Biography
American writer and journalist, a nationally syndicated astrologer and
newspaper columnist. Omarr is the author of "My World of
Astrology," 1965, and 12 annual sun-sign paperback books with
indications for the year.
Frequently seen on TV, he is a poised, erudite and articulate guest on
interview shows, also well-versed in numerology. With a production line of
columns and books for the general public, he added "World Famous
Psychic" to his dossier in 2001 with phone numbers listed in pulp
papers for the convenience of those seeking his advice.
In 1996, with more than 40 million copies of his books in print and a
column in 300 daily newspapers, Omarr published his memoirs, "Answer
in the Sky - Almost." It is written as a series of anecdotes of his
adventures in the world of astrology. He makes no secret of his contempt
for academic snobbery and exposes incidents of scientific
"cover-ups" that exclude the historic prevalence of the
astrological method.
The son of a grocer and a housewife, Sydney was performing
sleight-of-hand tricks in magic shops at age 15 and local talent shows
when he changed his name. His interest in astrology and numerology began
at that time and he sold his first self-oublished booklet for $2.00. At
17, he enlisted in the Army. A year later, he was transferred to Okinawa,
where he became the first and only GI assigned astrology duty.
After the service, he attended journalism courses at Mexico City
College and went on to become a reporter for United Press. One of his
first assignments was to interview the governor of California at the time,
Sagittarius Goodwin Knight, about some pending legislation.
He sold his first book, "Sydney Omarr's Private Course on
Numerology" and began analyzing the charts of movie stars in
magazines. One of his proudest moments was his three-hour debate on
Philadelphia radio station WPEN the night of 6/21/1951, with astronomer
Roy K. Marshall, then director of the Fels Planetarium. The confrontation
brought Omarr to the attention of astronomers and science writers, and
elevated his public image as a skillful protagonist, helping to make him a
star.
By the early 1970s, Omarr was publishing several books a year, and
appearing regularly on TV talk shows hosted by Virgo Regis Philbin, Leo
Mike Douglas, Cancer Merv Griffin and Libra Johnny Carson. He also threw
legendary parties for fawning celebrities and glamorous women in his home
at that time, a Santa Monica condominium overlooking the waves.
Nearly all of the women in his life remain close friends. Among them is
Virgo Jeraldine Saunders, a former fashion model and television producer
who was Omarr's wife in 1966 for eight months.
At age 76, Omarr showed remarkable spirit and zest for his work with
syndicated publications. Paralyzed by multiple sclerosis, the world's most
widely read astrologer is blind and paralyzed from the neck down. Working
with his editorial advisor, Capricorn Valerie Barbeaux., Omarr dictates
daily from his bed. The walls at his Westside apartment are covered with
signed photographs of movie stars and public figures. In an adjacent room,
assistant and friend Sagittarius Paul Smalls organizes Omarr's daily
pay-per-call telephonic astrological forecasts, and assembling material
for the 13 books - one for each sign of the zodiac and one for the entire
year - that his boss writes annually. His books have sold more than 50
million copies worldwide, making him a wealthy man.
Rarely granting interviews, he appears confident yet modest, part
mystic and part everyday-Joe. His disease of Multiple Sclerosis, diagnosed
in 1971, robbed him of his sight in the early ‘90s. His column still
appears in more than 200 daily newspapers.
The old master died on 01/02/2003 at St. John's Health Center in Santa
Monica after a heart attack, his ex-wife and friends at his side.
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