Farewell, Good Doctor

Another bummer in the news today, the passing of Omar Sharif, nee Michel Shalhoub, who had perhaps the best entrance in any film:





It takes quite a talent to steal a film from Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, and Anthony Quinn, but Omar Sharif damn near pulled it off in Lawrence of Arabia, the sprawling, epic adaptation of T.E. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the sort of book that is perfectly suited for occupying one's time while one works a summer job involving very little responsibility.

Having been taught to play contract bridge by my parents at a young age, I associated Omar Sharif with his syndicated bridge column as much as I did with his acting career. It was always a hoot to me seeing the name of this famous actor in the newspaper, above the four hands depicted in each column.

I hope he's got a good partner in the afterlife.