Sharif, Omar (1932-2015), was an Egyptian-born actor best known for his roles as a strong romantic hero. After several years as a movie star in Egypt, Sharif gained immediate international recognition for his performance in the epic Lawrence of Arabia (1962). He solidified his status as an international star when he played the title role in Dr. Zhivago (1965). Sharif played a romantic gangster in Funny Girl (1968) and Funny Lady (1975), two biographical films about American entertainer Fanny Brice starring Barbra Streisand.
Sharif was born on April 10, 1932, in Alexandria, Egypt. His real name was Michael Shalhoub. He converted to Islam and changed his name shortly after making his debut in Egyptian films in 1953. Sharif was a world-class expert in bridge and won several international titles. He wrote a widely published newspaper bridge column. Sharif died on July 10, 2015.
