Renowned comedian Umer Sharif was commemorated on his birth anniversary, observed on Friday.
Born on April 19, 1955, Umer embarked on his career in Karachi as a stage performer at the age of 14 in 1969. Initially known as Umer Zarif, he took inspiration from his favorite comedian Munawar Zarif, later adopting the name Umer Sharif.
Starting his journey as Umer Zarif, he transitioned to Umer Sharif during his career as a stage performer. Notably, he gained immense popularity through his comedy plays, particularly "Bakra Qiston Pe" and "Buddha Ghar Pe", eventually earning the moniker "King of Comedy" after featuring in over 50 stage productions.
Umer Sharif's fame soared as he began recording his stage performances, which were widely rented out akin to movies.
His cinematic debut was marked by "Hisaab" in 1986, though he is more prominently recognized for "Mr 420" (1992), a film where he not only starred but also directed, scripted, and contributed to its musical compositions.
Throughout his career, he appeared in 35 films, with his final venture being "Chand Babu" (1999). Notably, he clinched two National Awards for his role in "Mr 420", winning in both the Best Actor and Director categories, alongside receiving 10 Nigar Awards.
Recognizing his significant contributions to the Pakistani entertainment industry as an actor, producer, and comedian, Umer was honored with the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz.
His demise occurred in a hospital in Nuremberg, Germany, at the age of 66.
