Biography for
Topol More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

9 September 1935, Tel Aviv, Palestine [now Israel]

Birth Name

Chaim Topol

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Spouse

Galia Topol

(? - ?)

Trivia

Father of Omer and actress Ady Topol and Anat Topol

One of his best friends - Rehavam ("Ghandi") Ze'evi, a minister in the Israeli government, was murdered in 2001 by a Palestinian Terrorist

Was on active duty with the Israeli army when he was nominated for an Oscar for "Fiddler on the Roof" in early 1972. He was granted leave so he could attend the ceremony in Los Angeles that year.

In English, his full name means 'Tree of Life'.

In the late 1980s he toured the US in a stage revival of "Fiddler on the Roof." Unlike when he made the movie in 1971, he was Tevye's age by this time. The part of wife Golde was played by Rosalind Harris, who had played daughter Tzeitel in the movie.

His daughter, Anat, played the role of "Chava" in a 1995 production of "Fiddler on the Roof" alongside her father.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1991 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for a revival of "Fiddler on the Roof," a role he had previously played twenty years earlier in an Oscar-nominated performance in the film version of the same title, Fiddler on the Roof (1971).

Before the 1971 film version, Topol had played Tevye in over 400 performances in London. Since the film's release, he has played the milkman over 2,000 times in places from United States and Canada, to Europe, Japan, and Australia.

First Israeli actor ever to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Shares his name (Topol) with a tooth-whitening anti-cavity toothpaste that's been on the market for several years, and is still being sold today.

Has appeared in over 2500 stage performances as Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof".

By his own estimation, he has toured, as Tevya, in every state in the USA, and all the provinces of Canada, at least twice over the last four decades, always to appreciative audiences.

Personal Quotes

Anyone who ever plays Tevye should be thankful to Zero [Mostel]. He gave us all room and I know I wouldn't have done the movie without the advantage of a year's rehearsal on stage.

Where Are They Now

(November 2005) Topol recently finished a two month season once again playing Tevye in Fiddler On the Roof at Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia.

(April 2007) Performing in Wellington, New Zealand as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof.

(February 2009) In a reprise of his role as Tevye, currently touring in Fiddler on the Roof at age 74.