Today marks the 89th birth anniversary of Omar Sharif— best known for playing Sherif Ali ibn el Kharish in the classic international film Lawrence of Arabia.
Born in Alexandria in 1932 as Michael Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub, he started his acting career after his graduation from the English school “ Victoria College ” in Alexandria where he met his classmate Ahmed Ramzi, they became best friends since then.
Throughout his long-standing career, he featured in many international films like Doctor Zhivago, Funny Girl (1968), The Tamarind Seed (1974), and Monsieur Ibrahim (2003).
Moreover, he appeared in a range of Arab films, including, 'La Anam' Sleepless (1957), A Rumor of Love (1960), and There is a man in our House (1961), which made him a huge competitor to Salah Zulfikar, Shoukry Sarhan and Rushdy Abaza, the Egyptian cinema giants at the time.
Starring alongside Egypt’s iconic actress Faten Hamam, who was also Sharif's wife, and remarkable singer Abdel-Halim Hafiz in ‘Ayam El-Helwa’ (Our Best Days) film, he played the role of Ahmed, who is Halim’s best friend.
In the 1950s, Sharif's breakthrough in Ayam El-Helwa shifted cinema at the time, influencing filmmakers to move toward taking the risk of hiring younger actors. Before his appearance, many roles were held by older actors who were often visibly beyond an age to convincingly play younger characters.
Quickly, he became a big movie star after taking roles in a number of youth films, along with his lifetime friend Ramzy, but he actually was drawn to enter the world of Western cinema.
The late actor also received many awards and accolades including three Golden Globe Awards and a César Award for Best Actor.
During his last days, his agent confirmed he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
In 2015, the most acclaimed actor in his generation passed away aged 83.
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