Ahmed Zaki
Ahmed Zaki (November 18, 1949 - March 27, 2005) was a leading Egyptian film actor who was characterized by his talent, skill, and ability to impersonate. Dubbed "The Emperor", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest male actors in the Arab world. Zaki has starred in six films that have been listed in the Top 100 Egyptian films. Ahmed Zaki was born to a poor family in Sharqia, Egypt. His father died a few years after his birth, his mother remarried, and he was brought up to live with his grandfather. Zaki fell in love with acting when he was still in school, his headmaster saw his creative ability and pushed him to follow his passion. He would later travel to Cairo and earn his degree from the Cairo Higher Institute for Drama Studies in 1974. While studying, he first debuted in the stage play Hello Shalaby (1969). He also starred in very successful comedy plays such as School of Mischief (1973) and No Longer Kids (1979). Early in his career, he struggled with producers and directors as they believed he did not have the appearance to appeal to audiences. When he got objected by the film distributor to star in Al Karnak (1975) after he was cast as the character Ismail, he entered a severe depression. He did not overcome it until after poet and playwright Salah Jahin supported him, as Jahin was convinced of his talent and would later write films and a TV show Zaki starred in. Many of his films had a strong political message that exposed governmental and police corruption. Two of his greatest successes were playing Egypt's presidents in two popular movies that became landmarks of Arabic cinema. He played Gamal Abdel Nasser in Nasser 56 (1996) and Anwar Sadat in Days of Sadat (2001). He also portrayed other prominent Egyptian figures such as writer Taha Hussien. Zaki was a method actor who immersed himself profoundly in his roles, absorbing every aspect of the character he was portraying whether he was fictional or real in origin. In 1983, he married actress Hala Fouad but the marriage did not last. She gave birth to his only son Haitham Zaki in 1984, who would also grow up to be an actor until his sudden and tragic death in 2019. His former wife died in 1993 after a battle with breast cancer. He was a known heavy smoker. In 2005, Ahmed Zaki died of lung cancer during the shooting of Sherif Arafa's biography Halim (2006), in which he portrayed the legendary singer Abdel Halim Hafez, a role he's always dreamed to play. His son Haitham was roped in to fill the scenes and play the lead on behalf of his father. Years after his passing, he is remembered with great reverence and fondness within the film industry and outside it, his contributions seen as monumental by his contemporaries as well as the generations that followed.
The School of Mischief
as AhmedThis play takes place in a school that consists of five rebellious students grouped together in...
Movie pageAlexandria… Why?
as IbrahimAmid the poverty, death, and suffering caused by World War II, 18-year-old Yehia retreats into a...
Movie pageLand of Fear
as Yehia / AdamA story about a police officer who was assigned to a secret mission as an undercover drug...
Movie pageAlley of Love
as AbdulazizThe encounters and relationships that a brothel hotel witnessed, from a well known man in power,...
Movie pageThe Escape
as Montaser Abdel GhaffarAhmed Zaki plays a peasant, Mountasir, who gets involved in a criminal racket run by his friend...
Movie pageDreams of Hind and Camilia
as EidHend is a young widow who works as a maid, she meets Eid the conman who goes to prison and...
Movie pageThe Wife of an Important Man
as Hisham Abu Al-WafaWhen Mona marries the seemingly decent police officer Hisham, she finds out there is more into...
Movie pageWelad Eleih
as Zaki Al-HomsaniNajib discovers that the businessman's salary is doing a lot of illegal work, and he delivers...
Movie pageDays of El Sadat
as Anwar El SadatA biopic depicting the life of the late Egyptian president Anwar Sadat, following his early...
Movie pageThe Innocent
as Ahmad Saba' Al LailA simple minded peasant was recruited in the Egyptian army where he was deceived to believe that...
Movie pageHalim
as عبدالحليم حافظThe film displays the life of legendary singer(Abd Alhalim Hafez) in various stages. Depicting...
Movie pageNo Longer Kids
as KamalThe play tells the story of four siblings trying to stop their father from leaving his family...
Movie pageSmile, The Photo Comes Out Better
as Sayed GharibPhotographer Sayed Gharib leaves his hometown and moves Cairo to be close to the Faculty of...
Movie pageA Bird on the Road
as FaresFaris works as a regional car driver, and he loves Esmat who works in a garment shop. Ismail is...
Movie pageThe Egg and the Stone
as Mustataa Al-TaaziA philosophy teacher finds himself and his ethics surrounded by a corrupt society, and as he's...
Movie pageThe Addict
as Khaled Abdel HamidHe was a student at the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Ahmed Halim (Adel Adham), who studied with his...
Movie pageHysteria
as ZeinZain, a graduate of the Higher Institute of Music, lives with his mother, his brother Ramzi and...
Movie pageMr. Karate
as صلاح عبدالراضىSalah moves to Cairo to work as a guard in a garage and falls in love with Nadia, who works at a...
Movie pageSaad the Orphan
as uncreditedThe story of Saad al-Yateem, whose father was killed by his uncle (Badran), and his righteous...
Movie pageAl Makhtufa
as HusseinA collision occurs between a taxi driven by Hussein and the car of Nevin, the daughter of...
Movie pageLife is a Moment
as عبدالعزيز سراجIn the wake of the June 1967 war, Naamat lives on the hot side of her life, with her husband...
Movie pageHello Shalaby
as راضيa comedy play about a struggling theater cast seeking funding to show one of its plays, they...
Movie pageAgainst the Government
as Mustafa KhalafAfter being fired by the prosecution office, Mostafa becomes a personal injury lawyer and takes...
Movie pageThe Champion
as Mahmoud (Houda Kalawi)On the eve of the 1919 revolution in Egypt, the friendship between Houda al-Najjar, who likes...
Movie pageThe Third Man
as uncredited(Kamal Hussain) is a fighter pilot discharged from military service. After his wife leaves him,...
Movie pageThe Lady's Driver
as حمادهA Lady of the royal family live and breed on the ruins of the past, her husband, son and...
Movie pageLove Above Pyramid's Plateau
as uncreditedThe film puts the lights on the struggle of youngsters to afford a proper life for marriage....
Movie pageCairo in a Thousand Years
as uncreditedA play about the history of Cairo.
Movie pageKaborya
as Hassan HodhodHassan Hudhud is a poor boxer who dreams of championships and glory. He accidentally takes part...
Movie pageHis Excellency the Minister
as Ra'fat RostomA mix-up leads Ra'fat Rostum to a ministerial seat that he was never meant to have. As he...
Movie pageThe Bey Doorman
as Abdel SameaAbdel Samea goes to Egypt with his wife and children looking for a job so he works as a doorman,...
Movie pageThe Dancer & the Drummer
as uncreditedAfter having trouble with the dancer who worked with him for several months, the drummer Abdo...
Movie pageThe Shepherd and the Women
as حسن عبدالراضيThe widowed Wafaa lives with her teenage daughter Salma and her sister-in-law Azza in her late...
Movie pageSleepless Eyes
as IsmailIbrahim, the owner of a large car workshop, marries a poor girl called Mahasen, which his...
Movie pageMarket of The Fish
as Ahmed Abo KamelA widow bullied by traders in the fish market from further commercial aims after the death of...
Movie pageHouseboat No. 70
as Ahmed Al-ShazlyDocumentary filmmaker Ahmed El Shazly is working on a new film about a cotton gin. When a worker...
Movie pageWaraa Al-Shams
as Essam عصام"Behind the Sun" clearly identifies the time identity of his film. It follows the horrific...
Movie pageAlbarnas
as Yousef OsmanA Young woman fall in love with a poor musician and because she was from the royal family she...
Movie pageFour On An Official Mission
as Anwar Abdel MawlaAnwar Abdel Mawla is an employee working in a government agency, his life changes when he takes...
Movie pageThe promised night
as uncreditedFathi trades in smuggled goods, he lives with his mother Bahia and loves his neighbor Fakiha who...
Movie pageAl-Batniyya
as SafroutIt tells stories of webs of drug dealing, rivalry, revenge and murder among the residents of al...
Movie pageA Dinner Date
as شكريThis movie revolves around the story of an innocent girl (Nawal) who was married to a rich and...
Movie pageThe Third Class
as SuroorA group of football team supporters go through a lot of trouble to watch the games while the...
Movie pagePrecausion is Mandatory
as حسانHassan Musharraf, a reformist, came from the countryside looking for a role in the capital....
Movie pageAbo Dahab
as uncreditedAbo Dahab is a poor baker who goes to prison instead of his corrupted boss. When he gets out, he...
Movie pageOne Woman Is Not Enough
as Hossam MounirJournalist Hossam is involved with three different women at the same time. Amira, the charming...
Movie pageBlack Tiger
as Mohammad Hasan Al MasriAn Egyptian goes to Germany to work in a factory and become a boxing legend called black tiger.
Movie pageThe Beginning
as AdelAfter a crash, a group of passengers are stranded in the desert. They attempt to cope with their...
Movie pageMy Son
as عصفورJaber is a professional hitman who decides to repent, but the gang he is affiliated with refuses...
Movie pageHassan Ellol
as Hassan Ragheb Al-Minshawi (Hassan Al-Loul)Hasan al-Lul is a poor young man. His father used to smuggle weapons to the guerrillas during...
Movie pageShafiqa and Metwally
as متوليThe authorities summon many young men for forced labor in the Suez Canal, so Metwally leaves his...
Movie pageI'm Not Lying, I'm Sugar Coating
as Ibrahim SalehIbraham the industrious student fall in love with his colleague Khayriyah and she also fall in...
Movie pageLobster
as Abbas Al-AntilAbbas is an interior architect living in Hurghada. He gets into a quarrel with Ismat, the owner...
Movie pageNasser 56
as Gamal Abdel NasserNasser 56 is a 1996 Egyptian historical film directed by Mohamed Fadel, starring Ahmed Zaki. The...
Movie pageJail Cell
as MagdyA doctor finds herself criminally involved in a baseless crime after a minor accident causes...
Movie pageAl Basha
as Hazem El-ShennawyA police officer finds himself worthless as he soon realizes there's no way he could put an end...
Movie pageSons of Silence
as MahmoudAs the war of attrition with Israel reaches its peak, and while Magdy is waging his war on the...
Movie pageThe Troublemakers
as SayedRico is the director of an Egyptian theater company, a message comes from a concert in Lebanon...
Movie pageStar Maker
as MamdouhThe famous star Siham attends a theatrical performance, where she meets the actor Saeed, and...
Movie pageBedour
as SaeedSewer worker Saber learns about the role of the woman who decides to repent. He claims to the...
Movie pageThe Emperor
as ZeinhomThe story deals with the journey of Zinham, a young man who fled Egypt from Upper Egypt in...
Movie pageBloody Destinies
as Kheir خيرAs Major General Helmy and his son Sa'ad take part in the first Palestine War, his wife Horeya...
Movie pageAn Affair
as SalahA psychopath woman seduces a married man to sleep with her so she could threaten him later and...
Movie pageThe Days
as uncreditedThe series chronicles the life of Taha Hussein, The Dean of Arabic Literature, as he leaves the...
TV Show pageHe and She Stories
as uncreditedA drama consisting of several separate episodes, each episode discusses a different issue of men...
TV Show page