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Oscars: Kirk Douglas versus Omar Sharif’s grandson

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Kirk Douglas and Omar Sharif never tangled on screen together in one of those sand-and-sandal epics that made them famous such as ‘Spartacus’ and ‘Lawrence of Arabia,’ but they kind of, sort of, almost came close on the Oscars’ stage on Sunday.

Fighting with Doulgas over his cane was Omar Sharif’s grandson of the same name. The 27-year-old had been tapped to escort Douglas out on stage so he could present the award for supporting actress. Their shtick over Douglas’ walking stick wasn’t preplanned.

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‘At rehearsal two days earlier, he just read his lines and handed me his cane,’ Sharif said in a phone call on Monday. ‘A few hours before the show, he told me, ‘If we get you more involved, just play along.’’

They ended up wrestling over the cane, going hand over hand until Sharif landed the last hand on top. ‘I always lose,’ Douglas harrumphed as Sharif took the cane away and Douglas steadied himself against the podium.

Douglas never starred opposite the elder Sharif, but he told his namesake without elaborating further, ‘I remember your grandfather.’ Now grandson lives in Los Angeles where he’s just begun to pursue an acting career.

‘I studied at Lee Strasberg Institute and now I take some private classes,’ he said.

Sharif doesn’t know if his famous grandfather saw him on the Oscarcast. ‘I haven’t heard from him yet,’ he says. ‘He was in Spain working a few days ago, then heading back to Egypt. Everything’s very turbulent over there. I don’t know if he saw the Oscar show and I don’t know if he knows that I was on it. I’m sure I’ll find out soon.’

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-- Tom O’Neil

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