Le chanteur marocain omar sharif biography lebanese

The most famous Arab actor in Hollywood, Omar Sharif, won global renown with his intense performance in David Lean's epic "Lawrence of Arabia" but then went on to essay roles as diverse as of iconic Soviet and Latin American revolutionaries, a German army officer, Genghis Khan, a Russian Tsar, a Pathan horseman and even an Indian Brigadier.

The varied roles of Sharif, whose 85th birth anniversary is on April 10, seem to mirror his unique life -- a Christian who converted to Islam for love, an Egyptian actor whose international career was made possible by a Jewish filmmaker from Hollywood, a champion player of contract bridge, writing a regular syndicated column and several books on the game, and among those who advised George W.

Bush against invading Iraq.

Born Michel Demetri Chalhoub on April 10, 1932, in a Catholic family of Lebanese and Syrian descent, Sharif, after a spell in his father's lumber business, decided to make his career in films.