The Essential Omar Sharif

OMAR SHARIF 1932 - 2015
Omar Sharif, who was born as Michel Shaloub in 1932, has passed away today at the age of 83. The Egyptian-born actor had a storied career, starting in Egyptian cinema in the 1950s and continued working until as recently as 2013. Shaloub became a Muslim in the 1950s, changing his name to Omar al-Sharif, and in 1961 landed the role that would change his life. That breakthrough role would be that of Sherif Ali in David Lean's grand epic, Lawrence of Arabia, a role that would earn him an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actor. Sharif later paired with David Lean again in 1965's Doctor Zhivago, a film of equal spectacle, which would again earn him a Golden Globe for Best Actor. Sharif would go on to play a wide range of roles including Genghis Khan and Che Gueverra as well as starring alongside Barbara Streisand in the mega hit musical Funny Girl. Sharif would work fairly regularly over the years in films like Mackenna…
Omar Sharif, who was born as Michel Shaloub in 1932, has passed away today at the age of 83. The Egyptian-born actor had a storied career, starting in Egyptian cinema in the 1950s and continued working until as recently as 2013. Shaloub became a Muslim in the 1950s, changing his name to Omar al-Sharif, and in 1961 landed the role that would change his life. That breakthrough role would be that of Sherif Ali in David Lean's grand epic, Lawrence of Arabia, a role that would earn him an Academy Award nomination and a Golden Globe win for Best Supporting Actor. Sharif later paired with David Lean again in 1965's Doctor Zhivago, a film of equal spectacle, which would again earn him a Golden Globe for Best Actor. Sharif would go on to play a wide range of roles including Genghis Khan and Che Gueverra as well as starring alongside Barbara Streisand in the mega hit musical Funny Girl. Sharif would work fairly regularly over the years in films like Mackenna…