Topol was born in the state of Tel Aviv, which was then a part of British Mandate of Palestine. He was always passionate about acting and particirpated in amateur theatrical plays that were conducted to entertain the Isaraeli army. A few years later he established his own theatre in Tel Aviv. Topol acted in his first film in the year 1964 and the year 1966 saw him act in his first English language film, as Abou Ibn Kaqden in the movie Cast a Giant Shadow.
He really came into his own in the role of Tevye the milkman in the famous show Fiddler on the Roof. After being loved by the British and becoming a big hit on the the London stage, he soon appeared in the film version of the Play. In the year 1972 Topol was able to win the Golden Globe Award and was even nominated for the best actor in the film. He was serving in the Israeli Army at that time but was still permitted to attend the award ceremonies.
Some of his other famous roles were in films like Galileo (1975), and also in the super hero classic Flash Gordon (1980), he also lent his talent for the James Bond flick For Your Eyes Only. One of his most famous roles was in an Israeli production Sallah Shabbati directed by Ephraim Kishon - it was a play which was later turned into a movie. The movie depicted hardships faced by a Sephardi Jewish family in the newly formed land of Israel in the 1950s. He has most recently been part of the movie Left Luggage (1998) where he played the role of Mr. Apfelschnitt, and has also lent his presence to the movie Time Elevator (1998)
He is the father of the beautiful actress Ady Topol and the talented Anat Topol.