Chaim Topol was best known for his portrayal of Tevye the milkman in Fiddler on the Roof. He was an Israeli actor who appeared in both Israeli and American films.
His first breakthrough film was in 1964 when he played the title character in the Israeli film called Sallah Shabati; the film was written by Israeli writer Ephraim Kishon.
In 1960, Topol co-founded the Haifa Municipal Theatre with Yosef Milo; he also served as assistant to the director and acted in plays by Shakespeare, Ionesco, and Brecht. In 1965 he performed in the Cameri Theatre in Tel Aviv.
Topol was a recipient of Israel's Kinor David award in arts and entertainment in 1964. He received a Best Actor award from the San Sebastián International Film Festival for his performance in the 1972 film Follow Me!
In 2008, he was named an Outstanding Member of the Israel Festival for his contribution to Israeli culture.
In 2014, the University of Haifa conferred upon Topol an honorary degree in recognition of his 50 years of activity in Israel's cultural and public life. In 2015, he received the Israel Prize for lifetime achievement.
In June 2022, Topol's son, Omer, revealed that his father was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. On March 8, 2023, Topol's family notified the press that he was near death and "living his final hours" and asked the public to respect the family's privacy.
Chaim Topol died on March 9, 2023 at the age of 87.
