Chaim Topol, Fiddler on the Roof actor, dies aged 87
Known by his last name alone and beloved for his performance as Tevye in both the musical and film, Topol’s death was announced by Israel’s president
He was not on the list.
Chaim Topol, the Israeli actor and singer best known for his performance as Tevye the Milkman in Fiddler on the Roof, has died at the age of 87.
Topol, who was widely known by his last name alone, died at home in Israel on Wednesday while surrounded by his family, local media reported. His son had recently confirmed that he had been diagnosed with dementia last year.
In a statement announcing Topol’s death, Israel’s president Isaac Herzog described him as a “gifted actor who conquered many stages in Israel and overseas, filled the cinema screens with his presence and especially entered deep into our hearts.”
Topol played Tevye in the stage musical over five decades, once estimating that he had performed the role more than 3,500 times. He also played the pious Jewish father in the 1971 film, for which he won a Golden Globe award for best actor, and was nominated for best actor at the Academy Awards.
Just 30 years old when he first began playing fiftysomething Tevye on stage in 1966, Topol used makeup and costuming to make himself appear older and heavier than his years; in 2009, when he finished performing the role in his 70s, he had to act younger than his years.
“How many people are known for one part? How many people in my profession are known worldwide? So I am not complaining,” he said in a 2015 interview. “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?’ So yes, many people saw [Fiddler], and it is not a bad thing.”
Born in Tel Aviv in 1935, Topol enlisted in the Israeli army at the age of 18. There he became a member of an entertainment troupe, singing and acting on the road; one role he played during his time in the troupe was Sallah Shabati in comedic skits written by the future director and writer Ephraim Kishon, who would later direct Topol in a film adaptation in 1964.
Topol began to gain international recognition for his performance in the satire, which follows the titular character as he and his family navigate the chaos of Israeli immigration. Topol won a Golden Globe for most promising male newcomer, and Sallah Shabati was the first Israeli film to be nominated for best foreign film at the Academy Awards.
Two years later, Topol debuted as Tevye, replacing Shmuel Rodensky briefly in the Israeli production when the actor fell ill. Producer of the original Broadway show Harold Prince called Topol to audition for the upcoming West End production. To become fluent in English, Topol memorised the Broadway cast album and spent six months in London learning his part phonetically with a vocal coach.
A few months after opening, Topol returned to Israel when he was summoned during the Arab-Israeli six-day war and joined an entertainment troupe. He returned to London, appearing in more than 400 performances.
He was cast again as Tevye in the 1971 film after director Norman Jewison decided against using the Broadway actor Zero Mostel, who had made the role famous in the US. Topol won a Golden Globe for best actor for his performance in the film, and was nominated for best actor at the Academy Awards, losing to Gene Hackman in The French Connection.
He continued to play the role in various productions of Fiddler on the Roof around the US, London, Israel and Australia until 2009. He was nominated for a Tony award in 1991 for the 1991 Broadway revival.
Topol was cast in the lead role in Broadway musical The Baker’s Wife, but was fired after eight months by director David Merrick for unprofessional behaviour.
He landed roles in films including Galileo Galilei in the film Galileo, Dr Hans Zarkov in Flash Gordon and James Bond’s ally Milos Columbo in For Your Eyes Only. He dubbed the voice of Bagheera in the Hebrew-language version of The Jungle Book, and Rubeus Hagrid in the first two Harry Potter films.
In his later years, Topol wrote and illustrated books, and founded a nonprofit for children with special needs. In 2015, he was awarded the Israel prize, one of the country’s top honours.
Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1961 I Like Mike Mikha
1962 Etz O Palestina (The True Story of Palestine) Narrator
1963 El Dorado Benny Sherman Credited as Haim Topol
1964 Sallah Shabati Sallah Shabati Credited as Haym Topol.
Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer – Male
San Francisco International Film Festival Award for Best Actor
1966 Cast a Giant Shadow Abou Ibn Kader
1967 Ervinka Ervinka Credited as Haim Topol. Also co-producer.
1968 Kol Mamzer Melekh (Every Bastard a King) Co-producer
Ha-Shehuna Shelanu (Fish, Football, and Girls) Co-producer
1969 Before Winter Comes Janovic
A Talent for Loving General Molina
1971 Fiddler on the Roof Tevye David di Donatello Award for Best Foreign Actor
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Sant Jordi Award for Best Performance in a Foreign Film
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actor
The Going Up of David Lev Chaim TV movie
Hatarnegol (The Boys Will Never Believe It; The Rooster) Gadi Zur Also co-producer
1972 Follow Me! Julian Cristoforou San Sebastián International Film Festival award for Best Actor
1975 Galileo Galileo Galilei
1979 The House on Garibaldi Street Michael TV movie
1980 Flash Gordon Dr. Hans Zarkov
1981 For Your Eyes Only Milos Columbo
1983 The Winds of War Berel Jastrow TV miniseries
1985 Roman Behemshechim (Again, Forever) Effi Avidar
1987 Queenie Dimitri Goldner TV movie
1988 Tales of the Unexpected Professor Max Kelada Episode: Mr. Know-All
1988–1989 War and Remembrance Berel Jastrow TV miniseries, 11 episodes
1993 SeaQuest DSV Dr. Rafik Hassan Episode: Treasure of the Mind
1998 Left Luggage Mr. Apfelschnitt
Time Elevator Shalem
2000 Inside For Your Eyes Only Documentary
2001 Fiddler on the Roof: 30 Years of Tradition Documentary
2019 Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles Documentary
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