President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Sunday delegated Major General Tarek Diab to offer condolences over the death of senior actor Omar Al Sharif, who died at the age of 83 on Friday.

The delegate conveyed Sisi's condolences to the family of Sharif.

Born Michel Shalhoub in Alexandria in April 1932, Sharif started out in his family's lumber business before going to London to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Rada).

He made his screen debut in the 1954 Egyptian film Siraa Fil-Wadi (The Blazing Sun) and rapidly became a star in Egypt.

His big break came when David Lean cast him in Lawrence of Arabia.

Sharif was best known for his roles in classic films Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago.

Sharif won two Golden Globe awards and an Oscar nomination for his role as Sherif Ali in David Lean's 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia.

He won a further Golden Globe three years later for Doctor Zhivago.