The Israeli actor and singer Chaim Topol is dead. As reported by the British "The Guardian", among others, the actor, who is usually only called Topol, died at the age of 87 in his homeland of Israel surrounded by his family. Local media also reported the death of the popular artist. His son had therefore confirmed just a few weeks ago that his father had been diagnosed with dementia last year.

In the meantime, Israeli President Yitzchak Herzog (62) has responded to the death announcement via Twitter and in an obituary called Topol a "gifted actor". After a steep theatrical career in Israel, he became world famous with the leading role of the milkman Tevye in the film adaptation of the musical "Anatevka". He received a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for his performance in 1971. Until 2009 he slipped into his prime role numerous times and played numerous tours all over the world until old age.

Topol had other international roles alongside John Wayne (1907-1979) and Kirk Douglas (1916-2020) in the US war drama "The Shadow of the Giants" from 1966 or in the comic adaptation "Flash Gordon" in 1980 with Ornella Muti (68) and Timothy Dalton (76). In 1981 he also starred with Roger Moore (1927-2017) in the James Bond classic "For Your Eyes Only".