This is a week for repeats here on FiftyFourAndAHalf.com. Sorry.
But when I learned a little while ago that actor Omar Sharif died of a heart attack today, well, I thought I’d re-run this story, which isn’t mine, and which I love.
It’s a story that was told to me by Omar Sharif. Sadly, it was in an interview on TV that I saw many years ago, and not in person.
“I was sitting there on the set of Lawrence,” said Omar of his first meeting with co-star and newbie actor, Peter O’Toole. And this tall blond man I’d never seen before walked up to me and introduced himself.”
“‘I’m Peter, Peter O’Toole,’ he told me.
“I’m Omar Sharif,” I responded reaching out to shake his hand.
And then Peter responded, with an impish, Irish grin on his face:
“‘Nobody is named ‘Omar.’ I shall call you ‘Fred.'”
And with a toss of his head and a resounding laugh, Fred Sharif concluded: “and he did!”
You’re going to call me WHAT??? Photo Credit, Irish Times
As the daughter, granddaughter and sister of Freds, I love this story.
RIP, Fred. I hope you are off riding camels again with Peter.
FiftyFourandAHalf 