Umer Sharif
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Mohammad Umer (19 April 1955 – 2 October 2021), known professionally as Umer Shareef, was a Pakistani actor, host, comedian, director, producer, writer, singer and television personality. Umer began his career at the age of 14 with
stand-up comedy Stand-up comedy is a performance directed to a live audience, where the performer stands on a stage (theatre), stage and delivers humour, humorous and satire, satirical monologues sometimes incorporating physical comedy, physical acts. These ...
and later worked in around 60 stage comedies as well as numerous television shows and films, where he not only acted but also directed and produced.


Early life

Mohammad Umer was born on 19 April 1955, into a middle-class Muhajir family in Liaquatabad,
Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...
. The youngest of his siblings, he lost his father when he was 4.


Career


Stage work

In 1969, Umer started his career from Karachi as a stage performer at the age of 14. He joined theatre, using the stage name Umer Zarif, modelled after his favourite comedian Munawar Zarif, but later renamed himself to Umer Sharif following Egyptian actor
Omar Sharif Omar Sharif (, ; born Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub ; 10 April 1932 – 10 July 2015) was an Egyptian actor, generally regarded as one of his country's greatest male film stars. He began his career in his native country in the 1950s. He is bes ...
that he admired due to the 1962-movie ''Lawrence of Arabia''. In 1976, he wrote the stage play ''Bionic Servant'', inspired by the American TV series ''Six Million Dollar Man'', where
Moin Akhter Moin Akhter (Urdu: معین اختر), (24 December 1950 – 22 April 2011) was a Pakistani television, film and stage artist, humorist, comedian, impersonator, host, writer, singer, director and producer who rose to fame in the era of Radio P ...
was an actor, marking their first collaboration. Some of his extremely popular comedy stage plays were 1989's ''Bakra Qistoon Pe'' and ''Buddha Ghar Pe Ha.'' Sharif became a very popular star during this period. Much of the success came from the fact that he started to record his stage shows and his
videotape Videotape is magnetic tape used for storing video and usually Sound recording and reproduction, sound in addition. Information stored can be in the form of either an analog signal, analog or Digital signal (signal processing), digital signal. V ...
s were rented out in a similar manner to movies. ''Yes Sir Eid'' and ''No Sir Eid'' were among the first stage plays to come out on video.


Television

In 2002, Sharif wrote his first TV serial, ''Parda Na Uthao''. In October 2009, he started hosting his own late-night talk show, '' The Shareef Show'', on
Geo Entertainment ''Geo Entertainment'' or Har Pal Geo is a Pakistani entertainment television channel owned by Geo Television Network was established in May 2002. Its test transmission started on 14 August 2002 on the PAS 10 digital satellite whereas on 1 Octob ...
. He interviewed many actors, entertainers, musicians, and politicians on the show. Another of his shows was ''Umer Sharif vs Umer Sharif'', where he donned over 400 get-ups. He also appeared as a guest judge on the Indian stand-up comedy show ''
The Great Indian Laughter Challenge ''The Great Indian Laughter Challenge'' is an Indian Reality television, reality stand-up comedy series produced by Endemol, Endemol India. The first four seasons aired on STAR One from 15 June 2005 to 26 September 2008. The show's fifth season ...
'', alongside Navjot Singh Siddhu, and Shekhar Suman.


Films

Sharif's first movie was ''Hisaab'' (1986) but he's better known for '' Mr 420'' (1992), a movie where he not only acted but also directed, wrote and sung in, that led to a revival of Pakistan's cinema till 1998. He would work in some 35 films, his last movie being ''Chand Babu'' (1999), that he directed, produced and acted in.


Awards

Sharif received National awards for Best Director and Best Actor in 1992 for ''Mr. 420''. He received ten Nigar Awards. Sharif was the only actor to receive four Nigar Awards in a single year. He received three Graduate Awards. Sharif was also a recipient of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.


Politics

In 2007, Sharif announced he had joined MQM, saying he had done so because the party was open-minded and ‘best for Karachi’. In 2011, backed by the MQM, he ran for the presidency of the Karachi Arts Council. But the PPP-backed candidate, Ahmed Shah, defeated him.


Humanitarian work

In 2006, the Umer Sharif Welfare Trust was formed with the stated goal of creating a "state of the art health centre that provides services free of cost."


Controversies

For the 50-year anniversary of Pakistan's independence, Sharif performed a play called ''Umer Sharif Haazir Ho''. In the play, a representative from many occupations were called into court and asked what they had done for Pakistan in the past 50 years. The Lawyer's Association stated a case against Sharif as a result.Biography – Omer Sharif


Illness and death

On 10 September 2021, Pakistani television host and news anchor Waseem Badami posted a video of Shareef on
Instagram Instagram is an American photo sharing, photo and Short-form content, short-form video sharing social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to upload media that can be edited with Social media camera filter, filters, be ...
where he requested the then
Prime Minister of Pakistan The prime minister of Pakistan (, Roman Urdu, romanized: Wazīr ē Aʿẓam , ) is the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Cabinet of Pakistan, cabinet, desp ...
,
Imran Khan Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani politician, philanthropist, and former cricketer who served as the 19th prime minister of Pakistan from August 2018 until April 2022. He was the founder of the political party Pak ...
to facilitate cancer treatment for him overseas. Soon after the video came out, Indian singer
Daler Mehndi Daler Singh (born 18 August 1967), better known as Daler Mehndi, is an Indian singer, songwriter, author, and record producer. He has helped to make Bhangra (music), Bhangra popular worldwide, as well as Indian pop music independent of Bollywoo ...
also appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan for immediate treatment for Sharif. On 11 September 2021, the government formed a medical board to decide whether or not to send him abroad for treatment. He was granted a United States visa for medical treatment on 16 September 2021 and the Sindh government also approved 40 million rupees for his treatment. Despite all these projects, on 2 October 2021, he died in a hospital in
Nuremberg Nuremberg (, ; ; in the local East Franconian dialect: ''Nämberch'' ) is the Franconia#Towns and cities, largest city in Franconia, the List of cities in Bavaria by population, second-largest city in the States of Germany, German state of Bav ...
, Germany, at the age of 66.


Influence and legacy

Referred to as the "King of Comedy", Sharif is considered to be one of the greatest comedians of
South Asia South Asia is the southern Subregion#Asia, subregion of Asia that is defined in both geographical and Ethnicity, ethnic-Culture, cultural terms. South Asia, with a population of 2.04 billion, contains a quarter (25%) of the world's populatio ...
. Popular Indian comedians like
Johnny Lever John Prakash Rao Janumala, better known by his stage name Johnny Lever (born on 14 August 1957) is an Indian actor and comedian who is known for his works in Hindi cinema. He is one of the most recognised comedic actors in India and is widely ...
hailed him as "The God of Asian comedy". Leading Pakistani in show business and political leaders offered their condolences including Mehwish Hayat, Hareem Farooq and
Imran Khan Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi (born 5 October 1952) is a Pakistani politician, philanthropist, and former cricketer who served as the 19th prime minister of Pakistan from August 2018 until April 2022. He was the founder of the political party Pak ...
.


Selected filmography


Stage dramas

* ''Bakra Qiston Pay Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5'' (1989) *Dulhan Main Lekar Jaonga * ''Salam Karachi'' (2005) * ''Andaz Apna Apna'' * ''Meri Bhi To Eid Karade'' * ''Nayee Aami Purana Abba'' (2004) * ''Yeh Hay Naya Tamasha'' (1993) * ''Yeh Hay Naya Zamana'' (2003) * ''Yes Sir Eid No Sir Eid'' (1989) * ''Eid Tere Naam'' * ''No Parking'' (1985) * ''Samad Bond 007'' * ''Nach Meri Bulbul'' * ''Lahore se London'' * ''Angoor Khatay Hain'' * ''Petrol Pump'' * ''Lotay te Lafafey'' * ''Loot Sale'' (2004) * ''Half Plate'' * ''Meri Jaan Thanedaar'' * ''Umar Sharif in Jungle'' * ''Beauty Parlour'' (1998) * ''Makeup Room'' * ''Chaudhary Plaza'' (2004) * ''Mamu Mazak Mat Karo'' (1993) * ''Hum Se Milo'' * ''Yeh To House Full Hogaya'' * ''Bakra Munna Bhai'' (2004) * ''Behrupia'' * ''Lal Qile ki Rai Lalu Khet ka Raja'' * ''Chand Baraye Farokhat'' (2003) * ''Hanste Raho Chalte Raho'' (2003) * ''Umar Sharif Hazir Ho'' (1997) * ''Baby Samjha Karo'' * ''Doctor aur Kasai'' * ''Budha Ghar Pe Hai'' * ''Eid Aashiqon Ki'' * ''Nehle pe Dehla'' * ''One Day Eid Match'' (1992) * ''Police Ho To Aisi'' * ''Paying Guest'' (2003) * ''Aao Sach Bolain'' * ''Flight 420'' * ''Coolie 420'' * ''Hamsa Ho To Samn Aaye'' (1994) * ''Walima Taiyar Hai'' * ''Filmi Pariyan'' * ''Akbar e Azam in Pakistan'' * ''Jeet Teri Peda Mera'' * ''Shadi Magar Aadhi'' * ''Bebia'' * ''Mano Meri Baat'' * ''Gol Maal'' * ''Female Ki Email'' * ''Eidy Chupa ke Rakhna'' * ''Dulha'' (2002) * ''Corner Wali Haveli'' * ''Valima tayar hai'' * ''Laal kilay ki rani, laloo khet ka raja'' * ''Tera baqra mera qasai'' * ''Nayee ammi purane abbu'' * ''Kia cheez hai Pakistani''


Films


Television shows


References


External links

*https://www.facebook.com/OmerSharifOfficial?ref=hl * {{DEFAULTSORT:Shareef, Umer 1955 births 2021 deaths Geo News newsreaders and journalists Muslim male comedians Comedians from Karachi Male actors from Karachi Muhajir people Nigar Award winners Pakistani male comedians Pakistani dramatists and playwrights Pakistani film directors Pakistani film producers Urdu film producers Pakistani male stage actors Pakistani male television actors Pakistani stand-up comedians ARY Digital people Recipients of Tamgha-e-Imtiaz Mass media people from Karachi Entertainers from Karachi Pakistani expatriate male actors in India Participants in Indian reality television series