Umer Shareef

• Honorific Suffix — TI • Name — Umer Sharif • Native Name — عمر شریف • Birth Name — Mohammad Umer • Born — 19 April 1955 • Birthplace — Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan • Died — 2 October 2021 • Place of death — Nuremberg, Germany • Awards — Tamgha-e-Imtiaz • Occupation — * Actor • Host • Comedian • Director • Producer • Writer • Singer • Television personality • Resting Place — Abdullah Shah Ghazi Mazar, Clifton, Karachi • Years Active — 1969–2021 • Spouse — * Deeba Omer • Title — King of Comedy

Mohammad Umer was born on 19 April 1955, into a middle-class Muhajir family in Liaquatabad, Karachi. The youngest of his siblings, he lost his father when he was 4.

In 1969, Umer started his career from Karachi as a stage performer at the age of 14. He joined theatre, using the stage name Umer Zarif, modelled after his favourite comedian Munawar Zarif, but later renamed himself to Umer Sharif following Egyptian actor Omar Sharif that he admired due to the 1962 movie Lawrence of Arabia. In 1976, he wrote the stage play Bionic Servant, inspired by the American TV series Six Million Dollar Man, where Moin Akhter was an actor, marking their first collaboration. Some of his extremely popular comedy stage plays were 1989's Bakra Qistoon Pe and Buddha Ghar Pe Hai. Sharif became a very popular star during this period. Much of the success came from the fact that he started to record his stage shows and his videotapes were rented out in a manner similar to movies. Yes Sir Eid and No Sir Eid were among the first stage plays to come out on video.

For the 50-year anniversary of Pakistan's independence, Sharif performed a play called Umer Sharif Haazir Ho. In the play, representatives from many occupations were summoned in court to explain what they had done for Pakistan over the past 50 years. Upset by the portrayal a lawyer, an organization of lawyers lodged a case against Sharif as a result.

In 2002, Sharif wrote his first TV serial, Parda Na Uthao. In October 2009, he started hosting his own late-night talk show, The Shareef Show, on Geo Entertainment. He interviewed many actors, entertainers, musicians, and politicians on the show. Another of his shows was Umer Sharif vs Umer Sharif, where he donned over 400 get-ups. He also appeared as a guest judge on the Indian stand-up comedy show The Great Indian Laughter Challenge, alongside Navjot Singh Siddhu, and Shekhar Suman.

In 2007, Sharif announced he had joined MQM, saying he had done so because the party was open-minded and ‘best for Karachi’. In 2011, backed by the MQM, he ran for the presidency of the Karachi Arts Council. But the PPP-backed candidate, Ahmed Shah, defeated him.

In 2006, the Umer Sharif Welfare Trust was formed with the stated goal of creating a "state of the art health centre that provides services free of cost."

On 10 September 2021, Pakistani television host and news anchor Waseem Badami posted a video of Shareef on Instagram where he requested the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan to facilitate cancer treatment for him overseas. Soon after the video came out, Indian singer Daler Mehndi also appealed to Prime Minister Imran Khan for immediate treatment for Sharif. On 11 September 2021, the government formed a medical board to decide whether or not to send him abroad for treatment. He was granted a United States visa for medical treatment on 16 September 2021 and the Sindh government also approved 40 million rupees for his treatment. Despite all these projects, on 2 October 2021, he died in a hospital in Nuremberg, Germany, at the age of 66.

• Bakra Qiston Pay Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (1989) • Dulhan Main Lekar Jaonga • Salam Karachi (2005) • Andaz Apna Apna • Meri Bhi To Eid Karade • Nayee Aami Purana Abba (2004) • Yeh Hay Naya Tamasha (1993) • Yeh Hay Naya Zamana (2003) • Yes Sir Eid No Sir Eid (1989) • Eid Tere Naam • No Parking (1985) • Samad Bond 007 • Nach Meri Bulbul • Lahore se London • Angoor Khatay Hain • Petrol Pump • Lotay te Lafafey • Loot Sale (2004) • Half Plate • Meri Jaan Thanedaar • Umar Sharif in Jungle • Beauty Parlour (1998) • Makeup Room • Chaudhary Plaza (2004) • Mamu Mazak Mat Karo (1993) • Hum Se Milo • Yeh To House Full Hogaya • Bakra Munna Bhai (2004) • Behrupia • Lal Qile ki Rai Lalu Khet ka Raja • Chand Baraye Farokhat (2003) • Hanste Raho Chalte Raho (2003) • Umar Sharif Hazir Ho (1997) • Baby Samjha Karo • Doctor aur Kasai • Budha Ghar Pe Hai • Eid Aashiqon Ki • Nehle pe Dehla • One Day Eid Match (1992) • Police Ho To Aisi • Paying Guest (2003) • Aao Sach Bolain • Flight 420 • Coolie 420 • Hamsa Ho To Samn Aaye (1994) • Walima Taiyar Hai • Filmi Pariyan • Akbar e Azam in Pakistan • Jeet Teri Peda Mera • Shadi Magar Aadhi • Bebia • Mano Meri Baat • Gol Maal • Female Ki Email • Eidy Chupa ke Rakhna • Dulha (2002) • Corner Wali Haveli • Valima tayar hai • Laal kilay ki rani, laloo khet ka raja • Tera baqra mera qasai • Nayee ammi purane abbu • Kia cheez hai Pakistani

• Year — Show — Role — Channel — Notes • 2009 — The Shareef Show — Host — Geo Entertainment • 2005–2008 — The Great Indian Laughter Challenge — Guest — STAR One • 2005 — Omer Sharif vs Omer Sharif — Host/Actor — Geo Entertainment

Sharif's first movie was Hisaab (1986) but he's better known for Mr 420 (1992), a movie where he not only acted but also directed, wrote and sung in, that led to a revival of Pakistan's cinema till 1998. He would work in some 35 films, his last movie being Chand Babu (1999), that he directed, produced and acted in.

• Year — Title — Actor — Director — Producer — Writer — Singer — Language — Notes • 1986 — Hisab — Urdu • 1987 — Kundan • 1992 — Mr. 420 • 1993 — Mr. Charlie • 1994 — Khandan — Urdu/Punjabi • Laat Sahb • Ghunda Raj — Punjabi • Zameen Aasman — Urdu/Punjabi • But Shikkan • 1995 — Mastana Mahi — Punjabi • 1999 — Chand Babu — Urdu