This Is Your Life: Omar Sharif

Omar SHARIF (1932-2015)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Omar Sharif, actor, was surprised by Michael Aspel on the street outside his apartment in Paris.

Omar, who was born Michel Dimitri Chalhoub in Alexandria, Egypt, began his acting career in his native country in the mid 1950s, appearing in several films with his actress wife, Faten Hamama, including the 1954 production The Blazing Sun, which was chosen to represent Egypt at the Cannes film festival.

His first English language role was in David Lean's 1962 historical epic Lawrence of Arabia - a role which made him a star and earned him an Academy Award nomination of Best Supporting Actor. His other notable films are Doctor Zhivago, Funny Girl and Mayerling.

"Oh my god, you're joking? Oh how wonderful. It's wonderful - I'm very excited!"

programme details...

Edition No: 758
Subject No: 750
Broadcast date: Wed 25 Oct 1989
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Mon 16 Oct 1989
Venue: Royalty Theatre
Series: 30
Edition: 1
Code name: Sand

on the guest list...

Nicholas Parsons
Neil Durden-Smith
Bill Tidy
Fred Rumsey
John Price
Judith Chalmers
Tarek - son
Martina - Tarek's fiancée
Nadia - stepdaughter
Hamed - Nadia's husband
Magda - sister
Alexander - brother-in-law
Marwen Labeeb
Peter O'Toole
Robert Morley
Claire - mother
Julie Andrews
David Lean
Rod Steiger
Karen Black
Anne Archer
James Coburn
Peter Ustinov
Omar - grandson

production team...

Researcher: Sue Green
Writer: Roy Bottomley
Directors: Brian Klein, Paul Kirrage
Associate Producer: John Graham
Producer: Malcolm Morris

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

The Glamorous Life

Hollywood in the spotlight

Behind the Scenes

the programme's best kept secrets

Screenshots of Omar Sharif This Is Your Life

Scriptwriter Roy Bottomley recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, This Is Your Life: The Story of Television's Famous Big Red Book...

We went to Paris to surprise one of the most romantic stars of the last thirty years – Omar Sharif. Michael Aspel was waiting as he stepped out of the apartment block where he lives.

Then it was a flight back to London to hear from Sir David Lean, Rod Steiger, James Coburn and, of course, Peter O'Toole from Lawrence of Arabia and Night of the Generals.

When we filmed in Omar's home city of Cairo – where we heard he was such a good soccer player he could have played for his country – our camera crew got beaten up. The director had offended some religious fanatics by 'dirtying up' a traditional robe for a piece of 'character' filming.

Where was 'Lara' the night we surprised 'Dr Zhivago'? Alas, reclusive Julie Christie was not even able to film a message the night of the Life of Omar Sharif, though Rod Steiger and director Sir David Lean managed to do so. But for the many viewers who enquired of Miss Christie, we did ask.

Series 30 subjects