Omar Sharif, ‘Lawrence Of Arabia’ Actor, Suffering From Alzheimer’s

Omar Sharif, the iconic actor who starred in Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Omar Sharif’s Alzheimer’s

Sharif’s son Tarek El-Sharif told Spanish newspaper El Mundo about his father’s illness over the weekend. The news was confirmed by Sharif’s agent Steve Kenis on Monday to the Los Angeles Times.

According to Kenis, Sharif is resting at his home in his native Egypt.

Sharif, 83, burst onto the Hollywood acting scene in 1962 when he took on his first English-speaking role in Lawrence of Arabia opposite Peter O’Toole. The part saw Sharif earn a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award nomination.

Sharif continued his impressive Hollywood run with the lead in Doctor Zhivago in 1965. In 1968, he starred opposite Barbra Streisand in Funny Girl. 

In addition to his acting work, Sharif was once among the world’s most famous contract bridge players and co-wrote a syndicated column on the game.