Israeli actor and singer Chaim Topol was announced dead by his family on March 8, 2023. The actor’s son has revealed that he died at his home in Israel. He was married to Galia Finkelstein and they had three children; a son, Omer Topol, and two daughters, Ady and Anat. His wife used to be a member of the Nahal troupe.
Known as first Israel to earn an Oscar nomination, Chaim Topol would be remembered for portraying Tevye in the stage musical Fiddler on the Roof. Besides that, he acted in several films and television series in Israel and abroad. Some of his notable films include Galileo (1975), For Your Eyes Only (1981), and Flash Gordon (1980).
Chaim Topol’s Biography
Chaim Topol was born in Tel Aviv to his father Jacob Topol and Imrela Rel on September 9, 1935. His father worked as a plasterer after he immigrated to Mandatory Palestine. He also served in the Haganah paramilitary organization. His mother worked as a seamstress.
The actor was raised with his two younger sisters in Florentin’s South Tel Aviv working-class neighborhood. While in elementary school, his teacher encouraged him to act in school plays and read stories to his classmates.
At the age of 14, Topol started working as a printer at the Davar newspaper and at the same time pursuing his high school studies at night. By the time he graduated from high school, he moved to Kibbutz Geva.
A year after his graduation, he was enlisted in the Israeli army and at the same time became a member of the Nahal entertainment troupe. He soon rose to the troupe commander. He later got discharged from military service.
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He was married to Galia Finkelstein for Almost 67 Years
Shortly before the actor got discharged from military service, he married a fellow Nahal Troupe member and actress, Galia Finkelstein. The pair then went to settle in Kibbutz where Topol decided to work as a garage mechanic to support his family.
Topol and his wife Galia had three children, a son Omer Topol and two daughters Anat and Ady.
His wife is also an actress and has starred in quite a number of big-budget movies in Israel.
Chaim Topol’s Cause Of Death
In June 2022, the actor’s only son Omer revealed to the public that the famed actor was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Also, there are other sources that claimed the actor suffered from dementia during his final years.
In the early hours of March 8, 2023, his family came out to say that he was living his final hours and the family’s privacy should be respected. Shortly after the announcement, Chaim Topol died while surrounded by his loved ones.
Other Facts about Chaim Topol
1. The actor had his breakthrough role in 1964
Often regarded as Israel’s most successful global entertainer, Chaim Topol started performing with the Batzal Yarok satirical theatre company between 1960 to 1964. He later co-founded the Haifa Municipal Theatre.
He continued to act in several theatres until he landed his breakthrough role came in 1964 as the title character in Sallah Shabati. His role in the movie earned him a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer. With this success, he went on to appear in several movies in Israel and the USA.
He soon became the only Israeli to gain international recognition from the 1960s down to the 1980s. In 1966, Topol made his English language film debut in the Mickey Marcus biopic Cast a Giant Shadow.
His portrayal of Tevye the Dairyman both on stage and on screen in Fiddler on the Roof made him more popular. He reportedly acted and played the character more than 3,500 times in different theatres.
Other movies and television series the actor starred in include:
- El Dorado 1963
- Ervinka 1967
- Before Winter Comes 1969
- SeaQuest DSV 1993
- Time Elevator 1998
- Inside For Your Eyes Only 2000
- Fiddler on the Roof: 30 years of Tradition 2001
- Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles 2019
2. Besides acting, he was also a singer and an illustrator
The highly talented actor was a baritone. He recorded several singles and albums including soundtracks for films, war, and children’s songs. Some of them include:
- Topol With Roger Webb And His Orchestra – Topol ’68 (1967)
- Topol Sings Israeli Freedom Songs (1967)
- Topol’s Israel (1984)
- The soundtrack for Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
As an illustrator, Topol, as he is popularly called, illustrated about 25 books in both Hebrew and English. He also made sketches of some Israeli presidents were reproduced in a 2013 stamp series. He also produced drawings of Israeli national figures.
3. His daughter is also an actress
According to reports, one of Chaim Topol’s daughters Anat is also an actress. She played the role of Chava in a 1995 production of Fiddler on the Roof alongside Topol. Other movies Anat has appeared in include: Witchcraft (1988), Joshua Tree (1993), and Witchcraft II: The Temptress (1989).
4. He was the founder of Variety Israel, a Children’s Charity Organization
Chaim Topol founded Variety Israel in 1967. The organization’s aim was to support children with special needs. He was also the co-founder and chairman of the board of Jordan River Village.
5. The actor received numerous actors and recognition during his lifetime
Due to his contribution to Israeli culture, he was named an Outstanding Member of the Israel Festival in 2008. Also, in 2014, the University of Haifa conferred upon him an honorary degree in recognition of his 50 years of activity in Israel’s cultural and public life.
Again in 2015, he received the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement. He also received the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement in 2015.
In addition to the recognition, he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his 1971 film portrayal of Tevye.
