Actor Omar Sharif died at age 83 – TVI24

The Egyptian actor Omar Sharif, best known for the films “Dr. Zhivago” and “Lawrence of Arabia”, died today at age 83. According to the actor’s agent, the cause of death will have been a heart attack.

He was born in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1932, under the name Michel Demitri Chalhoub. Later he adopted the name by which he became known: Omar Sharif, meaning “noble” in Arabic.

He debuted in film in 1953 in an Egyptian film, “The Blazing Sun” and quickly became one of the busiest actors in the country. In the 50s married to co-star Fatan Hamama, which had a child. In 1962, debut in Hollywood in the movie “Lawrence of Arabia” and is critically acclaimed. Omar Sharif starred in dozens of films and series, both in Egypt and abroad.

The actor won two Golden Globes and a nomination for an Oscar for his performance in the role of Sherif Ali in the movie “Lawrence of Arabia”, 1962. Three years later he won a Golden Globe for best actor for the film “Dr. Zhivago”.

In 2005, UNESCO awarded him the Einstein Medal for his contribution to cultural diversity in film. In 2013, he received the career award on Wednesday ceremony Film Ball Vienna .

Omar Sharif was suffering from Alzheimer’s. The disease was diagnosed earlier this year.

The actor’s agent already went public confirm that Omar “suffered a heart attack this afternoon, a hospital in Cairo.”

Legend: Omar Sharif receives career award in 2013

The tremendous success at the professional level allowed him to live a life unobscured, to the admiration of millions of fans and romances with some of the most desirable women in the world, as Julie Andrews and Beard Steisend.

However, the fame also brought him some troubles. The actor divorced Fatan Hamama, the only woman he said he loved when he accepted work in the US, lost millions because of gambling addiction, refused to accept an illegitimate child and had some episodes of violence.

“I have always been extremely lucky in my lifetime,” he confessed in an interview with television channel Al Jazeera in 2007. “But, had I not had this career, it might have been happier. I’m divorced for 41 years and lived alone since then. Maybe had been happier if I had stayed in Egypt. I had a wife and a son, a stable career as an actor. I wanted to have more children. When I went to America, I could achieve glory but also loneliness. “