Omar Sharif 1932-2015
Omar Sharif, the Egyptian-born actor who gained international fame for his roles in "Lawrence of Arabia," "Doctor Zhivago" and "Funny Girl," died in Cairo on Friday, July 10, 2015. He was 83.
A popular figure in Egyptian cinema, Sharif made his English-language film debut in David Lean's 1962 epic "Lawrence of Arabia. He later starred in Lean's 1965 romantic epic, "Doctor Zhivago" (left).
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan
Egyptian Cinema Star
Left: Omar Sharif in the 1950s.
Born Michel Shalhoub in Alexandria, Egypt, Sharif was the son of a Lebanese father and a Lebanese-Syrian mother. Raised in a wealthy family, he studied math and physics at the University of Cairo, before studying acting in London. He became a star of Egyptian cinema, and married his frequent costar, actress Faten Hamama (converting from Catholicism to Islam in the process).
"Lawrence of Arabia"
Omar Sharif with Peter O'Toole in David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962).
"Lawrence of Arabia"
Omar Sharif as Sherif Ali in in David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962). He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
"Lawrence of Arabia"
"I think it is a great film, but I am not very good in it," Sharif told The Independent in 2012, on the occasion of the movie's 50th anniversary. "I also never thought anyone would go to see the film - three hours and 40 minutes of desert, and no girls!"
"The Fall of the Roman Empire"
Sohaemus, the King of Armenia (Omar Sharif), encounters the Roman general Gaius Livius (Stephen Boyd) in the 1964 epic, "The Fall of the Roman Empire."
"Behold a Pale Horse"
Omar Sharif played a priest and Gregory Peck a former guerilla fighter out to capture a Francoist police officer in the drama "Behold a Pale Horse" (1964), directed by Fred Zinnemann.
"Behold a Pale Horse"
Anthony Quinn, Omar Sharif and Gregory Peck in "Behold a Pale Horse."
"The Yellow Rolls-Royce"
In the anthology film 'The Yellow Rolls-Royce" (1965), directed by Anthony Asquith, Omar Sharif played a Yugoslavian fleeing the Nazis who uses a traveling American (Ingrid Bergman) to make his escape.
"Doctor Zhivago"
In David Lean's historical romance, "Doctor Zhivago" (1965), based on the Boris Pasternak novel, Omar Sharif played the idealistic Yuri Andreyevich Zhivago, a doctor and poet whose writings are considered dangerous by the Bolsheviks rising to power.
"Doctor Zhivago"
Geraldine Chaplin as Yuri Zhivago's wife, Tonya, with Omar Sharif in "Doctor Zhivago."
"Doctor Zhivago"
Yuri Zhivago (Omar Sharif) and Lara (Julie Christie) have an affair in the midst of war in David Lean's "Doctor Zhivago."
"Doctor Zhivago"
Omar Sharif later said he came close to a breakdown from the stress of playing the role of Zhivago.
Nonetheless, the film was one of MGM's biggest hits ever, and his performance won Sharif a Golden Globe.
"Genghis Khan"
Omar Sharif played the Mongol conqueror in the 1965 epic, "Genghis Khan."
"The Night of the Generals"
In "The Night of the Generals" (1967), Omar Sharif played a Nazi officer charged with solving the murder of a prostitute in Warsaw, in whose death three German generals (including one played by Peter O'Toole) are suspected.
"Funny Girl"
Omar Sharif played the dashing gambler Nick Arnstein who romances vaudeville star Fanny Brice (Barbra Streisand) in "Funny Girl" (1968).
"Funny Girl"
Images of the Arabic actor kissing the Jewish actress caused a stir in some quarters on the heels of the 1967 Six-Day War.
"Mayerling"
Omar Sharif, as the married Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, has an affair with a baroness (Catherine Deneuve) in the historical drama "Mayerling" (1969).
"Mayerling"
Catherine Deneuve and Omar Sharif in Mayerling" (1969).
"McKenna's Gold"
Gregory Peck and Omar Sharif starred in the 1969 western, "McKenna's Gold."
"Che"
Omar Sharif starred as the Marxist revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara in the 1969 film, "Che!"
"The Last Valley"
Michael Caine and Omar Sharif starred in "The Last Valley" (1971), an historical drama set during the 17th century, directed by James Clavell.
"The Appointment"
In Sidney Lumet's "The Appointment" (1970), Omar Sharif plays a lawyer whose relationship with his new wife (Anouk Aimee) falls prey to suspicions about her fidelity.
"Juggernaut"
Omar Sharif played the captain of an ocean liner threaten by a bomb plot in the 1974 thriller, "Juggernaut."
"Funny Lady"
Omar Sharif returned to the role of Nick Arnstein in the 1975 sequel, "Funny Lady," also starring Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice.
"Top Secret!"
Omar Sharif gets on the wrong end of an exploding cigar in the comedy "Top Secret!" (1984), directed by "Airplane!" creators Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker.
"Peter the Great"
Omar Sharif played Prince Feodor Romodanovsky in the 1986 TV miniseries, "Peter the Great."
"Monsieur Ibrahim"
Omar Sharif won acting honors at the Chicago and Venice film festivals, as well as France's version of the Oscar, for his performance in the 2004 drama, "Monsieur Ibrahim." He played a Turkish Muslim in France who befriends a young Jewish boy (Pierre Boulanger).
"Hidalgo"
Omar Sharif played a horse breeder in the 2004 adventure, "Hidalgo," starring Viggo Mortenson.
"One Night With the King"
Omar Sharif, as Prince Memucan, is pictured with Luke Goss, as King Xerxes I of Persia, in the 2006 film, "One Night With the King," a retelling of the Biblical story of Esther.
AFI Tribute
Actor Omar Sharif on stage at an American Film Institute tribute to the actor, at the Arclight Thetre on November 11, 2003 in Los Angeles.
In addition to acting, Sharif had a passion for bridge, and was ranked among the world's best players.
"I'd rather be playing bridge than making a bad movie," he was once quoted as saying.
Sharif died of a heart attack at a hospital in Cairo on Friday, July 10, 2015, his agent told CBS News.