By Joseph N. Manago
We saw his star at its rising in the Middle East, and today we remember the excellence of his artistic performances in such memorable films as “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962), “Doctor Zhivago” (1965) and my favorite, “Funny Girl” (1968): Omar Sharif (1932-2015).
Omar Sharif was born Michel Demitri Chalhoub in Alexandria, Egypt as a Melkite Greek Catholic of Lebanese descent (later he became a Muslim convert through marriage), and graduated from Cairo University with a degree in mathematics and physics. Sharif—a linguist who spoke Arabic, English, Greek, Italian, French, and Spanish—studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and was the recipient of three Golden Globe Awards and the Cesar Award (France).
But the role of Sharif’s that I enjoyed the most was that of the gambler Nicky Arnstein, Fanny Brice’s (Barbra Streisand) amour in “Funny Girl.” At the end of the film, Sharif’s character said he “thought” a lot when incarcerated about his past and future with Fanny, while Fanny “felt” a lot. His demeanor spoke a thousand words in the denouement accompanied by the final musical scene of Streisand’s rendition of “My Man” (Maurice Yvain and Channing Pollock): “Oh, my man I love him so, he’ll never know. . . For whatever my man is I am his forever more!”
Only one man could have portrayed that role to perfection. Only one actress could have sung that song to that one man. Rest in peace, Omar Sharif.
Joseph N. Manago
Flushing
