Fiddler on the Roof actor Chaim Topol has died at 87 in Israel

Chaim Topol dies at 87: Beloved star of Oscar-nominated musical Fiddler On The Roof passes away in Israel following battle with Alzheimer’s

• Actor best known for playing Tevye in stage and screen productions of Fiddler 
• He won a Golden Globe for role in 1971 film, and was nominated for Oscar 
• The cause was not immediately released, as Topol had battled Alzheimer’s

Chaim Topol, a leading Israeli actor who charmed generations of theatergoers and movie-watchers with his portrayal of Tevye, the long-suffering and charismatic milkman in Fiddler on the Roof, has died at 87 in Tel Aviv, Israeli leaders said Thursday. 

The cause was not immediately released, as Topol had battled Alzheimer’s disease for years.

A recipient of two Golden Globe awards and nominee for both an Academy Award and a Tony Award, Topol long has ranked among Israel’s most decorated actors. Among his roles, he starred as James Bond’s foil-turned-ally Milos Columbo in For Your Eyes Only alongside Roger Moore.

More recently in 2015, he was celebrated for his contributions to film and culture with the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement, his country´s most prestigious honor.

Up until a few years ago, he remained involved in theater and said he still fielded requests to play Tevye.

RIP: Chaim Topol, a leading Israeli actor who charmed generations of theatergoers and movie-watchers with his portrayal of Tevye, the long-suffering and charismatic milkman in Fiddler on the Roof, has died at 87 in Tel Aviv, Israeli leaders said Thursday. Pictured in LA in 2009

Topol got his start in acting in a theatrical troupe in the Israeli army in the 1950s, where he met his future wife Galia. 

His first major breakthrough was the lead role in the 1964 hit Israeli film Sallah Shabati, about the hardships of Middle Eastern immigrants to Israel. The film made history as the first Israeli film to earn an Academy Award nomination and also gave Topol his first Golden Globe Award.

Two years later, he made his English-language film debut alongside Kirk Douglas in Cast a Giant Shadow.

But the role of his life arrived in the long-running musical Fiddler on the Roof, in which he played the dairyman protagonist, Tevye, a Jewish father trying to maintain his family’s cultural traditions despite the turmoil gripping their Russian shtetl.

With his rich voice, folkish witticisms and commanding stage presence, Topol’s Tevye, driving his horse-drawn buggy and delivering milk, butter and eggs to the rich, became a popular hero in Israel and around the world.

After years of playing Tevye on stage in London and on Broadway, he scored the lead role in the 1971 Norman Jewison-directed film version, winning the Golden Globe award for lead actor and being nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award. He lost out to Gene Hackman in The French Connection.

Topol played the part more than 3,500 times on stage, most recently in 2009. With the help of heavy makeup and costume work, he first portrayed the much older, burlier dairyman in his 30s and quite literally aged into the role.

Topol faced tough competition securing the role in Jewison’s hit film – scores of talents have played Tevye in over a dozen languages since Fiddler on the Roof first appeared. Topol has said his personal experience as the descendant of Russian Jews helped him relate to Tevye and deepen his performance.

Topol played the part of Tevye more than 3,500 times on stage, most recently in 2009. He was pictured in the 1971 film 

Topol was nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award for his efforts in the adapted musical 

The veteran entertainer was pictured in London at an event in December of 2013 

The late entertainer was fondly remembered by a number of people as news of his passing spread.

‘RIP Topol. There could only ever be one Fiddler on the Roof,’ actor Cary Elwes said. ‘What joys I experienced as a child watching him work & spending time with his family. He was truly larger than life. A great husband to his wife, Galia, and a great father to his children. My heart breaks for them.’

Lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky wrote, ‘Tradition! So sad, ‘Tevye’ is gone, as legendary Israeli performer Chaim Topol, dies age 87. May his memory be always blessed and his films & performances continue to entertain and inspire us!’

Said actor Alan Mehdizadeh: ‘Because of Topol, I’ve wanted to play Tevye for over 20 years, If I Were a Rich Man was my first choice audition song any time it was appropriate (or even if it wasn’t). Chaim Topol will always stand as one of the finest character actors to have ever graced the stage & screen.’ 

The organization Stand With Us said in a tweet: ‘We are saddened to learn about the death of Israeli actor Chaim Topol, who passed away this week at the age of 87. Topol became well-known around the world for his portrayal of Tevye in the film version of Fiddler on the Roof. May his memory and legacy forever be a blessing.’ 

Israeli leaders on Thursday tweeted their memories and condolences to Topol’s family.

Israel’s ceremonial president, Isaac Herzog hailed Topol as ‘one of the most outstanding Israeli actors,’ who ‘filled the movie screens with his presence and above all entered deep into our hearts.’

Benny Gantz, Israel’s former minister of defense, praised Topol for helping Israelis connect to their roots: ‘We laughed and cried at the same time over the deepest wounds of Israeli society.’

Yair Lapid, head of Israel’s opposition, said Topol taught Israelis ‘love of culture and love of the land.’

Topol’s charity, Jordan River Village, also announced his death, paying tribute to him as an ‘inspiration’ whose ‘legacy will continue for generations to come.’

The venerated entertainer was pictured in April of 1974 in the U.K.

Topol was pictured in June of 1981 opposite Ali MacGraw in the ABC miniseries The Winds of War

In 2015, Topol was celebrated for his contributions to film and culture with the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement, his country’s most prestigious honor

In 2015, on the occasion of accepting the Israel prize for lifetime achievement, Topol traced his meteoric rise from modest beginnings to worldwide fame. 

‘I wasn´t brought up in Hollywood. I was brought up in a kibbutz,’ he said. ‘Sometimes I am surprised when I come to China or when I come to Tokyo or when I come to France or when I come wherever and the clerk at the immigration says “Topol, Topol, are you Topol?”‘

Topol also starred in more than 30 other movies, including as the lead in Galileo, Dr. Hans Zarkov in Flash Gordon and James Bond’s foil-turned-ally Milos Columbo in For Your Eyes Only alongside Roger Moore.

But he became synonymous with just one role – Tevye. Pouring his heart out about his impoverished Jewish community over the years, Topol made audiences laugh and cry from Broadway and West End stages.

‘How many people are known for one part? How many people in my profession are known worldwide?’ he told the AP. ‘I´m not complaining.’

Yet Topol said he sometimes needed to look outside of acting to find meaning in his life. He devoted much of his later years to charity as chairman of the board of Jordan River Village, a camp serving Middle Eastern children with life-threatening diseases.

‘I am interested in charities and find it more fulfilling than running from one (acting) part to another,’ he said. ‘When you are successful in a film and the money flows, yes, obviously, it is very nice. But to tell you that is the most important thing, I am not sure.’

Topol is survived by his wife, three children and multiple grandchildren.

Actor Cary Elwes called the late entertainer as a figure ‘truly larger than life’ 

Actor Alan Mehdizadeh called Topol ‘one of the finest character actors to have ever graced the stage & screen’

A number of people took to social media late Wednesday to pay tribute to the late entertainer

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