Shoes

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Gender

Male

Birthday

1949-11-18

Place of Birth

Zagazig, Egypt

Ahmed Zaki

Biography

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.

Known for

He and She Stories

He and She Stories

A drama consisting of several separate episodes, each episode discusses a different issue of men and women and their relationship with each other.

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The Days

The Days

The series chronicles the life of Taha Hussein, The Dean of Arabic Literature, as he leaves the countryside to get a better education, and then leaves Egypt to France where he meets Susan whom he marries later.

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The Man Who Lost His Memory Twice

The Man Who Lost His Memory Twice

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الصراع

الصراع

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His Excellency the Minister

His Excellency the Minister

A mix-up leads Ra'fat Rostum to a ministerial seat that he was never meant to have. As he successfully holds onto his office for a long time, he starts having violent nightmares and asks his office manager, Ateya, to accompany him to the North Coast in an attempt to stop the nightmares.

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إصلاحية جبل الليمون

إصلاحية جبل الليمون

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Alley of Love

Alley of Love

The encounters and relationships that a brothel hotel witnessed, from a well known man in power, ambitious cunning youngster, to chivalrous college professor, despite such corrupt business ,true love found a place in some hearts.

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Alexandria… Why?

Alexandria… Why?

Amid the poverty, death, and suffering caused by World War II, 18-year-old Yehia retreats into a private world of fantasy and longing. Obsessed with Hollywood, he dreams of studying filmmaking in America but struggles to pursue his dream, given the constraints of his life in the middle class and the horrors of war.

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بستان الشوك

بستان الشوك

Adapted from the novel Wuthering Heights

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Four On An Official Mission

Four On An Official Mission

Anwar Abdel Mawla is an employee working in a government agency, his life changes when he takes an official mission to hand over a heritage to the house of Money in Cairo made up of a monkey, a donkey, and a goat and many ironic comedies happen.

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The School of Mischief

The School of Mischief

In a high school plagued by five unruly students who have failed to graduate for over a decade, the principal hires a new teacher in a last-ditch effort to restore order. Effat, the newly appointed instructor, takes on the challenge with hopes of reforming the troublemakers into model students.

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Sleepless Eyes

Sleepless Eyes

Ibrahim, the owner of a large car workshop, marries a poor girl called Mahasen, which his brothers fear because of their fear of sharing their inheritance. At the same time, Ismael feels a lot of hatred and hatred toward Ibrahim, who works for him in the workshop, The problems all the time with the pros, but soon change the relationship between Mahasen and Ishmael.

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A Dinner Date

A Dinner Date

This movie revolves around the story of an innocent girl (Nawal) who was married to a rich and possessive man who still wants her back after their divorce; however she meets a hair stylist (Shoukry) and falls in love with him. They get married but her first husband starts torturing Shoukry so he can leave Nawal but he refuses. Eventually, acts of revenge begins from both Nawal and her ex-husband.

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Love Above Pyramid's Plateau

Love Above Pyramid's Plateau

The film puts the lights on the struggle of youngsters to afford a proper life for marriage. Through their small incomes, and the ordeal of finding a house in crowded Cairo, so it follows a young couple's longing for their simpliest dreams - to be together.

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The Escape

The Escape

Ahmed Zaki plays a peasant, Mountasir, who gets involved in a criminal racket run by his friend Midhat. Mountasir is betrayed by Midhat and goes to jail. Upon discovering that his wife was forced into prostitution by Midhat, he swears to extract revenge when he leaves jail.

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