Topol was an Israeli actor and singer who starred on Broadway and on the big screen as Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof.”
- Died: March 9, 2023 (Who else died on March 9?)
- Details of death: Died in Tel Aviv, Israel after fighting Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 87.
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Fiddler on the Roof
Topol was a newcomer to Hollywood when he was cast as Tevye in the movie adaptation of “Fiddler on the Roof.” Born Chaim Topol but typically credited simply as Topol, he had been a stage actor, but he hadn’t originated the role of Tevye on Broadway – that honor went to Zero Mostel. Yet he had played Tevye in Tel Aviv and on London’s West End, and he became synonymous with the character as he immortalized the role on film and went on to play him for years in “Fiddler” revivals on Broadway and the West End. When Topol first played Tevye, he was just 30 years old, decades younger than his character – and he barely spoke English, learning it for the role – yet his performance of the older man was natural. Over the years, his work as Tevye brought him a Golden Globe and nominations for an Oscar and a Tony Award.
Other work
Topol went on to star in “Galileo” as the iconic scientist and in “For Your Eyes Only” as James Bond’s ally, Milos Columbo. He played Hans Zarkof in “Flash Gordon” and had a notable role as Berel Jastrow in the TV miniseries “The Winds of War” and its sequel, “War and Remembrance.” Topol worked as a voice actor to dub Hebrew-language versions of films, including voicing Hagrid in two installments of the “Harry Potter” series. He released several albums as a singer. Also an artist, Topol illustrated several books, and his self-portrait was featured on a postage stamp.
Topol on Fiddler
“It touched people. Think of it, we took the show to Japan, a totally different culture with a tiny Jewish community and the people there loved it. It is interesting the impact that entertainment can have on people.” —from a 2020 interview for Lay of the Land
Tributes to Topol
Full obituary: The Times of Israel
