Omar Sharif Egyptian actor acting in different countries Date of Birth: 10.04.1932 Country: Egypt

1. Biography of Omar Sharif
2. Early Career and Marriage to Fatima Hamama
3. International Success
4. Selected Filmography

Biography of Omar Sharif

Omar Sharif, an Egyptian actor who has appeared in films from various countries, was born in Alexandria, Egypt, into a wealthy Egyptian family. He studied physics and mathematics at Cairo University before getting involved in his father's woodworking business.

Early Career and Marriage to Fatima Hamama

Sharif began his career in the Egyptian film industry, acting in over 20 domestic films. He also tried his hand at directing and owned a small film studio in Cairo. However, his work in Egypt did not receive much recognition, and at the beginning of his career, Sharif was better known in his country as the husband of the famous actress Fatima Hamama, whom he later divorced.

Their love story is unusual and captivating: when Sharif met the young Fatima on the set of his first film, "Struggle in the Valley" (1952), the young debutant fell in love with her. However, in order to marry her, the actor had to convert to Islam and change his name, as Fatima was a Muslim. Thus, bachelor Michel Shalhoub became married Omar Sharif.

International Success

Sharif gained international recognition through his work in Western cinema. While his role in the film "The Lebanese Missionary" (1956) by Richard Pottier, based on the novel by Pierre Benoit, went unnoticed, his next role as Sherif Ali in "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) by David Lean was a resounding success. The film received several Oscars and was screened in many countries, giving Sharif widespread fame. One of Sharif's best roles was in the famous musical "Funny Girl" (1968) by William Wyler, where he splendidly accompanied the charming and talented rising star Barbara Streisand. Thanks to their duet and the extravagant set designs, the film remains captivating to this day.

After this film, Sharif's movies were banned in Egypt because he kissed a Jewish woman on screen. His acting career began to decline in the mid-1970s, and Sharif became increasingly involved in his hobby of playing bridge. Today, the popular actor is known as one of the most authoritative experts in the game. He continues to act in films, with the release of the film "The Return of the Baghdad Thief" planned for 2001.

Selected Filmography

1. Struggle in the Valley - 1952 (Drama)
2. The Lebanese Missionary - 1956
3. Lawrence of Arabia - 1962 (Historical / Biographical)
4. The Fall of the Roman Empire - 1964 (Historical / Biographical)
5. The Adventures of Marco Polo - 1964 (Adventure)
6. Genghis Khan - 1965 (Historical / Biographical)
7. Doctor Zhivago - 1965 (Historical / Biographical)
8. Funny Girl - 1968 (Musical)
9. Sofia: Self-Portrait - 1968
10. Mayerling - 1968 (Melodrama)
11. The Tamarind Seed - 1974
12. The Pink Panther Strikes Again - 1976
13. The Mysteries of the Great Pyramid - 1978
14. Bloodline - 1979
15. Ashanti - 1979 (Action)
16. The Pleasure Palace - 1979
17. The Baltimore Bullet - 1980 (Comedy)
18. Oh Heavenly Dog - 1980
19. Green Ice - 1981
20. Top Secret! - 1984 (Comedy)
21. The Far Pavilions - 1984 (Action)
22. Peter the Great - 1985
23. Harem - 1986 (Melodrama)
24. The Adventures of Gulliver - 1986
25. The Rainbow Thief - 1987
26. The Possessed - 1987 (Drama)
27. The Voyage of Love - 1990
28. The Rainbow Thief - 1990
29. Moon Mountains - 1990
30. Midnight Memories - 1991
31. The Battle of the Lions - 1994 (Drama)
32. The Order - 1998 (Action)
33. The Secrets of Egypt - 1998
34. The 13th Warrior - 1999 (Action)