Ahmed Zaki

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.
Known For: Acting
Birthday: 1949-11-18
Place of Birth: Zagazig, Egypt
Also Known As: أحمد زكي

Movies List of Ahmed Zaki

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Jail Cell

1984 Movie
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No Longer Kids

1979 Movie
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Bedour

1974 Movie
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Star Maker

1977 Movie
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My Son

1972 Movie
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Hello Shalaby

1969 Movie
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Victims Hotel

Movie
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Shafiqa and Metwally

1978 Movie
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Land of Fear

2000 Movie
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Days of El Sadat

2001 Movie
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Black Tiger

1984 Movie
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Al Basha

1993 Movie
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Sons of Silence

1974 Movie
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Market of The Fish

1986 Movie
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The Third Man

1995 Movie
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Mr. Karate

1993 Movie
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The Escape

1991 Movie
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A Dinner Date

1981 Movie
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A Bird on the Road

1981 Movie
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The Egg and the Stone

1990 Movie
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Sleepless Eyes

1981 Movie
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Alexandria… Why?

1979 Movie
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The Beginning

1986 Movie
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The Innocent

1986 Movie
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Nasser 56

1996 Movie
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The Bey Doorman

1987 Movie
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Albarnas

1984 Movie
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The Champion

1997 Movie
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Houseboat No. 70

1982 Movie
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Halim

2006 Movie
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The Emperor

1990 Movie
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Al-Batniyya

1980 Movie
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Alley of Love

1983 Movie
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Hysteria

1996 Movie
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Kaborya

1990 Movie
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The Lady's Driver

1993 Movie
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Lobster

1996 Movie
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Abo Dahab

1996 Movie
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An Affair

1996 Movie
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Hassan Ellol

1997 Movie
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Welad Eleih

1989 Movie
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The Third Class

1988 Movie
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Trouble rioters

1973 Movie
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The promised night

1984 Movie
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The Addict

1983 Movie
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Al Makhtufa

1991 Movie
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Waraa Al-Shams

1978 Movie
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Saad the Orphan

1985 Movie
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Life is a Moment

1978 Movie
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Bloody Destinies

1982 Movie