Close X
Monday, November 18, 2024
ADVT 
Hollywood

Omar Sharif, Lawrence Of Arabia Star, Dies Of A Heart Attack At 83

Darpan News Desk IANS, 10 Jul, 2015 10:22 AM
  • Omar Sharif, Lawrence Of Arabia Star, Dies Of A Heart Attack At 83
Egyptian-born actor Omar Sharif, best known for his part in David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" and the lead role in "Doctor Zhivago", died of cardiac arrest on Friday, media reports said. He was 83.
 
"He suffered a heart attack this afternoon in a hospital in Cairo," BBC quoted his agent Steve Kenis as saying.
 
Born Michel Demetri Chalhoub on April 10, 1932 in a Catholic family of Lebanese descent, Sharif started his career in Egyptian films in 1953 with "Sira Fi al-Wadi" ("The Blazing Sun") opposite Faten Hamama, whom he later married (they were divorced in 1974). 
 
He worked in over 20 films before being approached for the role of Sharif Ali in "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) which was his first Hollywood movie.
 
As Sharif Ali, who silently glides from the dunes early in the movie and kills Lawrence's guide for drinking from his well before taunting him "Have you no fear, English?", Sharif more than held his own against a star-studded cast which included Peter O'Toole as Lawrence, Alec Guinness as Prince Feisal, Anthony Quinn as Auda and Claude Rains as Dryden. 
 
 
He was nominated for the Oscars but didn't win though. Later, he received two Golden Globe awards for his role. 
 
His most famous work was as the title role of the tormented poet in Lean's 1965 adapation of Boris Pasternak's "Doctor Zhivago", opposite Julie Christie as Larissa 'Lara' Antipova. He again did not win any of the five Oscars the film garnered for its epic cinematography and haunting music, especially "Lara's Theme", by Maurice Jarre but won a further Golden Globe three years later.
 
Among other major roles of the multi-lingual Sharif, who was comfortable in any cultural and historic setting, were as iconic revolutionary Che Guevara in "Che", a German officer trying to trace a psychopathic murderer among the top brass in "The Night of the Generals", in "The Fall of the Roman Empire", as Genghis Khan in an eponymous film, the villain Colorado in Gregory Peck-starrer western treasure hunt "Mackenna's Gold", and a Soviet spy in Cold War drama "The Tamarind Seed".
 
On TV, he essayed the role of doomed Czar Nicholas II in mini series "Anastasia" as well as of Khuda Daad in an adaption of M.M.Kaye's "The Far Pavillions".
 
Sharif, who was a devoted bridge player and authored several books on the card game, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2012.

MORE Hollywood ARTICLES

Robin Williams' death officially declared suicide

Robin Williams' death officially declared suicide
The coroner in Marin County, California has officially ruled actor Robin Williams’ death a suicide by asphyxia due to hanging....

Robin Williams' death officially declared suicide

Heidi Montag offers Bynes a place to stay

Heidi Montag offers Bynes a place to stay
Singer Heidi Montag offered Amanda Bynes a place to stay after photos of the troubled actress sleeping at the Beverly Center in Los Angeles were released....

Heidi Montag offers Bynes a place to stay

Demi Lovato wishes to use her fame for good

Demi Lovato wishes to use her fame for good
Singer-actress Demi Lovato wants to be a role model for the young generation and use her fame for good, rather than coming across as a vain celebrity....

Demi Lovato wishes to use her fame for good

Pet's death changed Pamela Anderson's life

Pet's death changed Pamela Anderson's life
The death of actress Pamela Anderson's dog left a lasting impact on her life, says one of her family friends....

Pet's death changed Pamela Anderson's life

Eva Green compares herself to an 'old lady'

Eva Green compares herself to an 'old lady'
She's only 34, but unlike many celebrities her age, actress Eva Green prefers to be at home rather than party. Hence, she calls herself an "old lady"....

Eva Green compares herself to an 'old lady'

I'm a work in progress: JLo

I'm a work in progress: JLo
Singer-actress Jennifer Lopez describes herself as a “work in progress”! She says she's learning to appreciate herself before going on to find love with someone else....

I'm a work in progress: JLo