Born: April 10, 1932 – Died: July 10, 2015
Omar Sharif, born Michel Demitri Shalhoub on April 10, 1932, in Alexandria, Egypt, emerged as a luminary in the entertainment realm. His parents, Joseph Shalhoub, a lumber merchant, and Claire Saada, provided a nurturing environment for his upbringing. Sharif's cinematic journey ignited with iconic performances in Egyptian cinema, paving the way for international acclaim in English-language films like "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago." Beyond the silver screen, Sharif's multifaceted talents extended to the realm of bridge, where he achieved global recognition. With his indelible mark on cinema and beyond, Sharif remains a timeless figure in entertainment history.
Early Life and Career
Omar Sharif, born Michel Demitri Shalhoub on April 10, 1932, in Alexandria, Egypt, emerged as a luminary in the entertainment realm. His parents, Joseph Shalhoub, a lumber merchant, and Claire Saada, provided a nurturing environment for his upbringing. Growing up in Alexandria, Sharif attended Victoria College, where he received his early education. Later, he pursued higher studies at Cairo University, graduating with a degree in mathematics and physics. However, his passion for the arts soon led him down a different path.
Sharif's cinematic journey began in his native Egypt, where he quickly rose to prominence in the burgeoning Egyptian film industry. His first foray into acting came in 1954 with the Egyptian film "The Blazing Sun." His talent and charisma on screen captivated audiences, propelling him to stardom within the Egyptian film community.
It wasn't long before Sharif's magnetic presence caught the attention of international filmmakers. In 1962, he made his English-language film debut in the epic masterpiece "Lawrence of Arabia." Portraying the iconic character Sherif Ali, Sharif delivered a mesmerizing performance that earned him critical acclaim and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Following the success of "Lawrence of Arabia," Sharif solidified his status as a leading man with his portrayal of Yuri Zhivago in the epic romance "Doctor Zhivago" (1965). Directed by David Lean, the film became a cinematic landmark and further cemented Sharif's reputation as one of the industry's most talented actors.
Beyond his acting prowess, Sharif was also a skilled contract bridge player, garnering recognition as one of the world's best. In the 1970s and 1980s, he co-wrote a syndicated newspaper bridge column for the Chicago Tribune and authored several books on the subject. His passion for bridge extended to the digital realm with the release of the "Omar Sharif Bridge" computer game in 1992.
Despite his multifaceted talents, Sharif's personal life was not without its challenges. He was married once to Egyptian actress Faten Hamama, with whom he had a son named Tarek Sharif. The couple divorced in 1974, and Sharif never remarried.
In his later years, Sharif continued to leave an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. His performance in the French film "Monsieur Ibrahim" (2003) earned him critical acclaim and several prestigious awards, including the Best Actor Award at the Venice Film Festival and the Best Actor César from the Académie des Arts et Techniques du Cinéma.
Tragically, Sharif's health began to decline in his final years, and he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2012. He passed away on July 10, 2015, in Cairo, Egypt, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and resonate with audiences worldwide. With his unforgettable performances and contributions to both cinema and bridge, Omar Sharif remains a timeless figure in entertainment history, revered as an icon and a true legend of the silver screen.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn Al-Haytham (Short) | Grandfather |
| 2013 | Rock the Casbah | Moulay Hassan Ben Amor |
| 2013 | A Castle in Italy | Omar Sharif |
| 2009 | The Last Templar (TV Mini Series) | Konstantine |
| 2009 | J'ai oublié de te dire | Jaume |
| 2009 | Al Mosafer | Hassan |
| 2008 | Hassan wa Morcus | Hassan | Morcus |
| 2008 | 10,000 BC | Narrator (voice) |
| 2007 | Hanan Wa Haneen (TV Mini Series) | Raouf |
| 2006 | One Night with the King | Prince Memucan |
| 2006 | Kronprinz Rudolf (TV Series) | Hans Canon |
| 2006 | Fire at My Heart | Principe Nicola |
| 2005 | The Ten Commandments (TV Mini Series) | Jethro |
| 2005 | San Pietro (TV Movie) | San Pietro |
| 2005 | The Search for Eternal Egypt (TV Movie) | Narrator |
| 2003–2004 | Urban Myth Chillers (TV Series) | Le chauffeur de taxi |
| 2004 | Hidalgo | Sheikh Riyadh |
| 2003 | Monsieur Ibrahim | Monsieur Ibrahim Deneji |
| 2001 | Shaka Zulu: The Citadel (TV Movie) | The Sultan |
| 2001 | The Parole Officer | Victor |
| 2001 | Censor | Mr. Sharif |
| 2000 | Going Public (Video) | Unknown |
| 1999 | The 13th Warrior | Melchisidek |
| 1998 | Mysteries of Egypt (Short) | Grandfather |
| 1997 | Heaven Before I Die | Khalil Gibran |
| 1997 | The English Programme (TV Series) | The Sorcerer |
| 1996 | Ça-Va? (Short) | Unknown |
| 1996 | Gulliver's Travels (TV Mini Series) | The Sorcerer |
| 1995 | Catherine the Great (TV Movie) | Razumovsky |
| 1994 | Red Eagle (TV Movie) | Safar Khan |
| 1993 | Mother (TV Mini Series) | Hagop |
| 1993 | Laughter, Games, Seriousness and Love | Adham's father |
| 1992 | Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris (TV Movie) | Marquis Hippolite |
| 1992 | Tengoku no Taizai | Tsai Mang Hua |
| 1992 | Mother | Hagop |
| 1991 | Beyond Justice | Emir Beni-Zair |
| 1991 | Mother | Hagop |
| 1991 | Memories of Midnight (TV Mini Series) | Constantin Demiris |
| 1991 | War in the Land of Egypt | Mayor Abdul Raziq Al-Sharshabi |
| 1991 | The Law of the Desert (TV Mini Series) | Emir Beni-Zair |
| 1990 | Le roi de Patagonie (TV Mini Series) | Le Consul d'Aninot |
| 1990 | The Rainbow Thief | Dima |
| 1990 | Viaggio d'amore | Rico |
| 1990 | Mountains of the Moon | Arab Chief in Cairo (uncredited) |
| 1989 | Quattro piccole donne (TV Series) | Robert March (1989) |
| 1989 | The Puppeteer | Mohamed Gad El Kareem |
| 1988 | Keys to Freedom | Jonathan |
| 1988 | Les pyramides bleues | Alex |
| 1988 | The Possessed | Stepan |
| 1987 | Grand Larceny (TV Movie) | Rashid Saud |
| 1986 | Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (TV Mini Series) | Czar Nicholas II |
| 1986 | The Mind of David Berglas (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1986 | Harem (TV Movie) | Sultan Hassan |
| 1986 | Peter the Great (TV Mini Series) | Prince Feodor Romodanovsky |
| 1985 | Edge of the Wind (TV Movie) | McCorquodale |
| 1985 | Vicious Circle (TV Movie) | Garcin |
| 1984 | Top Secret! | Agent Cedric |
| 1984 | The Far Pavilions (TV Mini Series) | Koda Dad |
| 1983 | Ayoub | Abdulhamed Alsukari (Ayoub) |
| 1983 | La Martingale (TV Movie) | Alex Joski |
| 1981 | Green Ice | Meno Argenti |
| 1981 | Inchon | Indian Brigadier (uncredited) |
| 1980 | Pleasure Palace (TV Movie) | Louie Lefevre |
| 1980 | Oh Heavenly Dog | Bart |
| 1980 | The Baltimore Bullet | The Deacon |
| 1980 | S.H.E: Security Hazards Expert | Baron Cesare Magnasco |
| 1979 | Bloodline | Ivo Palazzi |
| 1979 | Ashanti | Prince Hassan |
| 1976 | The Pink Panther Strikes Again | Egyptian Assassin (uncredited) |
| 1976 | Crime and Passion | Andre Ferren |
| 1975 | Funny Lady | Nick Arnstein | Nicky Arnstein |
| 1974 | Juggernaut | Captain Alex Brunel |
| 1974 | The Tamarind Seed | Feodor Sverdlov |
| 1973 | L'île mystérieuse (TV Mini Series) | Le capitaine Nemo |
| 1973 | The Mysterious Island | Captain Nemo (as Omar Shariff) |
| 1972 | Le droit d'aimer | Pierre |
| 1971 | The Burglars | Abel Zacharia |
| 1971 | The Horsemen | Uraz |
| 1971 | The Last Valley | Vogel |
| 1969 | Trois hommes sur un cheval | Un turfiste (uncredited) |
| 1969 | Che! | Che Guevara |
| 1969 | The Appointment | Frederico Fendi |
| 1969 | Mackenna's Gold | John Colorado |
| 1968 | Mayerling | Archduke Rudolf |
| 1968 | Funny Girl | Nick Arnstein |
| 1967 | More Than a Miracle | Prince Rodrigo Fernandez |
| 1967 | The Night of the Generals | Major Grau |
| 1966 | The Poppy Is Also a Flower (TV Movie) | Dr. Rad |
| 1965 | El mamalik | Ahmed |
| 1965 | Doctor Zhivago | Yuri |
| 1965 | Marco the Magnificent | Emir Alaou |
| 1965 | Genghis Khan | Genghis Khan | Temujin-Genghis Khan |
| 1964 | The Yellow Rolls-Royce | Davich |
| 1964 | Behold a Pale Horse | Francisco |
| 1964 | The Fall of the Roman Empire | Sohamus |
| 1962 | Lawrence of Arabia | Sherif Ali |
| 1961 | Gharam el assiad | Essam Murad |
| 1961 | Fi Baytena Ragul | Ibrahim Hamdi |
| 1961 | Rumor of Love | Hussain |
| 1960 | Nahr el hub | Khalid |
| 1960 | Hubbi el wahid | Adel |
| 1960 | The Beginning and the End | Hassanein |
| 1960 | Lawet el hub | Hasan |
| 1959 | Struggle on the Nile | Muhassab |
| 1959 | Min ajal emraa | Shokri |
| 1959 | Scandal in Zamalek | Ahmed |
| 1959 | Nahna el talamiza | Adel |
| 1959 | Rendezvous with a Stranger | Magdi |
| 1958 | The Fault of My Love | Salah |
| 1958 | Sayedat el kasr | Adel |
| 1958 | Goha | Goha (as Omar Cherif) |
| 1958 | Beach of the Secrets | Mamdoh Ezzat |
| 1957 | Land of Peace | Ahmed |
| 1957 | Sleepless | Aziz |
| 1956 | The Lebanese Mission | Mokrir (as Omar Cherif) |
| 1956 | Dark Waters | Ragab |
| 1955 | Our Best Days | Ahmad |
| 1954 | Shaytan al-Sahra | Essam (as Omar AlShareef) |
| 1954 | The Blazing Sun | Ahmed (as Omar El Cherif) |
