Iconic Egyptian actor Omar Sharif was honored Sunday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences at the 2016 Academy Awards, during the ceremony's In Memoriam section.
The late Sharif, who died in Cairo in July of 2015 at the age of 83, was remembered during the annual tribute, in which the Academy honors film talents who died during the previous year.
The In Memoriam tribute was introduced by Academy Award winning actor Louis Gossett and was accompanied by a performance of The Beatles' "Blackbird" by the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl.
This year, 136 actors, actresses, directors, screenwriters, producers, cinematographers and various other film artists were remembered at the Oscars for "their contributions to the art and science of motion pictures," according to the Oscars' press release .
"Once again, The Oscars took time to honor the many talents we lost during the previous year, the lives they touched and the art they made or made possible."
Sharif, who excelled in both Egyptian and Hollywood films, was nominated for the best supporting actor Oscar for his iconic role in "Lawrence of Arabia."
Although he never received an Academy Award, Sharif won two Golden Globe Awards for his roles in "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago." He also won a César Award for his role in the French drama "Monsieur Ibrahim."
In addition, Sharif was awarded the Golden Globe Award for New Star of The Year in 1963, a now discontinued honor that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association formerly gave to the most promising new actors in the film scene.
Sharif's prominent film credits back home include some of Egyptian cinema's most iconic Golden Age classics such as "Siraa' Fil Wadi" (Struggle in the Valley) and "Ayyamna El-Helwa" (Our Best Days), in which he starred opposite Egyptian cinema legend and his late wife, Faten Hamama.
Sharif is also widely remembered in the Arab World for his role in the iconic romantic comedy "Esha'et Hob" (A Love Rumor), in which he starred alongside Soad Hosny – an actress who shared his iconic status in the history of Arab cinema.