Monday, June 29, 2026

RIP Topol, 87, Star of the Film Version of “Fiddler on the Roof” Who Became Tevye Many Times

Share

★ Make Showbiz411 your Preferred Source on Google

Chaim Topol, known as Topol, has died at age 87.

The Israeli actor was chosen by director Norman Jewison in 1969 to play Tevye in the big screen version of “Fiddler on the Roof.” At the time, no one had ever heard of him, fans wanted Zero Mostel for the role as he was hot off Mel Brooks’ “The Producers.” Mostel created Tevye on Broadway, winning the Tony Award.

But Topol got the job and was cemented in history as Tevye, much to Mostel’s chagrin. He went on to playing Tevye as an industry, even performing on Broadway in a revival. It became a…tradition!

Topol never broke out of that role in America. But he was an international star and beloved. May his memory be a blessing.

Donate to Showbiz411.com

Showbiz411 is now in its 13th year of providing breaking and exclusive entertainment news. This is an independent site, unlike the many Hollywood trades that are owned by one company. To continue providing news that takes a fresh look at what's going on in movies, music, theater, etc, advertising is our basis. Reader donations would be greatly appreciated, too. They are just another facet of keeping fact based journalism alive.
Thank you


Roger Friedman
Roger Friedman
Roger Friedman is the founder and editor-in-chief of Showbiz411. He wrote the FOX411 column on FoxNews.com from 1999 to 2009, where he covered Michael Jackson, and previously wrote the "Intelligencer" column at New York magazine in the mid-1990s, where he covered the O.J. Simpson trial. He also edited Fame magazine. His bylines have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the New York Daily News, the New York Post, Vogue, Details, and the Miami Herald. He is a voting member of the Critics Choice Awards (Film and Television branches), and his movie reviews are tracked by Rotten Tomatoes. With D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, he co-produced the 2002 documentary "Only the Strong Survive," which screened at Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival.

Read more

In Other News