Omar Sharif, of "Doctor Zhivago," "Lawrence of Arabia," dies

[Lite Beer]

Omar Sharif, of "Doctor Zhivago," "Lawrence of Arabia," dies
SARAH EL DEEB, Associated Press
GREG KATZ, Associated Press

CAIRO (AP) — Omar Sharif, the Egyptian-born actor with the dark, soulful eyes who soared to international stardom in movie epics, "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago," died Friday. He was 83.

Sharif died of a heart attack in a Cairo hospital, his longtime agent, London-based Steve Kenis, and the head of Egypt's Theatrical Arts Guild, Ashraf Zaki, told The Associated Press. The actor had been suffering from Alzheimer's.

Sharif was Egypt's biggest box-office star when director David Lean cast him in 1962's "Lawrence of Arabia." But he was not the director's first choice to play Sherif Ali, the tribal leader with whom the enigmatic T.E. Lawrence teams up to help lead the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire.

Lean had hired another actor but dropped him because his eyes weren't the right color. The film's producer, Sam Spiegel, went to Cairo to search for a replacement and found Sharif. After passing a screen test that proved he was fluent in English, he got the job.

His entrance in the movie was stunning. He was first seen in the distance, a speck in the swirling desert sand. As he drew closer, he emerged first as a black figure on a galloping camel, slowly transforming into a handsome, dark-eyed figure with a gap-tooth smile.

The film brought him a supporting-actor Oscar nomination and international stardom.

Three years later, Sharif demonstrated his versatility, playing the leading role of a doctor-poet who endures decades of Russian history, including World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution, surviving on his art and his love for his beloved Lara in "Dr. Zhivago."

Lean's adaptation of the Boris Pasternak novel had a rocky beginning in its first U.S. release. Attendance was sparse and reviews were negative.

After MGM removed it from theaters and Lean re-edited the sprawling tale, it was re-released and became a box-office hit. Still, Sharif never thought it was as good as it could have been.

"It's sentimental. Too much of that music," he once said, referring to Maurice Jarre's luscious Oscar-winning score.

Although Sharif never achieved that level of success again, he remained a sought-after actor for many years, partly because of his proficiency at playing different nationalities.

He was Argentine-born revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara in "Che!", Italian Marco Polo in "Marco the Magnificent" and Mongol leader Genghis Khan in "Genghis Khan." He was a German officer in "The Night of the Generals," an Austrian prince in "Mayerling" and a Mexican outlaw in "Mackenna's Gold."

He was also the Jewish gambler Nick Arnstein opposite Barbra Streisand's Fanny Brice in "Funny Girl." The 1968 film was banned in his native Egypt because he was cast as a Jew.

In his middle years Sharif began appearing in such films as "The Pink Panther Strikes Again," ''Oh Heavenly Dog!," ''The Baltimore Bullet" and others he dismissed as "rubbish."

The drought lasted so long that finally, beginning in the late 1990s, Sharif began declining all film offers.

"I lost my self-respect and dignity," he told a reporter in 2004. "Even my grandchildren were making fun of me. 'Grandpa, that was really bad. And this one? It's worse.'"

In 2003 he accepted a role in the French film "Monsieur Ibraham, portraying a Muslim shopkeeper in Paris who adopts a Jewish boy.

The role won him the Cesar, the French equivalent of the Oscar, and he followed with "Hidalgo," a lively western starring Viggo Mortensen. In that one he was a desert sheik who duels 11 assailants with a sword. His career was back on track.

He suffered a public embarrassment in 2007, however, when he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery and was ordered to take an anger management course for punching a parking valet who refused to accept his European currency.

Born Michael Shalhoub in Alexandria, Egypt, Sharif was the son of Syrian-Lebanese parents.

After working three years at his father's lumber company, he fulfilled his longtime ambition to become a movie actor, going on to appear in nearly two dozen Egyptian films under the name Omar el Sharif.

His fame only increased when he married Egypt's movie queen, Faten Hamama, in 1955. They had a son, Tarek, and divorced in 1974.

In 2004 Sharif acknowledged that he also had another son, who was born after a one-night stand with an interviewer.

Away from the movies, Sharif was a world-class bridge player who for many years wrote a newspaper column on bridge. He quit the game in later years, however, when he gave up gambling.

He had been a prodigious gambler, reportedly once winning a million dollars at an Italian casino. After losing a substantial amount at a Paris casino in 2003, he insulted a croupier and was ordered to leave. When he refused, he was thrown out and head-butted a policeman during an ensuing scuffle. He was fined $1,700 and given a one-month suspended sentence.

Sharif spent much of his later years in Cairo and at the Royal Moncean Hotel in Paris.

"When you live alone and you're not young, it's good to live in a hotel," he told a reporter in 2005. "If you feel lonely, you can go down to the bar. I know all the people who work here and who come here regularly. The room is done for you, and you don't have to worry about anything," he said. "If you feel anything, health-wise, you can call the concierge and tell them to bring all the ambulances in Paris."

___

Katz reported from London. Biographical material in this story was written by The Associated Press' late Hollywood correspondent, Bob Thomas.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-07-10

[peterjackson]

An instantly recognizeable name that everyone associates with hit two big films. But he played so many roles of varying ethnicity and nationality. Truly versatile. RIP

[Somtamnication]

RIP. Thanks for Lawrence of Arabia.

[Manbing]

An instantly recognizeable name that everyone associates with hit two big films. But he played so many roles of varying ethnicity and nationality. Truly versatile. RIP

I don't dislike this guy, I admire his work, but I have to disagree that he was versatile.

He was Omar Sharif in every film. Its not the worst worst crime to accuse an actor of.

[Usernames]

An instantly recognizeable name that everyone associates with hit two big films. But he played so many roles of varying ethnicity and nationality. Truly versatile. RIP

I don't dislike this guy, I admire his work, but I have to disagree that he was versatile.

He was Omar Sharif in every film. Its not the worst worst crime to accuse an actor of.

He was a member of the Abwehr in Night of the Generals.

[Scott]

He had a pretty good run and provided entertainment for many.

You will be missed; you will be remembered.

RIP

[sanuk711]

After losing a substantial amount at a Paris casino in 2003, he insulted a croupier and was ordered to leave. When he refused, he was thrown out and head-butted a policeman during an ensuing scuffle.---OP

That would put him in his 70s..................must have been a fun guy to do the town with.............

RIP

[otherstuff1957]

They don't mention the fact that he was not just and actor, he was an expert Bridge player (one of the top 50 in the world at one point) and wrote extensively about Bridge playing strategy.

Edited July 11, 2015 by otherstuff1957

[Tarteso]

Read his name, make me nostalgic ,,,. RIP Omar Sharif

read his name is nostalgic to remember. RIP Omar Sharif

read his name is nostalgic to remember. RIP Omar Shar

read his name is nostalgic to remember. RIP Omar Sharif

[Benmart]

An instantly recognizeable name that everyone associates with hit two big films. But he played so many roles of varying ethnicity and nationality. Truly versatile. RIP

I don't dislike this guy, I admire his work, but I have to disagree that he was versatile.

He was Omar Sharif in every film. Its not the worst worst crime to accuse an actor of.

I have never been in any film, broadcast, major stage play or been the guest on a television interview or show. Those that have or do, are certainly more versatile than this reader.

Farewell Mr. Sharif.

[cooked]

He was a greek Catholic that married a Muslim lady, becoming a Muslim himself. He then kissed Barbara Streisand who was Jewish in a film and consequently ostracised by his assumed religion. No wonder he turned to gambling and dissipation, RIP.

[h90]

He was a greek Catholic that married a Muslim lady, becoming a Muslim himself. He then kissed Barbara Streisand who was Jewish in a film and consequently ostracised by his assumed religion. No wonder he turned to gambling and dissipation, RIP.

I wouldn't want to kiss Barbara Streisand as well

[HeijoshinCool]

An instantly recognizeable name that everyone associates with hit two big films. But he played so many roles of varying ethnicity and nationality. Truly versatile. RIP

I don't dislike this guy, I admire his work, but I have to disagree that he was versatile.

He was Omar Sharif in every film. Its not the worst worst crime to accuse an actor of.

.

Well, that's what's known as charisma.

[Lopchan]

RIP. A true actor who crossed racial barriers and film genres. Not many like him these days

[Scott]

They don't mention the fact that he was not just and actor, he was an expert Bridge player (one of the top 50 in the world at one point) and wrote extensively about Bridge playing strategy.

Here's from the OP:

Away from the movies, Sharif was a world-class bridge player who for many years wrote a newspaper column on bridge. He quit the game in later years, however, when he gave up gambling.

[piersbeckett]

I met him once when I was working at a casino in London, I think it was 1970, he arrived with Maurice Joseph Micklewhite (now Sir Michael Caine). What struck me about him was how ordinary he looked 'in real life' (I remember he was wearing a rather drab, grey suit) and how short (not of a few quid) but in stature, he was. From my brief encounter with him, he appeared a most likable and attractive character (no pun intended).

He had an ability to bring an exotic allure to a part but I'd say it was stretching a bit to call that versatility compared with, say Antony Hopkins where I'm thinking of his roles in Silence of the Lambs & Shadowlands.

I would guess he had a great life and 83's not a bad innings.

Sad news but that's life.

[ALFREDO]

He was a greek Catholic that married a Muslim lady, becoming a Muslim himself. He then kissed Barbara Streisand who was Jewish in a film and consequently ostracised by his assumed religion. No wonder he turned to gambling and dissipation, RIP.

I wouldn't want to kiss Barbara Streisand as well

Because you are gay or German or both?

Edited July 13, 2015 by ALFREDO

[cooked]

He was a greek Catholic that married a Muslim lady, becoming a Muslim himself. He then kissed Barbara Streisand who was Jewish in a film and consequently ostracised by his assumed religion. No wonder he turned to gambling and dissipation, RIP.

I wouldn't want to kiss Barbara Streisand as well

Because you are gay or German or both?

Another brain washed male that thinks three hours in makeup and two hours at the hairdressers' = beauty.

[ALFREDO]

Another brain washed male that thinks three hours in makeup and two hours at the hairdressers' = beauty.

Maybe you are looking photos in the wrong century. I believe she did not look bad when she was young.

BUT, who cares you are -brainwashed- with acid - for you nobody was ever young, yes

and so you write your posting, just disgusting.

[TooPoopedToPop]

He was a greek Catholic that married a Muslim lady, becoming a Muslim himself. He then kissed Barbara Streisand who was Jewish in a film and consequently ostracised by his assumed religion. No wonder he turned to gambling and dissipation, RIP.

I wouldn't want to kiss Barbara Streisand as well

Because you are gay or German or both?

Another brain washed male that thinks three hours in makeup and two hours at the hairdressers' = beauty.

Oy vey!

She looks like a man.

[ALFREDO]

Oy vey!

She looks like a man.

Please show a photo of yourself.

Would be interesting if you look same a "man".

You writing same a "manikin" fearful stronger women.

[cooked]

Oy vey!

She looks like a man.

Please show a photo of yourself.

Would be interesting if you look same a "man".

You writing same a "manikin" fearful stronger women.

How sweet, he is in love!