Actor Omar Sharif Is Battling Alzheimer’s Disease
Actor Omar Sharif is battling Alzheimer’s disease. His agent, Steve Kenis, confirmed the news about the actor’s condition. Sharif, who has been in films like Doctor Zhivago and Lawrence of Arabia, has been battling the disease.
The actor’s son, Tarek Sharif spoke to a Spanish newspaper on Monday, revealing his father’s crippling condition.
Film icon Omar Sharif has Alzheimer’s, son says http://t.co/k97bJeKKY9 #oldhollywood #actoractress pic.twitter.com/XLMIiq8TcO
— OH NO THEY DIDN’T (@ohnotheydidnt) May 24, 2015
Omar Sharif’s son told Spain’s El Mundo about his condition. “It’s difficult to determine what stage it’s at. It’s obvious he’ll never improve and it will get worse.”
Three-time Egyptian Golden Globe Winner Omar Sharif ‘Has Alzheimer’s’ http://t.co/KOa06ucc07 #Egypt #Cinema pic.twitter.com/UZtEUXWECe
— Egyptian Streets (@EgyptianStreets) May 24, 2015
Currently the actor is experiencing memory problems, which is one of many symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Tarek detailed his troubles to the paper, “He still knows he’s a famous actor. The loss of memory affects above all specific things, details like when he was in a specific place or who he acted with in a specific film.”
He continued, “He remembers, for example, that it was Doctor Zhivago but he’s forgotten when it was filmed. He can talk about the film but he forgets its name or he calls it something else instead like Lawrence of Arabia.”
His agent, Kenis, told the Associated Press “Omar is suffering from Alzheimer’s. I don’t know much else. He’s living in Egypt these days and he is being looked after by his son Tarek and others.”
In addition to being a famous actor, Omar Sharif is also a renowned bridge player, writing books on the card game before he retired. Back in 2004, he won the French Cesar for his role in Monsieur Ibrahim et Les Fleurs du Coran. Winning a Cesar in France is comparable to winning an Oscar.
Omar Sharif isn’t the only actor to have suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. Some notable celebrities to battle Alzheimer’s disease are Glenn Campbell, Charles Bronson, Ronald Reagan, Charlton Heston, Norman Rockwell, Rita Hayworth, Sugar Ray Robinson, Peter Falk, and countless others.
Some of the actor’s other famous works include Funny Girl, Gulliver’s Travels, Che!, and No Tomorrow.
[Photo by Andrew H. Walker / Getty Images]
