The Israeli actor Chaim Topol, best known for his portrayal of Tevye in the stage and screen musical Fiddler on the Roof, has died, Israel's president has said. He was 87.
Topol's death was confirmed in a statement shared on Twitter by President Isaac Herzog, in which he paid tribute to the star.
The Oscar-nominated actor was diagnosed with dementia a number of years ago.
Topol's acting career began to gain momentum after he was cast as the titular character in the Israeli comedy Sallah Shabati, which earned him the Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Male Newcomer.
It was then that he landed his iconic role as the milkman Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, first in London's West End in 1967 and later in the 1971 film adaptation.
Topol scooped a second Golden Globe in 1972, this time for Best Actor, for his role as Tevye. He was also Oscar-nominated that year.
Despite being on active service with the Israeli Army at the time, he was granted permission to attend the awards ceremonies.
Topol went on to star in a number of films, both in Israel and the US, including the 1975 adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's Galileo, the 1980 sci-fi film Flash Gordon and the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.
A 1991 Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof also saw Topol nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor. He played the role of Tevye more than 3,500 times until 2009.
In addition to acting, Topol also dedicated his time to charitable causes and founded Variety Israel - an organisation that provides support for children living with disabilities and their families.
Topol also served as the president of Jordan River Village, a free overnight camp for Israeli children living with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.
In 2015, Topol was awarded the Israel Prize - the country's most prestigious award - for lifetime achievement and special contribution to society and the state.
Topol is survived by his wife Galia, who he married in 1965, and the couple's three children, daughters Anat and Ady and son Omer.
In the days leading up to Topol's death, his son told the Israeli news website Ynet that the actor had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease several years ago.
Omer Topol described his father as an "amazing actor who developed all kinds of tactics to cover up the problems that began to arise".
"When he won the Israel Prize, his Alzheimer's was in its early stages," he said.
"He spoke wonderfully at the ceremony, and also at other events, and no one even felt it."
Source: Press Association
