Omar Sharif (1932-2015)
Friday, July 10, 2015 at 11:15AM 
Sharif Photographed by Andrew Walker in 2011Hollywood's first and still only Egyptian movie star passed away at 83 today of a heart attack. It had recently been announced that he was suffering from Alzheimers and after such a full life this may feel like a mercy to some, though his loved one are surely grieving and our hearts go out to them.
Though moviegoers roughly 35 and up surely remember him, here's the gist of it for younger budding cinephiles: Sharif began and ended his career in Arabic language cinema but in the vast middle (1960s-1990s) he achieved global stardom via Hollywood and British cinema. His English language debut Lawrence of Arabia (1962) brought him a Supporting Actor Oscar nomination and he became a genuine superstar in short order, headlining one of the all time biggest box office smashes (Doctor Zhivago, 1965). In his third enduring classic from that decade he helped Barbra Streisand ascend into the pantheon in her film debut Funny Girl (1968).
In fact, his performances in those three hits are rather fine illustrations of what was so special about his onscreen persona: his generosity and a certain intangible 'eye of the beholder' transference. He was one of the greatest romantic leading men precisely because he seemed so believably in thrall to the particular charismas of his co-stars. And he had great ones: Sophia Loren, Barbra Streisand, Julie Christie, Peter O'Toole, Julie Andrews and more.
And while he drank in their inimitable beauty, he looked like this:
Dr Zhivago (1965)
a portrait from the 1950s when he starred regularly in Egyptian cinema
The Tamarind Seed (1974) and More Than a Miracle (1967)
Double the pleasure, then, for moviegoers who were ready to swoon. And swoon they did, all over the world.
What's your favorite Omar Sharif performance?
Reader Comments (20)
Nathaniel, thank you very much for this heartwarming tribute, in such lovely words, to a truly great movie star. I am obsessed with Doctor Zhivago, and you captured perfectly what made him special in this and other wonderful films. Has any star had such a string of classics to lead off his career? Picturing him with my two Julies fills my heart with adoration. May he be at peace. Now, I will go watch Zhivago for the 11th time.
I love his Egyptian romantic melodramas from the 1950s. His leading lady and ex wife Faten Hamama was just as beguiling as he was. Lots of those films are on YouTube unfortunately for non Arabic speakers without subtitles. Struggle in the Valley is my fave.
And of course Dr Zhivago from his English language oeuvre.
Murtada -- i was just about to ask on twitter if any of his 1950s films are available.
A sad day but for him to waste away with Alzheimer's would have been even sadder.
For me he'll always be Nicky Arnstein who wore shirts made from French handkerchief linen just for fun. Loved him Dr. Zhivago as well and he looked great in More Than a Miracle even if the picture was mediocre.
I once read that David Lean picked actors often because of their eyes. Certainly Mr. Sharif fills this requirement and it may be the unknown “thing” that makes his appearance on screen so compelling. Lawrence has my favorite film transition ( the match) and my favorite entrance of an actor ………..Sharif Ali on the camel.
I shall miss those eyes and that voice.
Currently watching "You are Woman, I Am Man" and pouring one out.
RIP Omar Sharif.
I know of him. Have yet to watch any of his films.
You've so hit the nail on the head describing Mr. Sharif' as "one of the greatest leading men
precisely because he was so believably in thrall to the particular charismas of his co-stars".
He was wonderful in "Funny Girl": Streisand simply couldn't have asked for a better or more sympathetic scene partner. "More Than a Miracle" (in which he teamed with Sophia Loren) seems to provoke either ecstasy or shrugs from audiences. I'm squarely in the ecstasy camp. I've loved that movie since I first saw it in '67. And since then, though I've watched it at least a dozen times, the cumulative effect of the music, the strange fairy-tale atmosphere and the perfect romantic chemistry between Sharif and Loren remains undiminished. He was splendid in "The Appointment", too, partnered with the equally soulful Anouk Aimee. Plus I remember really enjoying his late-career performance in "Hidalgo". He leaves behind a fine, fine screen legacy.
I am only familiar with Sharif's Big Three: Lawrence, Zhivago, and Funny Girl.
Will have to check out Omar's IMDB stats to see what smaller gems he appeared in...
I have never heard of The Appointment or More Than a Miracle.I'll have to find these hidden gems.Mr. Sharif definitely had indelible chemistry with nearly everyone he costarred with.
What a great movie star - one of the best of his era. I've never seen The Tamarind Seed because of a couple of bad reviews from people I know, but this poster makes me want to.
I just watched him opposite Shirley Knight and Richard Harris in Juggernaut (1974) earlier this week and saw him in The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964) with Ingrid Bergman last month. This is a big loss to so many people of a certain age. My mother was a huge fan of his thanks to Doctor Zhivago, so I always held a special place for him in my heart because of that.
Zhivago is probably his best performance (his eyes say everything), but Lawrence of Arabia is definitely my favorite of his movies. I'll never forget seeing that solitary black image gradually get bigger in the desert as we and Peter O'Toole look on at Sharif getting closer and closer.
I'll admit I was unaware of The Tamarind Seed, but I've recently fallen in love with Julie Andrews all over again, so I might check it out. I also have yet to see Monsieur Ibrahim, which I know he got some Oscar buzz for back in 2003, so I might seek that out as well in his honor.
RIP Mr. Sharif, unforgettabble hottie, great actor & lover of Babs.
That big three is one heck of a legacy to leave us with. Now off to the movie store to pay proper tribute.
A true movie star- those eyes alone are for the ages.
A true legend. Not just for the films like Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago, and Monsieur Ibrahim but also for his skills in bridge.
Nicky Arnstein. Nicky Arnstein. Nicky Arnstein. (R.I.P.)
"So long, funny girl." "Goodbye Nick." (Cue: "My Man")
He was robbed on an Oscar nom for Doctor Zhivago!!! Althot he won the Golden Globes
Funny Girl is practically in my blood, but he was SO HOT in Lawrence of Arabia! I mean, he was so GOOD in it.