Chaim Topol, the Israeli actor best known for his portrayal of Tevi in ”Fiddler on the Roof,” has died in Tel Aviv at the age of 87, Israeli leaders confirmed Thursday.
Last year, according to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Topol’s son Omar shared that his father had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, although the cause of his death was not immediately known.
Topol’s role in Tevye earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role in 1973, along with a Golden Globe win for Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical.
Silver Screen Collection / Getty Images
According to the Associated Press, Topol has performed the role of Tevye more than 3,500 times on stage, and even as recently as 2009.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog mourned the actor’s death, calling him “one of the giants of Israeli culture”.
From Flute on the Roof to the Roof of the World, Haim Topol, who has left us, was one of the outstanding artists of the Israeli stage, a gifted actor who conquered many stages in Israel and abroad, filling the cinema screens with his. presence and above all penetrated deep into our hearts.
— Isaac Herzog Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) March 9, 2023
Herzog described Topol as “a gifted actor who has conquered many stages in Israel and abroad, filled the cinema screen with his presence and, above all, penetrated deep into our hearts.”
In 2015, Topol was awarded the Israel Prize for Achievement, the highest cultural honor the state can bestow.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed his condolences, writing on Twitter, “My wife Sara and I, like all citizens of Israel, say goodbye today to our beloved Haim Topol with deep pain.”
Netanyahu called Topol a “versatile artist, with great charisma and energy” and “a huge heart”.
My wife Sara and I, like all citizens of Israel, say goodbye today with deep pain to our beloved Haim Topol – an audience favorite who was one of the greatest artists of the State of Israel.
He was one of the greatest lovers of the land of Israel, and the people of Israel returned his love.
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) March 9, 2023
In 1991, Topol’s portrayal of Tevye in the Broadway production of “Fiddler on the Roof” earned him a Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical.
Additionally, Topol won the Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer for her role in the 1964 Israeli film “Salla.”
He is also known for his roles in the early 1980s films “Flash Gordon” and “For Your Eyes Only” and for his ongoing philanthropy as president of Jordan River Village, a charity for sick Israeli children.
According to the BBC, he is survived by his wife and three children.
Trending news
C nuts
