The ravages of Alzheimer’s robbed OMAR SHARIF of his chance to make amends with his illegitimate son!
A family friend revealed to The National ENQUIRER how the Egyptian actor – who died July 10 of a heart attack at age 83 – was cruelly cheated out of a reunion with his estranged offspring.
“For the longest time, Omar wanted nothing to do with Reuben,” the friend told The ENQUIRER. “He eventually softened his stance and wanted his son to become a part of his life.
“But by then, it was too late – as Alzheimer’s had destroyed him!”
The ENQUIRER broke the story in 1982 that the “Doctor Zhivago” star had sired Reuben Sharif, now 45, out of wedlock with Italian journalist Paola de Luca.
Paola revealed at the time: “Omar has never given a penny to support his son.”
Omar had another child, son Tarek, from his first marriage – but refused to acknowledge Reuben for years, complaining as late as 1999: “The boy looks exactly like me, but his mother used me as a sperm donor!”
In May, Tarek confirmed his father – who famously co-starred in “Funny Girl” with Barbra Streisand – had Alzheimer’s.
“It’s terribly sad,” the source told The ENQUIRER. “In the end, Omar died virtually alone – and never saw the one person that he wanted to see again!”
