Free Republic

Israeli actor, singer and Israel Prize laureate Chaim Topol passed away overnight Wednesday at the age of 87. Topol was best known for his portrayal of Tevye, the lead role in both the stage musical Fiddler on the Roof as well as the 1971 film adaptation. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease several years ago, and his condition deteriorated in recent days. Omer, Topol's son, told the Mako website on Wednesday that his father was on his deathbed. "We are here at home with him, he is surrounded and loved," he said. "He is still with us in his final...

The spirited Israeli actor and singer died in Tel Aviv.Chaim Topol, the spirited Israeli actor and singer who, one season following another, portrayed Tevye the milkman in Fiddler on the Roof on stages all around the world and in an Oscar-nominated turn in Norman Jewison’s 1971 film adaptation, has died in Tel Aviv, the Associated Press reported. He was 87. Israel’s first international movie star, Topol also played famed Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei in Galileo (1975); an American scientist, Dr. Hans Zarkov, in the cult sci-fi classic Flash Gordon (1980); and Milos Columbo, a Greek smuggler and ally of Roger...