Omar Sharif RIP

[Walt Zingmatilder]

Omar Sharif who starred in Epic films has passed on.

[trippymonkey]

83 I gather.
The handsome Egyptian is no more !!!!

[horsethorn]

Very sad Especially so soon after Christopher Lee. We seem to be losing a generation of wonderful actors.

But on a more positive note, Mrs ht's favourite film (Dr Zhivago) might be on again

ht

[Shaker]

Mrs. ht has excellent taste in her choice of films as well as spouses - it's one of my all-time favourites too. (Same goes for Lawrence of Arabia while we're at it).

[horsethorn]

    

ht

[Harrowby Hall]

I share the sentiments expressed by all of you, but I am saddened by the fact that, for him, the most important element of his life was gambling.

[Shaker]

Why? He enjoyed it and was good at it.

[BashfulAnthony]

Why? He enjoyed it and was good at it.

I don't know about the enjoyment, but he certainly lost millions gambling;  so he may not have been that good at it.

[Shaker]

Why? He enjoyed it and was good at it.

I don't know about the enjoyment

I don't claim know a lot, but I appear to know more than you. He wrote and published several books about the subject and even contributed to video games about it. That suggests to me he loved it, and would have given as short shrift as I do to the suggestion that he was some delicate little lily in thrall to something terrible.

but he certainly lost millions gambling; so he may not have been that good at it.

How much did he make, and did he die a pauper?

The man did what he enjoyed doing, whether in his particular case it was acting or contract bridge, and did it as long as he was able. There isn't much of a better epitaph than that.

[Rhiannon]

Why? He enjoyed it and was good at it.

I don't know about the enjoyment

I don't claim know a lot, but I appear to know more than you. He wrote and published several books about the subject and even contributed to video games about it. That suggests to me he loved it, and would have given as short shrift as I do to the suggestion that he was some delicate little lily in thrall to something terrible.

but he certainly lost millions gambling; so he may not have been that good at it.

How much did he make, and did he die a pauper?

The man did what he enjoyed doing, whether in his particular case it was acting or contract bridge, and did it as long as he was able. There isn't much of a better epitaph than that.

If, as HH suggests, it was the most important thing in his life, then it was an addiction. That's not remotely pretty for his loved ones. Been there, done that.

[Shaker]

HH only suggested that the late Mr Sharif saw gambling as the most important thing in his life, without a scrap of evidence.

As far as I'm aware he loved playing contract bridge and loved a go on the wheel, as do I in the latter case when I've been able. Good on him - he enjoyed it and didn't ruin himself or anybody else as far as I'm aware.

Why are some people such tight arses about the pleasures of other people that don't impinge upon them in any way and which they don't share? What is wrong with some people? Don't have an abortion because I don't like it. Don't marry the (same-sexed) love of your life because I don't like it. Don't die an easy, peaceful, painless, dignified death because I don't think you should. Don't read this book or see that opera or watch that play because I don't think you should. I am offended, and that makes me right.

What a bunch of bastards some people are, and nothing has made it as easy to be such as religion. Jane Austen said that half the world can't understand the pleasures of the other half. That's OK; don't try to understand, as you won't; just let people get on and do their thing. They won't bother you; don't bother them.

You will find this process far easier if you're not religious, and especialy if you're not a monotheist.

[BashfulAnthony]

Why? He enjoyed it and was good at it.

I don't know about the enjoyment

I don't claim know a lot, but I appear to know more than you. He wrote and published several books about the subject and even contributed to video games about it. That suggests to me he loved it, and would have given as short shrift as I do to the suggestion that he was some delicate little lily in thrall to something terrible.

but he certainly lost millions gambling; so he may not have been that good at it.

How much did he make, and did he die a pauper?

The man did what he enjoyed doing, whether in his particular case it was acting or contract bridge, and did it as long as he was able. There isn't much of a better epitaph than that.

Selfish and hedonistic . I wonder what effect his life-style had on those around him?  He certainly died, by all accounts, an unhappy man.  Very sad.

[Shaker]

I wonder what effect his life-style had on those around him?

Why don't you pull a complete guess out of your arse and set it up as established fact? That's what you normally do.

He certainly died, by all accounts, an unhappy man.

"Certainly" on what basis? Whose accounts?

[BashfulAnthony]

I wonder what effect his life-style had on those around him?

Why don't you pull a complete guess out of your arse and set it up as established fact? That's what you normally do.

He certainly died, by all accounts, an unhappy man.

"Certainly" on what basis? Whose accounts?

"The lonely Lothario: He bathed in bubbly, out-caroused O'Toole, seduced Hollywood co-stars galore and gambled away millions. But Omar Sharif squandered his talent - and died angry and alone."   Quoted from Tom Leonard, in New York.

So you know better?  Did you know him, or something?

[Shaker]

No - that's why I'm not making any comment on how he died. Unlike Tom Leonard - what are his sources and why do you believe him?

[BashfulAnthony]

No - that's why I'm not making any comment on how he died. Unlike Tom Leonard - what are his sources and why do you believe him?

Tom Leonard is the The Daily Telegraph's New York correspondent, and" specialises life in the Big Apple, and America's cultural scene."  So I guess he may have more insight than you.

[Shaker]

Not unless he was present at Sharif's death (unlikely - he died suddenly, of a heart attack ... not to mention the fact that while Mr Leonard is in New York, Mr Sharif died several thousand miles away in Cairo) or has been in touch with those who were present whose word he regards as honest and reliable.

Do either of those conditions apply?

[BashfulAnthony]

Not unless he was present at Sharif's death (unlikely - he died suddenly, of a heart attack) or has been in touch with those who were present whose word he regards as honest and reliable.

Do either of those conditions apply?

I rather doubt he would print such an opinion without good reason:  there are laws of libel.  And on what grounds, and with what knowledge, would you contradict his piece?

[Shaker]

You can't libel the dead.

I contradict it on the grounds that he has no more idea of the state of Sharif's mind than you do, and that it's merely sleazy, attention-whoring, sensationalist yellow journalism, particularly distasteful given that Sharif had been suffering from Alzheimer's 

[BashfulAnthony]

You can't libel the dead.

I contradict it on the grounds that he has no more idea of the state of Sharif's mind than you do, and that it's merely sleazy, attention-whoring, sensationalist yellow journalism, particularly distasteful given that Sharif had been suffering from Alzheimer's 

Well, his family might take issue with his view,  but it seems they have not; yet you, who know nothing, dotake issue.  On what grounds?  The Alzheimer's condition is not relevant to the argument.

[Shaker]

You can't libel the dead.

I contradict it on the grounds that he has no more idea of the state of Sharif's mind than you do, and that it's merely sleazy, attention-whoring, sensationalist yellow journalism, particularly distasteful given that Sharif had been suffering from Alzheimer's 

Well, his family might take issue with his view,  but it seems they have not; yet you, who know nothing, dotake issue.  On what grounds?

I've already told you.

The Alzheimer's condition is not relevant to the argument.

It couldn't be more relevant if it tried. On this thread it has been stated as fact that Mr Sharif died alone and angry (by some hack journo); it has been stated that he was selfish and hedonistic and died an unhappy man (by you); it has been implied that his great hobby, contract bridge, negatively affected his family - all baseless and ugly speculation.

You can't libel the dead, but this thread shows that you certainly make shit up and try to pass off opinion as fact.

[BashfulAnthony]

You can't libel the dead.

I contradict it on the grounds that he has no more idea of the state of Sharif's mind than you do, and that it's merely sleazy, attention-whoring, sensationalist yellow journalism, particularly distasteful given that Sharif had been suffering from Alzheimer's 

Tom Leonard is a well-respected poet, critic and writer, with a pedigree that probably out-shines even your wonderful credentials.  Again, I suggest he has more knowledge of Sharif than you have, which, of course, is nil.

[Shaker]

You can't libel the dead.

I contradict it on the grounds that he has no more idea of the state of Sharif's mind than you do, and that it's merely sleazy, attention-whoring, sensationalist yellow journalism, particularly distasteful given that Sharif had been suffering from Alzheimer's 

Tom Leonard is a well-respected poet, critic and writer, with a pedigree that probably out-shines even your wonderful credentials.  Again, I suggest he has more knowledge of Sharif than you have, which, of course, is nil.

What knowledge does Leonard have of Sharif's state of mind or the manner of his death?

[BashfulAnthony]

You can't libel the dead.

I contradict it on the grounds that he has no more idea of the state of Sharif's mind than you do, and that it's merely sleazy, attention-whoring, sensationalist yellow journalism, particularly distasteful given that Sharif had been suffering from Alzheimer's 

Tom Leonard is a well-respected poet, critic and writer, with a pedigree that probably out-shines even your wonderful credentials.  Again, I suggest he has more knowledge of Sharif than you have, which, of course, is nil.

What knowledge does Leonard have of Sharif's state of mind or the manner of his death?

Well, I don't know, but I suggest he would not make such comments in print, without some knowledge.. What knowledge do you have to refute his comments?  Please tell, and just an opinion is not enough.

[Nearly Sane]

Tom Leonard is a brilliant poet, but he is not the Tom Leonard who wrote the article for the Mail