Omar Sharif

Omar Sharif (عمر الشريف, ˈʕomɑɾ eʃʃɪˈɾiːf; born Michel Dimitri Chalhoub miˈʃel dɪˈmitɾi ʃælˈhuːb; 10 April 193210 July 2015) was an Egyptian actor. He began his career in his native country in the 1950s, but is best known for his appearances in both British and American productions. His films included Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965), and Funny Girl (1968). He was nominated for an Academy Award. He won three Golden Globe Awards and a César Award. Sharif, who spoke Arabic, English, Greek, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian fluently, was often cast as a foreigner of some sort. He bridled at travel restrictions imposed by the government of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser, leading to self-exile in Europe. The estrangement led to an amicable divorce from his wife, the iconic Egyptian actress Faten Hamama. He had converted to Islam in order to marry her. He was a lifelong horse racing enthusiast, and at one time ranked among the world's top contract bridge players.