Omar Sharif
Biography
Omar Sharif was an Egyptian actor who became his country's most celebrated male film star. Born in Alexandria, he started in Egyptian cinema in the early 1950s and first appeared in The Blazing Sun (1954). His international breakthrough came as Sherif Ali in David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia (1962), a role that brought him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and two Golden Globe Awards. He then played the title role in Lean's Doctor Zhivago (1965), winning a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama. He continued as a romantic lead in Funny Girl (1968) and later The Tamarind Seed (1974), and portrayed historical figures in Genghis Khan (1965) and Che! (1969). He was acclaimed for his leading role in Monsieur Ibrahim (2003), which won him a César Award for Best Actor. Later films included Hidalgo (2004) and 10,000 BC (2008). He made his final film appearance in 2015.
83years old at death
- Born Alexandria
- Died Behman Hospital
- Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
- ميشيل يوسف ديمتري شلهوب (birth name)Also credited as Omar el-Sherief, Omar Cherif, Michel Dimitri Chalhoub, Michel Demitri Shalhoub and Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub
Movie Career
- Films
- 34
- Career span
- 52 years1961 to 2013
Genres
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First role
Sharif's first English-language part was Sherif Ali in David Lean's historical epic Lawrence of Arabia in 1962. He received the role after Dilip Kumar declined it, Horst Buchholz was unavailable and Maurice Ronet was unable to wear the contact lenses needed to hide his eye color.
About the name
Sharif adopted the surname Sharif, Arabic for noble or nobleman, after Egyptian director Youssef Chahine picked him to star in the film The Blazing Sun.
A change of course
Sharif was a contract bridge player ranked among the world's top 50, and in 1964 he represented the United Arab Republic squad at the World Bridge Olympiad.
Big break
Sharif had read the novel and wanted a supporting part, but Lean gave him the main role instead: Yuri Zhivago, a poet and doctor.
Omar Sharif movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
David Lean directed two of these films, Terence Young two and Richard Fleischer two. Three actors appear in four of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
James Mason's page
Peter O'Toole's page
Anthony Quayle's page
Alec Guinness's page
Zia Mohyeddin's page
Michael Caine's page
David LeanDirector, 2 films, 1962 to 1965
All films by David Lean
Also two films together25 more actors
- Christopher PlummerThe Night of the Generals (1967) and The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)
- John Rhys-DaviesOne Night with the King (2006) and Catherine the Great (1996)
- Anthony QuinnBehold a Pale Horse (1964) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
- Jack PalanceThe Horsemen (1971) and Che! (1969)
- Gregory PeckMackenna's Gold (1969) and Behold a Pale Horse (1964)
- Eli WallachMackenna's Gold (1969) and Genghis Khan (1965)
- Vernon DobtcheffCatherine the Great (1996) and The Horsemen (1971)
- Michael HordernGenghis Khan (1965) and The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964)
- Sophia LorenMore Than a Miracle (1967) and The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)
- Jeanne MoreauCatherine the Great (1996) and The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964)
- Woody StrodeChe! (1969) and Genghis Khan (1965)
- Telly SavalasMackenna's Gold (1969) and Genghis Khan (1965)
- Tom CourtenayThe Night of the Generals (1967) and Doctor Zhivago (1965)
- Brian BlessedCatherine the Great (1996) and The Last Valley (1971)
- Mel FerrerCatherine the Great (1996) and The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)
- Barbra StreisandFunny Lady (1975) and Funny Girl (1968)
- Rex HarrisonAshanti (1979) and The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964)
- Eric PohlmannAshanti (1979) and The Horsemen (1971)
- Stephen BoydGenghis Khan (1965) and The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)
- Ivan DesnyBloodline (1979) and Mayerling (1968)
- George MurcellThe Horsemen (1971) and The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964)
- Silas CarsonThe Ten Commandments (2006) and Hidalgo (2004)
- Charles MillotMayerling (1968) and The Night of the Generals (1967)
- Rudy DiazChe! (1969) and Mackenna's Gold (1969)
- Véronique VendellMayerling (1968) and The Night of the Generals (1967)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Omar Sharif's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$830 million
17 of the 34 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 34 films: 17 worldwide figure; 3 never in cinemas; 14 figure not found.
- 17Worldwide figure
- 3Never in cinemas
- 14Figure not found
Top grosser
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 91% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$270M32.5% of the total
- 2$112M13.5% of the total
- 3$108M13.0% of the total
- 4$70M8.4% of the total
- 5$62M7.4% of the total
- 6$59M7.1% of the total
- 7$40M4.8% of the total
- 8$33M4.0% of the total
$76.6 millionfrom the other 9 films with a worldwide figure, 9% of the total
Awards
Five awards and honors from 1963 to 2004, four of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globes | |||
| 1966 | Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama | Doctor Zhivago | Won |
| 1963 | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Lawrence of Arabia | Won |
| 1963 | New Star of the Year – Actor | Won | |
| Venice Film Festival | |||
| 2003 | Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement | Won | |
| Other honors | |||
| 2004 | César Award for Best Actor | Monsieur Ibrahim | Won |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.