Omar Sharif
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people named Omar Sharif, see Omar Sharif (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Umer Sharif.
| Omar Sharif | |
|---|---|
Sharif in Doctor Zhivago (1965)
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| Born | Michel Demitri Shalhoub April 10, 1932 Alexandria, Egypt[1] |
| Education | Victoria College |
| Alma mater | Cairo University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1954–2013 |
| Spouse(s) | Faten Hamama (1954–74) |
| Children | One son |
| Awards | César Award (2004) Golden Globe Award (1962, 1963 ,1965) |
Contents
Early life
Born in Alexandria in 1932 (his father left the city of Zahle in the early twentieth century and came to settle in Egypt), Michel Chalhoub is the son of Joseph Chalhoub, a precious wood merchant, and Claire Saada. Raised as a Melkite Greek Catholic, he converted to Islam in order to marry Muslim Egyptian actress Faten Hamama whom he divorced later on.At the British Victoria College in Alexandria, he studied mathematics, physics, French and five other languages, he speaks more or less fluently: Arabic, English, Greek, Italian and Turkish .
After obtaining a degree in mathematics and physics at the University of Cairo, he worked for five years in the business of precious wood of his father, before studying acting at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Acting career
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This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. (April 2012) |
Sharif's first English-language film was in the role of Sharif Ali in David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia in 1962. This performance earned him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. Following this breakthrough role, Sharif played a variety of characters, including a Spanish priest in Behold a Pale Horse (1964) and the Mongolian conqueror in Genghis Khan (1965). In the same year, Sharif reunited with Lean to play the title role in Doctor Zhivago, an adaptation of Boris Pasternak's novel.
Over the next few years, Sharif starred as a German military officer in The Night of the Generals, as Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria in Mayerling and as Che Guevara in Che!. Sharif was also acclaimed for his portrayal of Nicky Arnstein, husband to Fanny Brice in Funny Girl, though some thought he was miscast as a New York Jewish gambler. His decision to work with costar Barbra Streisand angered Egypt's government at the time due to Streisand's support for the state of Israel. Streisand herself responded with "You think Cairo was upset? You should've seen the letter I got from my Aunt Rose!" Sharif reprised the role in the film’s sequel, Funny Lady in 1975.
In 2003, he received acclaim for his role in the French-language film adaptation of the novel Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran, as a Muslim Turkish merchant who becomes a father figure for a Jewish boy.
Contract bridge career
Sharif once ranked among the world's best-known contract bridge players, forming the "Omar Sharif Bridge Circus" in 1967 which toured the world, competing against such powerhouse teams as Blue Team and Dallas Aces, at a time when barnstorming bridge teams were very popular. With Charles Goren, Sharif co-wrote a syndicated newspaper bridge column for the Chicago Tribune[2] for several years, but has mostly turned over the writing of the column to Tannah Hirsch, whose name appears on the byline with Sharif to this day. He is also both author and co-author of several books on bridge and has licensed his name to a bridge video game; initially released in a MS-DOS version and Amiga version in 1992, Omar Sharif Bridge is still sold in Windows and "mobile platform" versions.[3] For a number of years his partner at international tournaments was Egyptian contract bridge superstar Maged Elewa.Sharif has been a regular in casinos in France.[4]
In 2006, Sharif declared both pastimes as ended when he was asked if he still played bridge: "I've stopped altogether. I decided I didn't want to be a slave to any passion any more except for my work. I had too many passions, bridge, horses, gambling. I want to live a different kind of life, be with my family more because I didn't give them enough time."[5]
Personal life
Family and personal relationships
Sharif lived in his native Egypt from birth in 1932 until he moved to Europe in 1965.[6] He recounts that, in 1932, his father "wasn't a wealthy man", but "earned quite a bit of money".[7] Before the Egyptian Revolution of 1952, King Farouk frequented Sharif's family's house, and became a friend and card game partner of Sharif's mother. His mother was an elegant and charming hostess who was all too delighted with the association because it gave her the privilege of "consorting only with the elite" of Egyptian society. Sharif also recounts that his father's timber business was very successful during that time, in ways that Sharif describes as dishonest or immoral.[8]By contrast, after 1952, Sharif states that wealth changed hands in Egypt, under Nasser's nationalization policies.[9] His father's business "took a beating". Travel restrictions in the form of "exit visas" were required of Egyptians, and his own travel to take part in international films was sometimes impeded, which he could not tolerate. The Nasser government's travel restrictions[10] influenced Omar's decision to remain in Europe between his film shoots, a decision that cost him his marriage to Egyptian film legend Faten Hamama, though they remained friends. It was a major crossroad in Omar's life and changed him from an established family man to a lifelong bachelor living in European hotels. When commenting about his fame and life in Hollywood, Sharif said, "It gave me glory, but it gave me loneliness also. And a lot of missing my own land, my own people and my own country."[10] Due to the state of war between Egypt and Israel, Sharif's Egyptian citizenship was almost withdrawn by the Egyptian Government when his affair with Barbra Streisand was made public in the Egyptian press due to Streisand's vocal support of Israel.[11]
Sharif became friends with Peter O'Toole during the making of Lawrence of Arabia. They appeared in several other films together and remained close friends. He is also good friends with Egyptologist Zahi Hawass. Actor and friend Tom Courtenay revealed in an interview for the July 19, 2008, edition of BBC Radio's Test Match Special that Sharif supported Hull City Association Football Club and in the 1970s would telephone their automated scoreline from his home in Paris for score updates. Sharif was given an honorary degree by the University of Hull in 2010 and used the occasion to meet up with Hull City football player Ken Wagstaff.[14]
At present, Sharif resides mostly in Cairo with his family.[10] In addition to his son, he has two grandsons, Omar (born 1983 in Montreal) and Karim.[10] Omar Sharif, Jr. is also an actor.[15] He is most recently known for playfully tussling on stage at the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony with actor Kirk Douglas, who was presenting the award for Best Supporting Actress that evening.[16] Sharif Jr. also generated buzz for coming out as both gay and half-Jewish during the aftermath of the 2011 Egyptian revolution, saying he fears for his safety after Islamist parties' triumph in parliamentary elections.[17]
Criminal convictions
In August 2003, Sharif received a one-month suspended prison sentence for striking a police officer in a suburban Parisian casino the previous month. He was fined the equivalent of US$1,700. On February 13, 2007, Sharif was "found guilty of assaulting a Beverly Hills parking lot attendant and breaking his nose".[18]Doha Tribeca Film Festival
On October 27, 2011, Sharif became irritated with a woman who was queuing up to have her photo taken with him on the red carpet at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival. He struck her, but after a moment he turned and leaned in to pose for a picture with her.[19][20]Awards
In November 2005, Sharif was awarded the inaugural[21] Sergei Eisenstein Medal by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in recognition of his significant contributions to world film and cultural diversity. The medal, which is handed out very infrequently, is named after Russian director Sergei Eisenstein. Only 25 have been struck, as determined by the agreement between UNESCO, Russia's Mosfilm and the Vivat Foundation.[22]Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | Shaytan al-Sahra | Known as Devil of the Sahara | |
| 1954 | Sira` Fi al-Wadi | Ahmed | Also known as The Blazing Sun or Struggle in the Valley or Fight in the Valley' |
| 1955 | Ayyamna al-Holwa (Our Best Days) | Ahmed | |
| 1956 | Siraa Fil-Mina | Ragab | |
| 1957 | Ard al-Salam | Ahmed | Known as Land of Peace |
| 1957 | The Lebanese Mission | Mokrir | Original title was La Châtelaine du Liban; credited as Omar Cherif |
| 1958 | La anam | Aziz | Also known as I Do Not Sleep and No Tomorrow |
| 1958 | Goha | Goha | Credited as Omar Cherif |
| 1959 | Fadiha fil-zamalek | Scandal in Zamalek | |
| 1959 | Sayedat el kasr | Adel | Lady of the Castle |
| 1959 | Seraa fil Nil | Muhassab | Struggle on the Nile |
| 1960 | Bidaya wa nihaya | ||
| 1960 | Hobi al-wahid | My Only Love | |
| 1960 | Esha'a hob | Rumor of Love | |
| 1960 | Nahr al-Hob | Khalid | The River of love |
| 1961 | A Man in our House | Ibrahim | |
| 1962 | Lawrence of Arabia | Sherif Ali | Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1964 | Behold a Pale Horse | Francisco | |
| 1964 | The Fall of the Roman Empire | Sohamus | |
| 1965 | Doctor Zhivago | Dr. Zhivago (Yuri) | Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama |
| 1965 | The Yellow Rolls-Royce | Davich | |
| 1965 | Genghis Khan | Genghis Khan | |
| 1967 | The Night of the Generals | Major Grau | |
| 1967 | More Than A Miracle | Prince Rodrigo Fernandez | |
| 1968 | Funny Girl | Nick Arnstein | |
| 1968 | Mayerling | Archduke Rudolf | |
| 1969 | Che! | Che Guevara | |
| 1969 | The Appointment | Frenderico Fendi | |
| 1969 | Mackenna's Gold | Colorado | |
| 1970 | The Last Valley | Vogel | |
| 1971 | The Horsemen | Uraz | |
| 1971 | The Burglars | Abel Zacharia | |
| 1973 | The Mysterious Island | Captain Nemo | TV miniseries; also known as L'Ile Mysterieuse |
| 1974 | Juggernaut | Captain Axel Brunel | |
| 1974 | The Tamarind Seed | Feodor Sverdlov | |
| 1975 | Ace Up My Sleeve | Andre Ferren | also known as Crime and Passion |
| 1975 | Funny Lady | Nicky Arnstein | |
| 1976 | The Pink Panther Strikes Again | Egyptian Assassin | uncredited cameo |
| 1979 | Ashanti: Land of No Mercy | Prince hassan | |
| 1979 | Bloodline | Ivo Palazzi | |
| 1979 | S-H-E | Baron Cesare Magnasco | S-H-E: Security Hazards Expert |
| 1980 | Oh Heavenly Dog | Bart | |
| 1980 | The Baltimore Bullet | The Deacon | |
| 1980 | Pleasure Palace | Louis Lefevre | TV movie |
| 1981 | Green Ice | Meno Argenti | |
| 1981 | Inchon | Indian officer | uncredited cameo |
| 1984 | Top Secret! | Agent Cedric | |
| 1986 | Peter the Great | Prince Feodor Romodanovsky | TV series |
| 1986 | Harem | Sultan Hassan | TV movie |
| 1986 | Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna | Czar Nicholas II | TV series |
| 1987 | The Novice | ||
| 1988 | The Possessed | Stepan | Les Possédés |
| 1989 | Al-aragoz | Mohamed Gad El Kareem | The Puppeteer |
| 1990 | The Opium Connection | ||
| 1990 | The Rainbow Thief | Dima | |
| 1991 | Memories of Midnight | Constantin Demiris | TV movie |
| 1991 | Mowaten masri | An Egyptian Citizen | |
| 1992 | Beyond Justice | Emir Beni-Zair | |
| 1992 | Grand Larceny | ||
| 1992 | Mayrig | ||
| 1992 | Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris | Marquis Hippolite | TV Movie |
| 1992 | 588 rue paradis | Hagop | Mother |
| 1993 | Dehk we le'b we gad we hob | Laughter, Games, Seriousness and Love | |
| 1994 | Lie Down With Lions | Safar Khan | TV movie; Red Eagle |
| 1995 | Catherine the Great | Razumovsky | TV movie |
| 1996 | Gulliver's Travels | The Sorcerer | TV movie |
| 1997 | Heaven Before I Die | Khalil Gibran | |
| 1998 | Mysteries of Egypt | Grandfather | Documentary |
| 1999 | The 13th Warrior | Melchisideck | |
| 2001 | The Parole Officer | Victor | |
| 2003 | Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran | Monsieur Ibrahim | César Award for Best Actor |
| 2004 | Hidalgo | Sheikh Riyadh | |
| 2005 | Imperium: Saint Peter | Saint Peter | TV movie |
| 2005 | Fuoco su di me | Principe Nicola | Fire at my Heart |
| 2005 | Shaka Zulu: The Last Great Warrior | ||
| 2006 | One Night with the King | Prince Memucan | |
| 2006 | The Crown Prince | Hans Canon | TV movie; Kronprinz Rudolf |
| 2007 | Hanan W Haneen | TV series | |
| 2007 | The Ten Commandments | Jethro | TV series |
| 2008 | The Last Templar | Konstantine | TV series |
| 2008 | Hassan & Marcus | Hassan/Morcus | Hassan wa Morcus |
| 2008 | 10,000 BC | Narrator | Voice only |
| 2009 | The Traveller | ||
| 2009 | J'ai oublié de te dire | Jaume | I forgot to Tell You |
| 2009 | La Traversée du désir | ||
| 2013 | Rock the Casbah |
Bibliography
- The Eternal Male (1977)
- Omar Sharif's Life in Bridge (1983)
- Omar Sharif Talks Bridge (2004)
- Bridge Deluxe II Play with Omar Sharif (instruction manual)
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