EGYPT: Even Dr. Zhivago is piling on against Mubarak regime
One of the Arab world's classic heartthrobs has lent his support to the popular protest movement sweeping Egypt.
Omar Sharif, the Egyptian icon best known to Americans for his roles in "Lawrence of Arabia," "Doctor Zhivago" and "Funny Girl," reportedly told France Inter radio Monday that President Hosni Mubarak should step down.
"Given that the entire Egyptian people don't want him and he's been in power for 30 years, that's enough," Sharif said, according to Reuters.
Protests in Egypt entered their seventh day Monday as the government intensified its media crackdown. At least 100 people have been killed in clashes with security forces since the protests began.
"The president hasn't improved the standard of living of Egyptians. There are some people that are very rich -- maybe 1% -- and the rest are all poor trying to find food," Sharif said, but added that he is worried about the influence the Muslim Brotherhood could have in a post-Mubarak era.
The Muslim Brotherhood "were trapped and now are starting to come out," he said. "They have 20% of the population and it's frightening for me."
Sharif was born in 1932 to a wealthy Christian family in Alexandria and grew up during the port city's heyday as a cosmopolitan melting pot of religions and ethnicities, combining Arab, Greek, Italian, Lebanese, Jewish, Christian and Muslim influences.
--Meris Lutz in Beirut
Photo: Egyptian film great Omar Sharif in "Lawrence of Arabia." Credit: Columbia Pictures
Omar's birth name was Michel Shalhoob, born to a Christian Lebanese family from Zahley. He changed his name to harm Omar Sharrif because he could not work in film with a Christian name like Michel Shalhoob in Nasserist Egypt,and a Lebanese one at that...
Posted by: Leila Ahmad | January 31, 2011 at 01:54 PM
LOL. Loving Carrieann and Alejandro Salazar's comments. Omar Sharif is the token white man's "egyptian." He represents those top 1% elites, who usually leave the country, and establish themselves elsewhere.
Posted by: sophie | January 31, 2011 at 08:20 AM
Omar should know -- he's been entrenched with the Egyptians -- his people -- for years -- even tho he lives in France now.
Posted by: Carrieann | January 31, 2011 at 08:10 AM
Who cares what that decrepid has-been thinks? He's too busy beating up parking lot attendants.
Posted by: hf2hvit | January 31, 2011 at 08:10 AM
I was on the fence on that one, but if Omar Sharif says Mubarak has to go than he has to go. LA times also should inquire what Carrot Top thinks about it. How about Robin Williams ?
Posted by: Alejandro Salazar | January 31, 2011 at 07:26 AM
Glad to hear Omar is a Christian.
Posted by: Socorro Varela | January 31, 2011 at 07:16 AM
He was so good in Funny Girl.
Posted by: Criminy | January 31, 2011 at 07:09 AM