Jem Topol, known only by his surname, has died aged 87. The actor rose to fame for his stage and film portrayal of ‘Fiddler on the Roof’, co-starring in ‘For Your Eyes Only’ and ‘Flash Gordon’, among others.

Topol died on Wednesday March 8 in Tel Aviv after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 87. His death was confirmed by Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, who described him as a “charismatic actor, who conquered many stages in Israel and abroad, filled cinema screens with his presence and entered deep into our hearts”.

Topol was born in Tel Aviv in 1935. His career took off after starring as the title character in the 1964 Israeli comedy “Sallah Shabati,” for which he won a Golden Globe for Most Promising New Actor.

In 1971 he won a second Golden Globe for Best Actor for his role in the musical Fiddler on the Roof, which was adapted for the screen after the actor’s successful run in London’s West End.

He was then nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor when he starred in the Broadway revival of the musical in 1991. He toured the world playing the role of Tevye. By 2009, he had performed the role more than 3,500 times on both stage and screen.

Topol starred in several Israeli and American films, including the 1975 adaptation of Bertolt Brecht’s Galileo, the 1980 science fiction film Flash Gordon, and the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.

In 2015 he was awarded the Israel Prize – the country’s most important award – for his lifetime achievements and special contribution to society and the state.