Omar Sharif is an iconic Egyptian actor who is widely regarded as one of Egypt’s greatest male film stars. He began his career in the 1950s and rose to prominence in the Egyptian film industry before achieving international fame.
Sharif is known for his roles in American, British, French and Italian films, earning him the distinction of being the first Egyptian and Arab actor to conquer Hollywood.
In a career that spanned 50 years and more than 100 films, Sharif won critical acclaim and numerous honors, including three Golden Globes and a Cesar Award for Best Actor.
contour
- Full name: Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub
- Stage name: Omar Sharif
- Date of birth: April 10, 1932
- Date of death: July 10, 2015
- Age: 83 years old
- Place of birth: Alexandria, Egypt
- Nationality: Egyptian
- Occupation: Egyptian actor
- Height: 1.8m
- Parents: Yusef Chalhoub and Claire Saada
- Siblings: unknown
- Spouse: Faten Hamama (married 1955–1974)
- Starring: Barbra Streisand, Andrea Ferreol
- Children: Tariq Sharif
- Relationship: Divorced
- Net worth: $2 million
early life and education
Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub, commonly known as Omar Sharif, was born on April 10, 1932, in Alexandria, then the Kingdom of Egypt. He comes from a Melkite Greek Catholic family.
His father, Yusef Chalhoub, was a businessman specializing in precious woods, while his mother, Claire Saada, was a well-known society hostess. There is no information available about any siblings he has.
As a young man, Sharif attended Victoria College in Alexandria, where he showed a talent for languages and developed friendships with such notables as actor Ahmed Ramsey and film producer Youssef Chain. He later graduated from Cairo University with degrees in mathematics and physics.
Although it is often claimed that Sharif studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, the academy clarified to Al Jazeera that this was untrue. Sharif is of Lebanese and Syrian descent and believes in Islam.
Profession
Omar Sharif began his acting career in Egypt in the early 1950s, making his debut in blazing sun (1954) and appeared in such publications as desert devil (1954) and our beautiful days (1955).
By the late 1950s, he became a star with his performances in films. goha (1958), Struggle on the Nile (1959), and love rumors (1960). He often co-stars in romantic roles with his wife, Faten Hamama.
His success in the Egyptian film industry made him a major rival of his contemporaries Salah Zulfiqar, Shukri Sarhan and Rushdie Abaza.
Sharif’s international breakthrough came as Sharif Ali, his first English-language role, in David Lean’s epic lawrence of arabia (1962), which won him worldwide acclaim. He subsequently appeared in the following roles the decline of the roman empire (1964) and look at a pale horse (1964).
Sharif made his first starring role in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Genghis Khan (1965) and continued to star in doctor zhivago (1965), cementing his status as an international icon.
Throughout the late 1960s, Sharif made a series of international films, including Night of the Shogun (1967), more than a miracle (1967), and Mayerling (1968), co-starring Catherine Deneuve.
He also reunited with Gregory Peck in the Western. McKenna’s Gold (1969). While some of these projects received critical acclaim, others were commercial disappointments.
In the 1970s, Sharif appeared in various roles, such as “Captain Nemo” Mysterious Island (1973) and a romantic thriller, tamarind seeds (1974), with Julie Andrews, received positive reviews.
He also starred in dominate (1974), a maritime thriller and continued production in Europe and the Middle East, including thief (1971) and the Egyptian epic Mamluks (1965).
Sharif remained active in the 2000s, appearing in roles such as hassan and marcus (2008) and traveler (2009). His last performance was at 1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn Haitham (2015), an educational short film produced for UNESCO.
Although Sharif had a long and illustrious acting career, he remained passionate about bridge throughout his life, earning a reputation as one of the world’s top players and organizing prestigious tournaments.
Omar Sharif’s career spanned more than 50 years and made more than 100 films. He left an indelible mark on the Egyptian and international film industry, becoming a global ambassador for Arab actors in Hollywood and beyond.
social media
Omar Sharif does not have any active social media accounts.
personal life
Omar Sharif was married to the famous Egyptian actress Faten Hamama from 1955 until their divorce in 1974. The couple had a son, Tarek Sharif, born in 1957. Sharif regarded Hamama as the love of his life and converted to Islam in order to marry her. Although they separated, he never remarried.
Sharif had several noteworthy relationships in his life. His affair with Barbra Streisand was widely reported during the filming of “Barbra Streisand.” funny girl 1967. Later in life, he became romantically involved with the French actress Andréa Ferréol, with whom he shared a home in Cairo.
Unfortunately, Omar Sharif passed away from a heart attack on July 10, 2015 in Cairo, Egypt, at the age of 83.
film chronology
- lawrence of arabia (1962)
- doctor zhivago (1965)
- funny girl (1968)
- tamarind seeds (1974)
- Mr. Ibrahim and the Flower of the Quran (2003)
- the decline of the roman empire (1964)
- Night of the Shogun (1967)
- yellow rolls royce (1964)
- hidalgo (2004)
- 10,000 BC (2008)
net worth
When Omar Sharif died in 2015, his net worth was estimated at $2 million. Although he gained global fame through his iconic roles in films such as lawrence of arabia and doctor zhivagoIn his later years, he faced financial difficulties. These challenges were largely attributed to his gambling habits and lavish lifestyle.
