TORONTO — Omar Sharif died Friday after suffering a heart attack in Cairo. He was 83.
Only months ago, Sharif’s agent Steve Kenis revealed the actor was suffering with Alzheimer’s disease.
The actor earned an Oscar nomination for his role in 1962’s Lawrence of Arabia and was well known for his leading role in 1965’s Doctor Zhivago.
Sharif’s Montreal-born grandson, actor Omar Sharif Jr., posted “I love you” in Arabic on Facebook along with a photo of himself with his famous grandfather. He also tweeted an Arabic message of condolence.
Born Michel Demetri Chalhoub in Egypt, Sharif didn’t begin his acting career until after earning a degree in math and physics at the University of Cairo and studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Sharif appeared in dozens of Egyptian productions before making his English-language debut in Lawrence of Arabia — a role that earned him Best Supporting Actor nominations at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes.
Although he was of Lebanese descent, Sharif portrayed characters of many different backgrounds. He was a Spanish priest in 1964’s Behold a Pale Horse, the titular Mongolian conqueror in 1965’s Genghis Khan, a German military officer in 1967’s The Night of the Generals, and Austria’s Crown Prince in 1968’s Mayerling.
Sharif also chose a diverse range of genres — including the 1969 western Mackenna’s Gold, the 1974 romantic drama Tamarind Seed and the 1980 comedy spoof Top Secret!.
Sharif married actress Faten Hamama, his co-star in 1954’s Struggle in the Valley, and had son Tarek El-Sharif but the couple split in 1966 and divorced in 1974. Sharif never remarried and Hamama died in January at 83.
He is survived by his two grandsons.
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