Chaim Topol dies: ‘Tevye’ in stage and film versions of ‘Fiddler On The Roof’ turns 87

Chaim Topol, an Israeli actor best known for his role as Tevye in the film version of violinist on the roof died Thursday in Tel Aviv at the age of 87 after a year-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Topol had a variety of credits, but will always be known for being the central character of Tevye – first in stage productions, then in film. He later returned to the stage with the role.

Born in Tel Aviv in 1935, Topol began his acting career while serving in the IDF in the Army Entertainment Group, where he met his wife Galia. He then joined a theater company and acted in several productions for his first film role, the 1961 drama. i like mike

But that was his role in the 1964 film Salah Shabbat It was the first time Topol received serious attention, both nationally and internationally. Topol played the title role in the now legendary film about the plight of a Mizrahi immigrant family living in a transit camp.

The film was a major domestic success, winning the Golden Globes for Best Foreign Language Film and becoming Israel’s first Academy Award nomination in the international film category. A year later, Topol landed a small role in the 1966 American big-budget production. Casts a large shadow.

He played Tevye in Israel’s Hebrew version of “Fiddler” when he landed the same role in a British theater production. He first appeared in 1967 and did hundreds of shows as Tevye.

Director Norman Jewison watched one of the screenings and decided Topol was the man for the film version. He starred in the 1971 adaptation, which was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Topol.

Topol has acted in several dozen films in Israel and the US, including a role in the 1981 Bond film, Intended for your eyes only. He also played the scientist Galileo Galilei in the 1975 film Galileoand was in the 1980 film Flash Gordon.

But as he later revealed, he played Tevye in more than 3,500 productions.

He is survived by his wife, Galia (67), along with his three children and several grandchildren.