Screen legend Omar Sharif dies

OMAR SHARIF, the Egyptian born actor who became an international screen star, has died aged 83.
He was best known for his roles in Lawrence of Arabia – shot largely in Spain’s Almeria province – and Dr Zhivago.
He won two Golden Globe awards plus an Oscar nomination for his performance as Sherif Ali opposite Peter O’Toole in the 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia.
Dr Zhivago, in which he starred with Julie Christie, won him another Golden Globe.
Today, Friday July 10, his agent Steve Kenis said: “He suffered a heart attack this afternoon in a hospital in Cairo.”
Mr Sharif had retreated from public life with it being confirmed earlier this year that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.
Mr Sharif returned to Almeria in 2012 for the 50th anniversary of the David Lean movie that made his name, Lawrence of Arabia. While in the city, a star in his name on the city’s walk of fame was unveiled. He said at the ceremony: “Without Almeria there would have been no Omar Sharif.”
In a dual career Mr Sharif became one of the world’s best-known Contract Bridge players. In 1967 he formed a group called the Omar Sharif Bridge Circus which toured the world.
He was born on April 10, 1932 as Michel Demetri Chalhoub in Alexandria to a family of Lebanese descent.