This morning, Omar Sharif died from a heart attack in Cairo. The beloved Egyptian actor was 83.
Best known for his memorable performances in several big budget films throughout the 1960’s and ’70s, Sharif (born Michael Demetri Shalhoub) brought an immense amount of dignity and grace—not to mention good looks—to every one of his performances.
His first major Hollywood breakout role was as Sharif Ali in David Lean’s 1962 masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia. It was this performance, which found him playing alongside Peter O’Toole, that earned him his first two Golden Globe Awards, as well as a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. Only three years later, Sharif cemented his place in the world of legendary film stars when he brilliantly portrayed the titular character in Lean’s epic Doctor Zhivago. He was also a prominent member of the Funny Girl films, starring opposite Barbra Streisand.
While his film career seemed to taper off toward the later half of his life, Sharif became deeply interested in the game of bridge. He was a competitive player for a time and wrote several books (and a syndicated column) on the subject.
Sharif was battling Alzheimer’s Disease before his death. He is survived by his son, Tarek.
You can watch his iconic film entrance in Lawrence of Arabia below.
