Omar Sharif, one of the most notable actors in the 1950s, succumbed to Alzheimer's disease on Friday in a hospital in Cairo, Egypt. A multi-awarded actor, he was best known for his roles in Lawrence of Arabia and Doctor Zhivago as well as his unique set of skills that allowed him to stand out in his generation. "He suffered a heart attack this afternoon in a hospital in Cairo," Steve Kenis, the actor's agent, disclosed to the fans and followers of Sharif, according to BBC News. He was 83.

Earlier this year, Sharif was announced to have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. "He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a while ago," Kenis disclosed in a report by ABC News. "It's a serious disease and he hadn't been able to take any work for many months," the agent added. At that point, Kenis revealed that Sharif had been under the care and support of his family in Egypt.

Following the announcement of the actor's sickness, Sharif's son, Tarek, confirmed the news in an interview with a Spanish media outlet, El Mundo. "It's difficult to determine what stage it's at," Tarek said at that time, referring to the condition of his father who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The 58-year-old added, "It's obvious he'll never improve and it will get worse."

"Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior," wrote Alzheimer's Association. The site added, "Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks." Meanwhile, the US National Institute of Aging describes Alzheimer's disease as "an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks." According to the agency, the symptoms of the illness first appear when the patients are in their mid-60s.

According to a separate report by BBC News, Sharif suffered from memory loss while he was in the hospital. "He still knows he's a famous actor," Tarek shared. He continued to say, "The loss of memory affects above all specific things, details like when he was in a specific place or who he acted with in a specific film."

Sharif catapulted to stardom when he landed a lead role in "Lawrence of Arabia." He became an international star and went on to grace the screens alongside the likes of Barbra Streisand, Julie Andrews, Julie Christie and Peter O'Toole.