The Lawrence of Arabia star was a larger than life personality.
Much like many people of a certain age, I was raised by a father who had Lawrence of Arabia on repeat viewing so the news of Omar Sharif’s passing was particularly poignant.
The Egyptian actor passed away after suffering a heart attack in his native Cairo but his legacy will live on, mainly through an impressive body of work that includes Doctor Zhivago and Funny Girl among others, but his status as a Hollywood icon will be cemented by the stories told about him.
RTE journalist Philip Boucher-Hayes paid Sharif a lovely tribute on Twitter as he recalled a meeting that he had with the Golden Globe winning actor in Cairo.
Here’s the story in full detail.
13 years ago I was in a night club in Cairo when a man who looked very like Omar Sharif walked in.
"He's the spit of yer man Sharif" I said.— Philip Boucher-Hayes (@boucherhayes) July 10, 2015
"That is Omar Sharif you fool"
"What are the chances" I said. I bought him a drink and asked would he give RTÉ an interview.
"My pleasure"— Philip Boucher-Hayes (@boucherhayes) July 10, 2015
We fell in to very easy, friendly conversation. He particularly relished telling me about his love woes. "I married the love of my life …
— Philip Boucher-Hayes (@boucherhayes) July 10, 2015
"… here in Cairo. Then David Lean made me a Hollywood star and I went there to be tempted by all of these actresses of outstanding …"
— Philip Boucher-Hayes (@boucherhayes) July 10, 2015
"… beauty. I never cheated on my wife but I knew it was only a matter of time. So I said to her. 'My darling I must leave you before … "
— Philip Boucher-Hayes (@boucherhayes) July 10, 2015
"'…I dishonour you'. And we were divorced."
*large sigh and turns directly to me*
"That is my single biggest regret, young man"
— Philip Boucher-Hayes (@boucherhayes) July 10, 2015
"Why so?"
"Because I never found that kind of love with any of those beauties again. A colossal folly. I was a callow young man"
— Philip Boucher-Hayes (@boucherhayes) July 10, 2015
I was at this point to a gin or two beyond discretion.
"Very sad. But on the upside you did go to bed with Julie Christie" I replied.
— Philip Boucher-Hayes (@boucherhayes) July 10, 2015
"Yes. I did, didn't I" he said with a slightly smug grin creeping across his face. "Get the champagne and I'll tell you how that happened."
— Philip Boucher-Hayes (@boucherhayes) July 10, 2015
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