The Early Days

Was born as: Ahmed Abdullrahman Zaki 18 November 1949 -27 March 2005 in the Nile Delta city of Zagazig, about 50 miles north of Cairo, Egypt. He graduated from Zagazig's Crafts School in 1967, and then traveled to Cairo to study cinema before he graduated from the Cairo Higher Institute for Drama Studies in 1974.

Zaki was one of Egypt's leading movie stars who broke the color barrier in Egyptian cinema by being the first Black actor to play leading roles usually reserved for light-skinned actors of that era.

Career Highlights

For 30 years, Zaki impressed his audiences by playing comic, romantic and tragic roles in theater, cinema and on TV. He was considered a super star among his generation. Zaki's had his first chance to professionaly act while he was still studying at the Theatre Institute in 1969: he was cast in a small part as a room service attendant in the comedy play "Hello Shalabi" ; he managed to make an impressive comic sketch, notably impersonating the celebrated villain actor Mahmoud El-Meligui which managed to let everyone take note of his brilliant, natural performance. Such impersonation was Zaki's favourite hobby, and it was a skill he developed brilliantly over time..

His greatest successes were playing Egypt's presidents in two popular movies that became landmarks of Arab cinema. He played presidents Gamal Abdel Nasser in Nasser 56 1996, (a movie that centered on the fateful summer of 1956, when then-President Nasser nationalizing the Suez Canal), and Anwar Sadat in the movie The Days of Sadat 1999 with director Mohammed Khan which he also produced. The movie depicted 40 years of the late president's life. He also had plans to play president Hosni Mubarak in a third movie. He is also known for portaying prominent characters in Egyptian history like Taha Hussien.

People in the street often hailed him as Ahmad al-Shair, in reference to his role in the classic comedy play Madrasit Al- Mushaghibin (The School for Trouble Makers). His leap to stardom began when he got a leading role in the successful 1978 comedy play Al-Iyal Kibrit (The Children have Grown Up) then his television impersonation of the blind Egyptian litterateur Taha Hussein ("the dean of Arabic literature") in the serial drama of the latter's eponymous autobiography Al-Ayyam (The Days).

He made his first film, Abnaa Elsamt (Children of Silence), in 1974. By 1980 he had made six films, including (Alexandria ... Why?) with Egypt's best known director, Yusuf Shahin . Zaki appeared in more than 60 films throughout his career.

Many of his films, were written by screenwriter Wahid Hamed , and had a strong political message that exposed governmental and police corruption.

Zaki died before accomplishing one of his dreams: "Haleem" a musical drama movie about the life of the celebrated Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafez that was planned for release in 2006, as it is 80% complete and directed by Sherif Arafa .

The End

He was a known heavy smoker, Zaki had been in intensive care at Dar al-Fuad Hospital in Sixth of October City , just outside Cairo, and died of lung cancer complications, after president Hosni Mubarak offered to send him to France for medical treatment at the government's expense and granting him the Merit of Arts award for his work in over 50 movies. He also stared in the famous 80s TV comedy musical series Howa we Heya with actress Souad Houssni.

A book about Zaki has been released under the title of “Ahmad Zaki wa Symphoniet Ibda’” (Ahmad Zaki: A Symphonic Innovation Masterpiece). The book features details of his acting career and includes a compilation of articles by different critics including Tareq Al Shinawi , Mohammad Al Shafe’ee , Waleed Saif .

Family

His ex-wife, actress Hala Fouad , who also died in 1991 of cancer at the age of 34. They had one son, Haitham.

Filmography

Sometimes Credited As:

• Ahmed Zaky
• Ahmed Zaki

Filmography in order of theatrical release dates

• 1974 Abnaa Al-Samt (Children of the Silence, M Radi)
• 1974 Bidour (N Galal)
• 1977 Sani' Al-Nigoum (Star Maker, M Radi)
• 1978 Al-Omr Lahza (Life is an Instant, M Radi)
• Waraa Al-Shams (Beyond the Sun, M Radi)
• 1978 Iskandereiya... leh? (Alexandria, Why? Y Chahine)
• 1979 Chafika et Metwal (A Badrakhan)
• 1980 Al-Batniya (Hossameddin Mustafa)
• Ana La Akzib wa Lakini Atagammal (I Don't Lie but I Embellish Myself, N Anglo)
• 1981 Oyun la tanam (Eyes that Never Sleep, R El-Mihi)
• 1981 Maowid ala ashaa (Date on Dinner, M Khan)
• 1981 Taer ala el tariq (Bird on the Road, M Khan)
• 1982 Al-Awama Sabiin (Houseboat 70, K Bishara)
• Al-Aqdar Al-Damiya (Bloody Fates, K Bishara)
• 1983 Al-Ihtiyat Wagib (Being on Guard is Smart, A Fouad)
• Darb Al-Hawa (The Alley of Desire, H Mustafa)
• Al-Mudmin (The Addict, Y Francis)
• 1984 Al-Lila Al-Maouda (The Promised Night, Y El-Alami)
• 1984 Al Hob fawk habadet al haram (Love on the Pyramids Plateau, A El-Tayeb)
• Al-Raqisa Wal Tabbal (The Bellydancer and the Drumer, A Fahmi)
• Al-Takhshiba (The Detention Room, A El-Tayeb)
• Al-Nimr Al-Aswad (Black Tiger, A Salem)
• Al-Brins (The Prince, F Saleh)
• 1985 Saad Al-Yatim (Saad the Orphan, A Fahmi)
• 1986 Shader Al-Samak (Fish Market, A Abdel-Khaleq)
• Al-Barii (The Innocent, A El-Tayeb)
• 1986 Al-Bidaya (The Beginning, S Abu Seif)
• 1987 Arba'a Fi Muhimma Rasmiya (Four in an Official Mission, A Abdel-Khaleq)
• 1987 Zawgat ragol mohim (The Wife of an Important Man, M Khan)
• Al-Beih Al-Bawab (His Excellency the Porter, H Ibrahim)
• 1989 Ahlam Hind wa Camilia (Dreams of Hind and Camilia, M Khan)
• Al-Daraga Al-Thalitha (Third Class, S Arafa)
• 1989 Wilad Al-Eih (Sons of Guns, S Yehia)
• 1990 Imraa Wahida la Takfi (One Woman is not Enough, I El-Deghidi)
• Kaboria (Crab, K Bishara)
• Al-Beida Wal-Hagar (Charlatan, A Abdel-Khaleq)
• Al-Imbrator (The Emperor, T El-Erian)
• 1991 Al-Makhtoufa (The Kidnapped, S Yehia)
• Al-Huroub (The Escape, A El-Tayeb)
• Al-Raai Wal Nisaa (The Shepherd and the Women, A Badrakhan)
• 1992 Did el hokouma (Against the Government, A El-Tayeb)
• 1993 Mr Karate (M Khan)
• Al-Basha (The Pasha, T El-Erian)
• 1993 Sawwaq el hanem (The Lady's Driver, H Ibrahim)
• 1995 Al-Ragul Al-Thalith (The Third Man, A Badrakhan)
• 1996 Istakoza (Lobsters, I El-Deghidi)
• 1996 Hysteria (A Adeeb)
• Abul-D (Wonderland, Diaaeddin)
• Nasser 56 (M Fadel)
• Nazwa (Slip, A Badrakhan)
• 1997 Hassan El-Lol (N Galal)
• Al-Batal (The Hero, M Ahmed Ali)
• 1998 Edhak el soura tetlaa helwa (Smile, the Photo will be Good, S Arafa)
• 1999 Ard Al-Khouf (Land of Fear, D Abdel-Sayed)
• 2001 Ayam El-Sadat (Days of Sadat, M Khan)
• 2003 Ma'ali Al Wazir (His Excellency the Minister, S Seif)
• 2005-2006 Haleem: Al-Andalib (Haleem: The Lark, S Arafa) (In production)

For the Actor's - filmography check IMDB profile