Omar Sharif, who starred alongside Peter O’Toole in Lawrence of Arabia, has died. He was 83.
His agent, Steve Kenis, told CNN that the Egyptian-born actor suffered a heart attack in Cairo. In May, Kenis confirmed that Sharif had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Sharif is best known around the world for his role in David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia. The 1962 film marked his English-language debut and earned him two Golden Globes and an Oscar nomination. Lean liked his work so much that he cast Sharif in the title role for Doctor Zhivago, which was released in 1965.
Zhivago helped make Sharif a popular romantic lead and he got to co-star with Barbra Streisand in 1968’s Funny Girl. Sharif continued acting in films in both Hollywood and around the world well into his 80s. He appeared in 2004’s Hidalgo with Viggo Mortensen.
The Telegraph reports that he actually had a degree in mathematics and used his skills to become one of the world’s Top 10 bridge players.
He is survived by his son and two grandsons, notes Variety.
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