Topol was a Mossad Agent and Lived a Double Life

London: Chaim Topol, who gained international fame for his leading role in Fiddler on the Roof, had a secret life as an operative for Israel’s famed spy agency Mossad, his family has revealed.

The Israeli singer and actor, who died last month at the age of 87, worked for the Mossad branch in London as part of his intriguing double life, using his fame to gain access to high-profile locations around the world.

His widow, Galia, and children Adi and Omer told Israeli newspaper Haaretz the star even used his London home as a base to welcome spies for the Israeli national intelligence agency. He often visited embassies, airports and airlines of Arab countries.

Topol starred as Tevye the milkman in the 1967 London premiere of Fiddler on the Roof, and in the 1971 Norman Jewison film version. He toured in the role around the world for decades, reprising the performance more than 3500 times – including twice in Melbourne and in Sydney – and became one of Israel’s most famous actors, winning two Golden Globe Awards, and being nominated for both an Academy Award and a Tony Award.

“I don’t know exactly what the appropriate definition is for the missions and duties he performed,” Omer told the newspaper, adding he was “no James Bond”.

“But what is clear is that dad was involved in secret missions on behalf of the Mossad. His status in those years was that of an international star, and he could go anywhere he wanted. He had the ability to deliver documents and take pictures without anyone questioning anything.”

His family recalled that the actor had a small Minox camera and a tiny spool tape recorder and that he often made secretive trips abroad.

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He was only 36 in 1971? That's stunning.

Who will play Topol in the inevitable Hulu TV mini-series???

Oh what, no one’s going to mention he also created that famous toothpaste?