Omar Sharif Suffering Alzheimer's

A number of press reports have stated , on behalf of his son Tarek, that Egyptian actor Omar Sharif is suffering from the neurodegenerative disease called Alzheimer's disease.

Tarek announced the news for the first time in an interview with the Spanish magazine El Mundo, and confirmed that this has been the reason behind his disappearance from the screen lately.

The statements were also reported by The Telegraph, to which Tarek added that his father has been diagnosed with the disease three years ago, and that he has been facing difficulties in recalling his roles and films and has been mixing up their names and forgetting where they were filmed.

Tarek added that it is difficult to determine which stage has his father reached regarding the disease, and that he has been reluctant to perform daily exercise that could prevent the disease from advancing.

Regarding his relationships and social behaviour, Tarek mentioned that Sharif is totally aware that he is a very popular actor, but he usually now gets mixed up between his fans and his family members and close friends. He also added that he frequently asks about his ex-wife and long-time collaborator Faten Hamama, and that he does not recall that she has died last Januray.

Sharif enjoyed a prolific and highly versatile career, starring in numerous Egyptian, European and American films. He was nominated for an Academy Award once, and won three Golden Globes.