Born in Tel Aviv, Palestine, Chaim Topol, known simply as Topol, began working as a printer at Davar newspaper at the age of 14 while pursuing his education at night. After graduating he enlisted in the Israeli army and became a member of an entertainment troupe, singing and acting in traveling shows. After his service he worked as a mechanic and toured with a theatre group of friends from early 1957 to the mid 1960s. His first film appearance was in the 1961 film I Like Mike, followed by the 1963 Israeli film El Dorado. In 1964 the he landed the lead role in the film Sallah Shabati, the most successful film in Israeli history (to that time), and it was in 1971 that he became Tevye in film version of Fiddler of the Roof.
Chaim Topol died at the age of 87 from Alzheimer's disease.
