Egyptian-born cinema legend Omar Sharif has passed away on Friday afternoon due to a heart attack at the age of 83, reported his agent Steve Kenis. The news follows recent reports of his battle with Alzheimer’s. Throughout more than five decades, Sharif’s contributions to Egyptian and world cinema have claimed international recognition. Sharif’s acting career started in 1954 with his participation in “Sira’ Fil Wadi” (Struggle in the Valley), a movie that combined several other greats such as veteran director Youssef Chahine and Faten Hamama -who later became Sharif’s wife, mother of his only child and ex-wife. However, it wasn’t until 1961 that Sharif’s name was internationally acclaimed for his role alongside Peter O’Toole in David Lean’s “Lawrence of Arabia” as the princely Sherif Ali. Only four years later, in 1965, he joined director David Lean for the movie “Doctor Zhivago” where he starred as Yuri Zhivago. Omar Sharif has won two Golden Globes for his performance in Lawrence of Arabia and one Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in Doctor Zhivago. Earlier in May, the legendary actor announced that he would retire after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. “My father…
