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Omar Sharif Diagnosed With Alzheimer's

Omar Sharif Diagnosed With Alzheimer's

Lawrence Of Arabia star Omar Sharif has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, it has been revealed.

The 83-year-old actor's agent Steve Kenis confirmed the news to the Associated Press after his son Tarek Sharif revealed the diagnosis in an interview with a Spanish newspaper on 23 May.

No details about his condition or care have been given.

Egyptian-born Sharif rose to international stardom with his role in the 1962 epic Lawrence Of Arabia - his first English-language film.

He earned an Oscar nomination for his turn as Sherif Ali in David Lean's iconic film opposite Peter O'Toole.

Sharif followed the breakthrough performance with the title role in Lean's Doctor Zhivago, co-starring Julie Christie.

He then played Fanny Brice's husband, Nicky Arnstein, in Funny Girl alongside Barbra Streisand.

His last completed feature film credits were in 2013.