Published: 10 March 2023
Last updated: 5 March 2024
Chaim Topol, the Israeli actor who found global fame for his role as Tevye in the film version of Fiddler on the Roof, died yesterday aged 87.
Topol, a prolific actor with a wide range of credits, was best known for inhabiting the central character of Tevye — first in stage productions of the famed Shalom Aleichem musical and then later in the film before eventually returning to the stage with the role.
He first played Tevye in Hebrew and then brushed up on his English to audition for the British theatre production in 1967.
When director Norman Jewison was looking to cast Tevye for the film adaptation, he flew to the UK to watch Topol’s performance and was won over, casting him in what would become a critical and commercial success known around the world. The 1971 film adaptation was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including best actor for Topol, cementing him in the eyes of the world as the ultimate Tevye and as one of the first Israeli actors to gain international recognition.
Over the years, Topol starred in several dozen more films in Israel and the US, including the 1981 Bond film For Your Eyes Only. He also played scientist Galileo Galilei in the 1975 film Galileo in addition to appearing in the 1980 space opera film Flash Gordon.
But he was always most closely identified as Tevye though, returning to play the character on stage repeatedly around the world, including in a Broadway revival, earning him a Tony nomination. He said goodbye to the character with a farewell US tour in 2009, revealing that he had acted as Tevye more than 3500 times on stage. Topol began his career as Tevye at age 30, using makeup and costume to appear older, and wrapped up his time in the role when he was nearing 75, drawing on a seemingly endless well of vigour to appear younger.
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Iconic ‘Tevye’ of film and stage, performer Chaim Topol dies at 87 (Times of Israel)
Photo: Topol as Tevye in the film version of Fiddler on the Roof (Metro Goldwyn Meyer)
