the form of "exit visas", so Sharif's travel to take part in international films was sometimes impeded, something he found to be intolerable.Archived a
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These restrictions influenced Sharif's decision to remain in Europe between his film shoots, a decision that cost him his marriage, though the couple remained friends. It was a major crossroad in Sharif's life and changed him from an established family man to a committed bachelor living in European hotels. When commenting about his fame and life in Hollywood, Sharif said, "It gave me glory, but it gave me loneliness also. And a lot of missing my own land, my own people and my own country". When Sharif's affair with Streisand was made public in the Egyptian press, his Egyptian citizenship was almost withdrawn by the Egyptian government because of Streisand being Jewish and a vocal supporter of Israel, which was then in a state of war with Egypt. Sharif became friends with
Peter O'Toole Peter Seamus O'Toole (; 2 August 1932 – 14 December 2013) was a British stage and film actor. He attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began working in the theatre, gaining recognition as a Shakespearean actor at the Bristol Old Vic ...
during the making of ''
Lawrence of Arabia Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer who became renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt (1916–1918) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–191 ...
''. They appeared in several other films together and remained close friends. He was also good friends with Egyptology, Egyptologist Zahi Hawass. Actor and friend Tom Courtenay revealed in an interview for the 19 July 2008 edition of BBC Radio's Test Match Special that Sharif supported Hull City A.F.C., Hull City Association Football Club and in the 1970s he would telephone their automated scoreline from his home in Paris for score updates. Sharif was given an honorary degree by the University of Hull in 2010 and he used the occasion to meet Hull City football player Ken Wagstaff. Sharif also had an interest in horse racing spanning more than 50 years. He was often seen at French racecourses, with Deauville-La Touques Racecourse being his favourite. Sharif's horses won a number of important races and he had his best successes with Don Bosco, who won the Prix Gontaut-Biron, Prix Perth and Prix du Muguet. He also wrote for a French horse racing magazine. In later life, Sharif lived mostly in Cairo with his family. In addition to his son Tarek Sharif, he had two grandsons, Omar Sharif, Jr., Omar Sharif Jr (born 1983 in Montreal) and Karim. Omar Sharif Jr is also an actor. Sharif was also one of the ambassadors of Egypt's bid for the 2010 FIFA World Cup which lost out to South Africa.


His position on the 2011 Egyptian revolution

Sharif was very supportive of the 2011 Egyptian revolution, 2011 Youth revolution in his home country and asked for the resignation of Hosni Mubarak, stating: "Given that the entire Egyptian people don't want him and he's been in power for 30 years, that's enough."


Health problems and death

Sharif had a triple heart bypass operation in 1992 and suffered a mild heart attack in 1994. Until his bypass, Sharif smoked 25 cigarettes a day. He quit smoking after the operation. In May 2015, it was reported that Sharif was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. His son Tarek Sharif (who portrayed his father's character as a child in Doctor Zhivago) said that his father was becoming confused when remembering some of the biggest films of his career; he would mix up the names of his best-known films, ''
Doctor Zhivago ''Doctor Zhivago'' is the title of a novel by Boris Pasternak and its various adaptations. Description The story, in all of its forms, describes the life of the fictional Russian physician and poet Yuri Zhivago Yuri Andreievich Zhivago is the ...
'' and ''
Lawrence of Arabia Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer who became renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt (1916–1918) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–191 ...
'', often forgetting where they were filmed. On 10 July 2015, less than six months after his former wife's death at the same age, Sharif died after suffering a myocardial infarction, heart attack at a hospital in Cairo. On 12 July 2015, Sharif's funeral was held at the Grand Mosque of Mushir Tantawi in eastern Cairo. The funeral was attended by a group of Sharif's relatives, friends and Egyptian actors, his coffin draped in the Egyptian flag and a black shroud. His coffin was later taken to the El-Sayeda Nafisa cemetery in southern Cairo, where he was buried.


Awards

At the 35th Academy Awards, Sharif was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Sherif Ali in ''
Lawrence of Arabia Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer who became renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt (1916–1918) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–191 ...
'' but lost to Ed Begley. He won two Golden Globe awards in the same year for his role. In 1966, he won a third 23rd Golden Globe Awards, Golden Globe award for the titular role in the film ''
Doctor Zhivago ''Doctor Zhivago'' is the title of a novel by Boris Pasternak and its various adaptations. Description The story, in all of its forms, describes the life of the fictional Russian physician and poet Yuri Zhivago Yuri Andreievich Zhivago is the ...
''. In November 2005, Sharif was awarded the inaugural Sergei Eisenstein Medal by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
) in recognition of his significant contributions to world film and cultural diversity. The medal, which is awarded very infrequently, is named after Russian director Sergei Eisenstein. Only 25 have been struck, as determined by the agreement between UNESCO, Russia's Mosfilm and the Vivat Foundation.


Honours

*: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Egypt) *: Knight of the
Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon, ...
*: Commander of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite


Filmography


See also

* Cinema of the United States *Cinema of Egypt * David Lean * Terence Young (director), Terence Young *
Ezz El-Dine Zulficar Ezz El-Dine Ahmed Mourad Zulficar (Egyptian Arabic: عز الدين ذو الفقار, ; October 28, 1919 – July 1, 1963) was an Egyptian film director, screenwriter, actor and producer known for his distinctive style, which blends romance and ...
* Salah Abu Seif * Top 100 Egyptian films


Notes


References

*


Bibliography

* ''The Eternal Male'', with Marie-Thérèse Guinchard, transl. Martin Sokolinsky (Doubleday, 1977); orig. French, ''Éternel masculin'' (Paris: Stock, 1976) * ''Goren's Bridge Complete'', Charles Goren with Omar Sharif (Doubleday, 1980) – one of several later editions of Goren * ''Omar Sharif's Life in Bridge'', with Anne Segalen and Patrick Sussel, transl. and adapted by Terence Reese (Faber, 1983); orig. French, ''Ma vie au bridge'' (Paris: Fayard, 1982) * ''Omar Sharif Talks Bridge'' (2004) * ''Bridge Deluxe II Play with Omar Sharif'' (instruction manual, 1966)


External links

*
Omar Sharif
at elcinema.com (Arabic) * *
Omar Sharif
(Aveleyman) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sharif, Omar 1932 births 2015 deaths 20th-century Egyptian male actors 21st-century Egyptian male actors Best Actor César Award winners Best Drama Actor Golden Globe (film) winners Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe (film) winners New Star of the Year (Actor) Golden Globe winners Cairo University alumni Contract bridge writers Converts to Sunni Islam from Catholicism Egyptian contract bridge players Egyptian former Christians Egyptian male film actors Egyptian male television actors Egyptian Muslims Egyptian nationalists Egyptian non-fiction writers Egyptian people of Lebanese descent Egyptian people of Syrian descent People associated with the University of Hull People convicted of assault People from Alexandria Male actors from Cairo Deaths from Alzheimer's disease Victoria College, Alexandria alumni