An Egyptian actor who came to America and became an instant star, Omar Sharif has appeared in some of Hollywood's grandest films, thanks to his early collaboration with director David Lean. Sharif literally emerged out of the sweltering desert to become an overnight sensation and maintained his status as a superstar throughout the 1960s. Though he slipped away in the mid-1970s, Sharif has remained one of the more indelible presences from the late classic era.
After becoming famous in his native Egypt, Sharif was transformed into an international star with Lawrence of Arabia, his first English language film. Directed by David Lean, the film starred British actor Peter O'Toole as T.E. Lawrence, an enigmatic English officer who travels to Arabia to aid the Arabs in their rebellion against the Turks during the onset of World War I. Sharif played Sherif Ali, the leader of a tribe of Arabs at war with other Arabs who ultimately befriends Lawrence despite killing his Bedouin guide for drinking in his well. While the film belonged to O'Toole, Sharif earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor and emerged as a major star, thanks in part to making one of the most spectacular movie entrances in film history.
Following a small role in the star-studded historical epic—and financial flop—The Fall of the Roman Empire, Sharif delivered a top notch performance as the titular Mongol emperor in this otherwise uneven biopic. Even though Sharif played Khan, actor Stephen Boyd received top billing as Jamuga, a mentor who turns into his chief rival following the Mongol's quest to conquer the civilized world. Making matters worse is Kahn's first wife, Börte (Francoise Dorleac), who comes between Genghis Khan and Jamuga following her capture. Not the most significant epic, Genghis Khan did offer Sharif to play a rare leading Hollywood role with relish.
Returning to Lean's stable, Sharif was once again one of the stars of a major Hollywood epic that was a major hit as well as the recipient of 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. This time, Sharif received top billing alongside Julie Christie in this period epic set during World War I and the Russian Revolution. Adapted from the acclaimed novel by Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago followed the major upheaval of the war and revolution as seen through the eyes of Russian poet and medical student Yuri Zhivago (Sharif), who's married to Tonya (Geraldine Chaplain), but has an affair with Lara (Christie), with whom he tends to the wounded during the February Revolution. Meanwhile, Zhivago finds himself caught between his half-brother Yevgraf (Alec Guinness) and the revenge-minded Strelnikoff (Tom Courteney), both representing two very different sides to the revolution. Often compared to Gone With the Wind for its sweeping romance amidst devastating historical events, Doctor Zhivago saw Sharif at his absolute finest, particularly when on screen with Christie.
Playing the romantic lead once again, Sharif was much more of a scoundrel in this fantastic biopic of fast-talking, but troubled comedienne Fanny Brice (Barbra Streisand). Of course, the film is all about Streisand, whose brash attitude and obvious talent make her an overnight Broadway star. While hailed on the Great White Way, Brice has trouble at home in the form of husband Nicky Arstein, a degenerate gambler who initially seduces her away from the follies. After winning a fortune in a poker game, Nicky marries Brice and they move into an expensive home, though she ultimately returns to the follies after they have a daughter. Meanwhile, Nicky—who by now how grown resentful of her fame—begins foolishly investing their money, forcing them to move from their luxurious home. Prideful to a fault, Nicky refuses to take money from Brice and becomes involved in a bonds scam that lands him in prison for embezzlement. While Streisand went on to win the Oscar for Best Actress, Sharif went on to appear in a series of disappointing films and never truly recovered the heights he reached in the 1960s.
1. 'Lawrence of Arabia' – 1962
After becoming famous in his native Egypt, Sharif was transformed into an international star with Lawrence of Arabia, his first English language film. Directed by David Lean, the film starred British actor Peter O'Toole as T.E. Lawrence, an enigmatic English officer who travels to Arabia to aid the Arabs in their rebellion against the Turks during the onset of World War I. Sharif played Sherif Ali, the leader of a tribe of Arabs at war with other Arabs who ultimately befriends Lawrence despite killing his Bedouin guide for drinking in his well. While the film belonged to O'Toole, Sharif earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor and emerged as a major star, thanks in part to making one of the most spectacular movie entrances in film history.
2. 'Genghis Khan' – 1965
Following a small role in the star-studded historical epic—and financial flop—The Fall of the Roman Empire, Sharif delivered a top notch performance as the titular Mongol emperor in this otherwise uneven biopic. Even though Sharif played Khan, actor Stephen Boyd received top billing as Jamuga, a mentor who turns into his chief rival following the Mongol's quest to conquer the civilized world. Making matters worse is Kahn's first wife, Börte (Francoise Dorleac), who comes between Genghis Khan and Jamuga following her capture. Not the most significant epic, Genghis Khan did offer Sharif to play a rare leading Hollywood role with relish.
3. 'Doctor Zhivago' – 1965
Returning to Lean's stable, Sharif was once again one of the stars of a major Hollywood epic that was a major hit as well as the recipient of 10 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director. This time, Sharif received top billing alongside Julie Christie in this period epic set during World War I and the Russian Revolution. Adapted from the acclaimed novel by Boris Pasternak, Doctor Zhivago followed the major upheaval of the war and revolution as seen through the eyes of Russian poet and medical student Yuri Zhivago (Sharif), who's married to Tonya (Geraldine Chaplain), but has an affair with Lara (Christie), with whom he tends to the wounded during the February Revolution. Meanwhile, Zhivago finds himself caught between his half-brother Yevgraf (Alec Guinness) and the revenge-minded Strelnikoff (Tom Courteney), both representing two very different sides to the revolution. Often compared to Gone With the Wind for its sweeping romance amidst devastating historical events, Doctor Zhivago saw Sharif at his absolute finest, particularly when on screen with Christie.
4. 'Funny Girl' – 1968
Playing the romantic lead once again, Sharif was much more of a scoundrel in this fantastic biopic of fast-talking, but troubled comedienne Fanny Brice (Barbra Streisand). Of course, the film is all about Streisand, whose brash attitude and obvious talent make her an overnight Broadway star. While hailed on the Great White Way, Brice has trouble at home in the form of husband Nicky Arstein, a degenerate gambler who initially seduces her away from the follies. After winning a fortune in a poker game, Nicky marries Brice and they move into an expensive home, though she ultimately returns to the follies after they have a daughter. Meanwhile, Nicky—who by now how grown resentful of her fame—begins foolishly investing their money, forcing them to move from their luxurious home. Prideful to a fault, Nicky refuses to take money from Brice and becomes involved in a bonds scam that lands him in prison for embezzlement. While Streisand went on to win the Oscar for Best Actress, Sharif went on to appear in a series of disappointing films and never truly recovered the heights he reached in the 1960s.