People: ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ star Omar Sharif fighting Alzheimer’s disease
Legendary “Lawrence of Arabia” actor Omar Sharif is battling Alzheimer’s disease, his agent Steve Kenis confirmed to the Associated Press on Monday.
No additional details were provided about the 83-year-old or his care. His son, Tarek Sharif, revealed the diagnosis in an interview with Spanish newspaper El Mundo on Saturday.
The Egyptian-born Sharif rose to international stardom with his role in the 1962 epic “Lawrence of Arabia” – Sharif’s first English-language film. He earned an Oscar nomination for his turn as Sherif Ali in David Lean’s iconic film opposite Peter O’Toole.
Sharif followed the breakthrough performance with the title role in Lean’s “Doctor Zhivago,” co-starring Julie Christie. He then played Fanny Brice’s husband, Nicky Arnstein, in “Funny Girl” alongside Barbra Streisand. His last completed feature film credits were in 2013.
Letterman enjoys tribute at racetrack
David Letterman has a new No. 1 on his personal Top Ten list of reasons he loves the Indianapolis 500.
The freshly retired Letterman was all grins early Sunday as his IndyCar team paid tribute to the former “Late Show” host by putting a gap-toothed, smiling caricature of his face and #thanksdave on driver Oriol Servia’s yellow car for the big race.
“With everything that’s happened, it’s the highlight of my career,” Letterman said. “It’s crazy it’s the Indianapolis 500. Regrettable my face, but also my name on that car. It’s just delightful.”
Servia was knocked out of the running with an accident just past the halfway point of the race. But the race wasn’t a total bust for the team, with Graham Rahal finishing fifth in the Indy 500.
King’s daughters allege poisoning
Two B.B. King heirs who’ve been most outspoken about the blues legend’s care in his final days are accusing King’s two closest aides of poisoning him.
Las Vegas police homicide detectives are investigating, Lt. Ray Steiber said Monday.
Daughters Karen Williams and Patty King allege that family members were prevented from visiting while King’s business manager, LaVerne Toney, and his personal assistant, Myron Johnson, hastened their father’s death.
“I believe my father was poisoned and that he was administered foreign substances,” Patty King and Williams say in identically worded sections of affidavits provided to the Associated Press by their lawyer, Larissa Drohobyczer.
“I believe my father was murdered,” they say.
“They’ve been making allegations all along. What’s new?” said Toney, who worked for King for 39 years and had power-of-attorney over his affairs.
The birthday bunch
Actor Alec McCowen is 90. Singer Stevie Nicks is 67. Actress Pam Grier is 66. Country singer Hank Williams Jr. is 66. Actress Genie Francis is 53. Singer-actor Lenny Kravitz is 51. Actress Helena Bonham Carter is 49.