Chaim Topol, Israeli singer and actor best known for his role in the musical ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ as Tevye the dairyman, has passed away at 87. Topol was globally known for his dancing, acting, and singing journey in the 1971 film version “If I Were A Rich Man” and other hits on screen and on stage.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted on Twitter, “My wife and I, and all the citizens of Israel, with deep pain, are parting from our dear Chaim Topol – loved by the audience and one of the great artists of Israel.”
Born in 1935 in Tel Aviv, Topol found a comedy cast after completing military service. In 1961 he featured in his first on-screen role in “I Like Mike” and won his first Golden Globe in 1964 for his part in the comedy film Sallah Shabbati.
Topol again stepped onto the red carpet for another Golden Globe award for his performance as Tevye for Best Actor in a Film Musical or Comedy and a Best Actor Oscar nomination.
“Topol was a gifted actor who conquered many stages in Israel and overseas, filled the cinema screens with his presence and especially entered deep into our hearts.” – stated Israel’s President Isaac Herzog.
In 1991 he reprised the role of Tevye in the Broadway revival of ‘Fiddler On the Roof’ which awarded him a nomination for Best Actor for a Tony Award. Topol once claimed that he had played this part more than 3,500 times globally on stages from the late 60s until 2009.
Omor Topol spoke about his father this week: “amazing actor who developed all kinds of tactics to cover up the problems that began to arise.”
“When he won the Israel Prize, his Alzheimer’s was in its early stages,” he confirmed. “He spoke wonderfully at the ceremony and also at other events, and no one even felt it.”
