11 July,2015 08:48 AM IST | | Agencies
Actors Antonio Banderas, Vincent D’Onofrio and German director Roland Emmerich, among other Hollywood greats, paid homage to legendary actor Omar Sharif, who died of a heart attack on Friday at a Cairo hospital. He was 83
Omar Sharif
Actors Antonio Banderas, Vincent D'Onofrio and German director Roland Emmerich, among other Hollywood greats, paid homage to legendary actor Omar Sharif, who died of a heart attack on Friday at a Cairo hospital. He was 83.
His agent, Steve Kenis, who informed the media about the tragic news, also confirmed that Sharif, best known for his portrayal of Doctor Zhivago in the hit 1966 film and for his work in Lawrence of Arabia, was suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
Sharif was one of the few Arab actors to make it big in Hollywood. Tributes were quick to flow on social media. Egyptian actor Khaled El Nabawy said on his Twitter feed, @KhaledElNabawy: "RIP OMAR SHARIF, Good bye to a living legend, good bye to a source of inspiration for generations to come."
German director Roland Emmerich, who helmed Sharif's 2008 film, 10,000 BC, took to Twitter to pay tribute. "Very saddened by the passing of Omar Sharif. Blessed that I was able to work with such a legend. Love to the family," he wrote.
While, Banderas, on his Twitter page wrote: "My great friend Omar Sharif has passed away. I will always miss him. He was one of the best,".
"#OmarSharif will be missed. I have watched this graceful, this wonderful actor since I was a child. I salute him," said veteran actor Vincent D'Onofrio.
