April 10th marks the birthday anniversary of one of Egypt’s most iconic actors, Omar Sharif.
This man is truly God’s gift for acting, a true artist who was well-versed and well-rounded in his craft. Giving us characters and performances of a lifetime that immortalized his name not just nationally but worldwide. On that note, let us remember this icon through his most memorable roles and moments.
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Born Michel Demetri Shalhoub to an Egyptian father and a Syrian/Lebanese mother, Sharif was raised Catholic and lived a normal upbringing, graduating high school from Victoria college in Alexandria, then attaining a degree in mathematics and physics from Cairo University. His first film was “The Blazing Sun” in 1954 alongside the one and only Egyptian actress, Faten Hamamah which we all know was his first and only marriage. Which caused him to convert to Islam just so they can tie the knot. Together they have an equally handsome and talented son, Tarek Sharif.
Iconic Roles
Sharif has over 45 films under his belt, each one is a monumental moment in his legacy and to get into all of them will be honestly offensive. But, three films, in particular, took our breath away and got him critically acclaimed and world-renowned superstardom. Starting with “Lawrence of Arabia” in 1962, the instant blockbuster at the time got him a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Academy Awards and international fame as it was his first English role in his career. The second memorable role was Doctor Zhivago in 1965, a historical romance that is so beautifully well-made, it is beyond what words can describe. The movie was such a huge hit at the time that Sharif’s performance won him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in the category of Motion Picture Drama. This movie still remains to this day one of the top ten highest-grossing films of all time.
Of course, “Funny Girl” in 1968 alongside fellow Icon from overseas Barbra Streisand. The movie was a hit as usual but it was memorable for the controversy at the time because Barbra was a vocal activist for the State of Israel back when the turmoil between the Arab region and Israel was at its highest. It didn’t help that the two actors were romantically linked, however, all this drama didn’t steal away from the fact that “Funny Girl” was one of Sharif’s most dynamic roles as it introduces us to his singing, dancing, and serious side all at once. The definition of diverse right there.
Iconic Moments
Yes, he has way too many good moments on interviews and red carpet events but one of his most memorable is where he stays true to his “playboy” mischievous lady’s man self while on The Late Night Show with Jay Leno. The talk show host is known for his personal banter with celebrity guests and Sharif was a hoot to host, telling wild stories about his gambling in vegas, and the terrifying story of being forced to make love to a drunk woman at gunpoint. Proving to the world that he is not just a superstar but a life-loving outgoing funny man who wants nothing more than to leave this world knowing that he lived life to the fullest.
Sharif’s star still shines bright posthumously as there are not a lot of artists that are as multi-faceted and unique as this man was. We not only remember him on what would have been his birthday, but we remember him every day through his eclectic work.
