Biography
Topol was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. He first practised acting in amateur theatrical plays that were conducted within the Israeli Army. Later on he managed to establish his own theatre troupe in Tel Aviv and in 1961 he significantly contributed to the foundation of the Municipal Theatre of Haifa.
Despite some criticism that he has received over the years for supposedly using "cute" acting tricks, Topol has managed to retain his stardom and his personal cult following for over three decades.
Acting career
Topol appeared in his first film in 1964, and in 1966 he made his first English-language screen appearance as Abou Ibn Kaqden in the big-budget Mickey Marcus biopic Cast a Giant Shadow.
He came to greatest prominence in the role of Tevye the milkman in the long-running musical show Fiddler on the Roof. After scoring an enormous success on the London stage, he later appeared in the 1971 film version of the play. In 1972 Topol was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a Best Actor Oscar and for his perfomance in the film. He was on active service with the Israeli army at the time, but was granted permission to attend the awards ceremonies.
Some of his other notable appearances were in Galileo (1975), Flash Gordon (1980) and the James Bond movie For Your Eyes Only (1981). One of Chaim Topol's best known roles in an Israeli production was in the controversial Sallah Shabbati by Ephraim Kishon — a play, later adapted for film, depicting the hardships of a new Sephardi Jewish family in Israel of the early 1950s. He has recently starred in Left Luggage (1998) playing the role of Mr. Apfelschnitt and Time Elevator (1998) as Shalem.
Filmography
Left Luggage (1998) as Mr. Apfelschnitt.
Time Elevator (1998) as Shalem.
War and Remembrance (1988) (mini) TV Series as Berel Jastrow.
Queenie (1987) (TV) as Dimitri Goldner.
Roman Behemshechim (1985) as Effi Avidar.
The Winds of War (1983) (mini) TV Series as Berel Jastrow.
For Your Eyes Only (1981) as Milos Columbo.
Flash Gordon (1980) as Doctor Hans Zarkov.
The House on Garibaldi Street (1979) (TV) as Michael.
Galileo (1975) as Galileo Galilei.
Follow Me! (1972) as Julian Cristoforou.
Fiddler on the Roof (1971) as Tevye.
The Going Up of David Lev (1971) (TV) as Chaim.
Ha-Tarnegol (1971).
Before Winter Comes (1969) as Janovic.
A Talent for Loving (1969).
Ervinka (1967) as Ervinka.
Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) as Abou Ibn Kader.
Sallah Shabbati (1964) as Sallah Shabati.
El Dorado (1963) as Benny Sherman.
I Like Mike (1961).
