What the famous actor wasn’t known for is what he loved the most.
For millions of moviegoers around the world, Omar Sharif was one of the most recognizable and charismatic actors of the twentieth century. Blessed with striking looks, undeniable talent, and a commanding screen presence, he became the first Egyptian actor to achieve lasting success in Hollywood.
But while audiences knew him as an international film star, Sharif saw himself differently. Acting was his profession. Bridge was his passion.
Born in Egypt, Sharif began his acting career during the 1950s. International fame soon followed. During the 1960s, he starred in a remarkable series of films, including Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Doctor Zhivago (1965), and Funny Girl (1968). He also portrayed historical figures in films such as Genghis Khan (1965), The Mamelukes (1965), and Che! (1969).
Throughout his career, Sharif displayed impressive versatility. He appeared in dramas such as The Night of the Generals (1967), Mayerling (1968), McKenna’s Gold (1969), The Tamarind Seed (1974), and Funny Lady (1975). He even demonstrated his flair for comedy in The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976) and Top Secret! (1984).
Yet, for all his success in front of the camera, Sharif’s greatest love was discovered almost by accident.
One day, while waiting idly on a movie set, he came across a book about bridge. Curious, he picked it up and began reading. That chance encounter changed the course of his life. Before long, he was immersed in every aspect of the game, from casual rubber bridge to the intense competition of duplicate bridge.
His devotion quickly became serious. In 1964, Sharif represented the United Arab Republic in the World Bridge Olympiad. Four years later, he captained the Egyptian team in the World Team Olympiad. Although his teams finished in the middle of the standings, Sharif’s enthusiasm for the game never diminished.
In 1967, he launched the Omar Sharif Bridge Circus, an ambitious venture designed to promote bridge around the world. Featuring many of the game’s greatest players, the traveling exhibition attracted large audiences in Europe and North America and helped introduce countless newcomers to the game.
Sharif’s appetite for competition was legendary. In 1970, he participated in an extraordinary 80-rubber match at London’s famous Piccadilly Hotel against British bridge experts Jeremy Flint and Jonathan Cansino. The stakes were an astonishing £1 per point. Although Sharif won £7,000, he simultaneously suffered losses totaling approximately £100,000.
Bridge eventually became far more than a hobby. Sharif wrote numerous books on the subject, including Omar Sharif’s Life in Bridge (1983), Play Bridge with Omar Sharif (1990), Play More Bridge with Omar Sharif (1994), and Omar Sharif Talks Bridge (2004). He also wrote a syndicated newspaper column for the Chicago Tribune, assisted by renowned bridge experts Charles Goren and Tannah Hirsch.
His influence extended into the digital age as well. In 1992, he licensed his own video game, Omar Sharif Bridge, introducing a new generation of players to the game he loved.
Sharif concentrating on the game (photo courtesy ITVX)
Sharif remained active in international bridge competition throughout the 1990s. In 1990, the Omar Sharif World Individual Championship featured a record-breaking prize fund of $200,000, the largest purse in the history of bridge at the time. He later participated in major competitions in Yokohama, Tunisia, Malta, and Maastricht, continuing to demonstrate his enduring commitment to the game.
Eventually, however, Sharif decided to walk away.
During the early years of the twenty-first century, he admitted that bridge had become an addiction. Along with his interests in horse racing and gambling, the game had consumed too much of his time and attention. He later reflected that he had spent too much of his life balancing two worlds and too little time with the people who mattered most.
When Omar Sharif died in 2015 at the age of 83, tributes poured in from across the globe. Most celebrated his accomplishments as an actor. Others remembered the elegance, intelligence, and passion he brought to the bridge table.
Perhaps the most fitting tribute, however, came from Sharif himself: “Acting may be my business, but bridge is my passion.”
Few individuals have ever excelled so brilliantly in two entirely different arenas. Omar Sharif was one of them.
