Chaim Topol (born September 9, 1935), often billed simply as Topol, is one of the most famous Israeli theatrical and film performers. Topol appeared in his first film in 1964, and in 1966 he made his first English-language screen appearance as Abou Ibn Kaqden in the big-budget Mickey Marcus biopic Cast a Giant Shadow.

Chaim Topol rehearsing for a stage performance.

He came to greatest prominence in the role of Tevye the milkman in the long-running musical show Fiddler on the Roof. After scoring an enormous success on the London stage, he later appeared in the 1971 film version of the play. In 1972 Topol won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the film. He was on active service with the Israeli army at the time, but was granted permission to attend the awards ceremonies.

Some of his other notable appearances were in Galileo (1975), Flash Gordon (1980), and as Milos Columbo in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only (1981). One of Topol’s best known roles in an Israeli production was in the controversial Sallah Shabbati by Ephraim Kishon — a play, later adapted for film, depicting the hardships of a new Sephardi Jewish family in Israel of the early 1950s. He has recently starred in Left Luggage (1998) playing the role of Mr Apfelschnitt, and Time Elevator (1998) as Shalem.