Omar Sharif Biography

Fast Facts

• Awarded the inaugural Sergei Eisenstein Medal by UNESCO in 2005 for his contributions to film and cultural diversity
• Won the audience award for best actor at the Venice Film Festival in 2003
• After studying at Victoria College, he graduated from Cairo University with a degree in physics and mathematics before the start of his acting career
• Made his screen acting debut in the Egyptian film "Siraa Fil-Wadi" in 1954 opposite Faten Hamama, whom he was married to for almost 10 years
• Originally began his film career in Egypt in 1954, but his first English-language role came in 1962 with "Lawrence of Arabia," a film that landed him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor
• Best known for playing Sherif Ali in "Lawrence of Arabia," Yuri in "Doctor Zhivago" and Nick Arnstein in "Funny Girl․"
• Was fluent in English, Arabic, Greek, French, Italian and Spanish
• Was one of the world's most respected and feared bridge players, once holding the title of grandmaster, and once said in reference to his love of the game, "Acting is my profession; bridge is my passion․"
• Spent much of his life in Europe following the Egyptian revolution of 1952 because the government strictly regulated international travel, which would occasionally cause him to miss film shoots