ACTOR · BORN 1932 · DIED 2015
Omar Sharif
- Born
- 10 April 1932
- Died
- 10 July 2015
- Known for
- Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965), Funny Girl (1968), Monsieur Ibrahim et les fleurs du Coran (2003)
24 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Omar Sharif (10 April 1932 – 10 July 2015) was an actor best known for Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and Funny Girl.
Omar Sharif over the years
24 Interesting Facts About Omar Sharif
Interesting Facts (6)
- #001
Of Lebanese and Syrian origin, Omar Sharif spent most of his life in Egypt. He spoke Arabic, English, French, Greek, Italian and Spanish fluently, a multilingualism that gave him a great advantage in his international career. In 1963 he graduated from Cairo University with a joint degree in mathematics and physics. He wanted to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), but just before he left for London a producer discovered him and offered him the lead role in The Blazing Sun (1954); that offer marked the beginning of his film career.
Omar Sharif: portraitImage: Wikimedia Commons · Drhbc, CC BY-SA 4.0 - #002
The close friendship between Omar Sharif and Peter O'Toole, which began on the set of Lawrence of Arabia (1962), became one of the best-known friendships in film history. O'Toole gave him the nickname "Freddy" because "no one could be called Omar Sharif". This humorous approach reflects the closeness and sense of humour between the two; the time they spent together laid the foundation for a strong bond that continued off set as well.
- #003
Omar Sharif lived in a large flat built especially for him in the Bois de Boulogne in Paris. This luxurious residence became the centre of his life in Europe and a place reflecting the artist's international identity. His home in this prestigious part of Paris is known as a symbol of both his standing in the film world and his taste.
Omar Sharif: a sceneImage: Wikimedia Commons · Muhammad Mansour, CC BY 2.0 - #004
Omar Sharif was born on the same day as the French actress Delphine Seyrig; the coincidence creates an interesting link between the two actors' careers. Seyrig was one of the important names of French cinema, and sharing a birthday calls to mind their parallel paths in the film world. This detail has been recorded as a piece of trivia that fascinates fans.
- #005
Omar Sharif's first visit to the United States came for the premiere of the 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia. The night before the opening, his close friend Peter O'Toole took him to a performance by comedian Lenny Bruce; afterwards they met Bruce backstage and went drinking together. When Bruce said he had to stop by his home for a few minutes, they went with him. As Bruce injected himself with drugs, police raided the place and arrested all three of them. At the police station Sharif called producer Sam Spiegel and managed to get out of the situation, an anecdote often told as a colourful sign that his entry into Hollywood was anything but ordinary.
- #006
In July 2003, Omar Sharif was given a one-month suspended prison sentence for hitting a police officer at a casino in a Paris suburb. The incident began when he insulted and headbutted a Pontoise police officer who tried to intervene in an argument he was having with a roulette croupier. He was also ordered to pay a 1,700-dollar fine and 340 dollars in compensation to the officer. The incident was reported in the press as another example of his anger control problems.
Characters & Cast (2)
- #007
For the role of Sherif Ali in Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Bollywood star Dilip Kumar was initially considered; when Kumar turned the role down, David Lean made the offer to Omar Sharif. The offer became the turning point that made Sharif known worldwide. As an interesting detail, Sharif was in fact originally set to play Tafas, the character shot by Sherif Ali in the opening desert scene; fate instead carried him to the lead role.
- #008
In 1969, Omar Sharif was set to star in a musical biography of Rudolph Valentino being prepared by director Mike Frankovich, but the project never came to fruition. The plan shows how much in demand he was for major productions of the period. The cancellation of the project remains a loss that has intrigued film history.
Career & Awards (7)
- #009
A bridge player known worldwide, Omar Sharif planned or postponed film shoots in advance so he could take part in major tournaments. This passion made him not only an actor but also one of the authorities on the game. He wrote or co-wrote many books on bridge, penned a weekly syndicated column and licensed his name to a bridge computer game. Alongside his film career, he thus left a lasting legacy in the world of bridge as well.
- #010
When Omar Sharif agreed with Sam Spiegel for Lawrence of Arabia (1962), he signed a seven-film contract at 15,000 dollars per film; the producer said this was the standard fee at the time. Under this deal he appeared in Doctor Zhivago (1965), Behold a Pale Horse (1964), The Night of the Generals (1967), Genghis Khan (1965), Mackenna's Gold (1969) and Funny Girl (1968). The agreement formed the basis of his Hollywood career and enabled him to appear in many unforgettable productions.
- #011
In an interview given in his native Egypt between 2007 and 2009, Omar Sharif described the 1969 film Che! as one of his worst films. This statement shows that he looked at his own career with a critical eye. Che! marks one of the periods of decline in his film career; the admission reveals how honest the artist was about his own work.
- #012
Omar Sharif's autobiography, L'Éternel Masculin, was published in France in 1976 and the following year in America as The Eternal Male. The book is regarded as an important work in which he tells the story of his life and career in his own words. The autobiography offers an intimate look at the actor's inner world and his cinematic journey.
- #013
Omar Sharif was a champion bridge player; his talent in the game made him a well-known name not only in the world of cinema but also in the arena of games of skill. Bridge held an important place in his life, and his achievements in the game demonstrated his strategic thinking. This passion was one of the elements that shaped his personal life as well as his career.
- #014
Omar Sharif appeared in two films selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and Funny Girl (1968). The selection underscores the value these productions hold for American film history. Sharif's performances in these films reinforced his lasting place in cinema history.
- #015
Omar Sharif was of Syrian origin; this background played an important role in shaping his identity and career. His family, of Syrian and Lebanese origin, influenced his attachment to Middle Eastern culture. This heritage allowed him to keep his bond with his roots even as he became an international star.
Life & Family (9)
- #016
In an interview on Egyptian television, Omar Sharif admitted that his ex-wife Faten Hamama, the only woman he ever married, was his one true love. The statement is recorded as one of his most candid remarks about his private life. Sharif was the father of Tarek Sharif and the grandfather of Omar Sharif Jr., so his family was present in the film world across three generations.
- #017
Omar Sharif underwent triple bypass surgery in 1992 and suffered a mild heart attack in 1994. The actor, who smoked 100 cigarettes a day before the operation, gave up the habit easily after the surgery. This health struggle is known as one of the difficult periods of his life and stands as a striking example of the harm caused by smoking.
- #018
Serving in the Egyptian militia during the 1956 Suez Crisis, Omar Sharif found the idea of actually using his rifle absurd, since he thought the apartment building he was living in would be flattened by enemy return fire. Years later he interviewed talk-show host Michael Parkinson, who had served in the British Army on the other side of the conflict. The two compared their memories of the war and shared perspectives from two different fronts of history; the meeting was one of the rare moments that laid bare the human dimension of war.
- #019
On 11 June 2005 in Beverly Hills, Omar Sharif punched a parking attendant for refusing to accept euros, and a US court sentenced him to an anger management course. The actor, who did not attend the hearing on 13 February 2007, made headlines with the incident. The unpleasant affair is recorded as an example pointing to the difficulties in his private life and his anger control problems.
- #020
Omar Sharif's mother was a professional gambler known as one of the boldest gamblers alongside King Farouk. Omar inherited his love of gambling from his mother and displayed this passion in international bridge tournaments and in the 1964 and 1968 Olympic tournaments. This inheritance reveals how talented he was not only in the film world but also in games requiring intelligence and strategy.
- #021
Omar Sharif's Egyptian citizenship was nearly revoked by Nasser's regime because of his open relationship with the Jewish actress Barbra Streisand. Streisand strongly supported Israel in the Six-Day War against Egypt, which put Sharif in the middle of a political crisis. The affair went down in history as one of the rare moments when his private life became intertwined with international politics.
- #022
Horse racing was one of Omar Sharif's greatest passions, and he bred horses for the sport. This interest shows that he was an active figure not only in the film world but also in the world of sport. This commitment to horse racing was a side of him that reflected his competitive spirit and luxurious lifestyle.
- #023
Omar Sharif was a co-owner of a French casino; the venture reflects his interest in the worlds of gambling and entertainment. The casino partnership shows that he was an active figure not only as an actor but also in the business world. This investment is known as part of his lifestyle.
- #024
Omar Sharif owned 14 racehorses; these horses were a concrete sign of his passion for horse racing. The ownership reveals how seriously he invested in the sport. His horse breeding and participation in races were a side of him that reflected his competitive nature and luxurious lifestyle.
Related pages
- Death on the Nile — Omar Sharif comes up in the facts on that page
- Michael Caine — Omar Sharif comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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