Ahmed Zaki
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2008-07-13T20:32:08Z
Landon1980
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/41.209.100.34|41.209.100.34]] ([[User talk:41.209.100.34|talk]]) to last version by Nespost
{{Infobox actor
| bgcolour = silver
| name = Ahmed Zaki
| image =AhmedZakki.jpg
| imagesize = 150px
| caption =
| birthdate = [[November 18]] [[1949]]
| location = [[Zagazig]], {{EGY}}
| height =
| deathdate = [[March 27]] [[2005]]
| deathplace =[[Cairo]]
| yearsactive = [[1974]]-[[2005]]
| birthname =
| othername =
| homepage =
| academyawards =
}}
'''Ahmed Zaki''' ('''Ahmed Zaky'''; [[November 18]], [[1949]] – [[March 27]], [[2005]]) was a leading [[Egyptians|Egyptian]] film star. He was characterised by his talent, skill and ability in [[impersonating]]. He was also famous for his on-screen vehemence, often genuinely hitting co-stars during scenes of violence.
== Early days ==
Ahmed Zaki was born 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]].
For 30 years, Ahmed Zaki impressed his audiences by playing comic, romantic and tragic roles in [[theater]], cinema and on [[television]]. He was considered a super star among his generation. Ahmed had his first chance to professionally 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''; (the original actor didn't show up, and Ahmed who was working as Soft Drinks vendor at the time, managed to get the fill-in on one night) he managed to make an impressive comic sketch, notably impersonating the celebrated villain actor [[Mahmoud el-Meliguy]] which managed to let everyone take note of his impressive, natural performance. Such impersonation was Zaki's favourite hobby, and it was a skill he developed over time.
People in the street often hailed him as ''Sbel'', in reference to his role in the classic comedy play ''[[Madrasit El-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 literateur [[Taha Hussein]] ("the dean of Arabic literature") in the serial drama of the latter's eponymous autobiography ''El-Ayyam'' (The Days).
== Career highlights ==
[[Image:AhmedZakki_Nasser.jpg|thumb|Ahmed Zaki in the role of Nasser; in the movie "Nasser 56".]]
[[Image:AhmedZakki_Sadat.jpg|thumb|Ahmed Zaki in the role of Sadat; in the movie "[[Ayyam El Sadat|Days of Sadat]]".]]
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, [[Youssef Chahine|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 [[political corruption|governmental]] and police [[police corruption|corruption]]. He also starred in the famous 1980s television comedy musical series ''[[Howa we Heya]]'' with actress [[Souad Houssni]]. Zaki also starred in a series of successful [[Action films|action]] movies during the mid-and late-1990s.
Two of his greatest successes were playing Egypt's presidents in two popular movies that became landmarks of Arabic 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]] ([[2001]])'' 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 portraying prominent characters in Egyptian history like [[Taha Hussein]].
Zaki was seen as an icon and spokesperson for the average Egyptian youth, he was also considered the heir to [[Farid Shawki]] as ''Malek El Terso'' ("The King of the Third Class" - a reference to his popularity among the poor, who bought third-class seats in movie theatres) in an Egyptian magazine. Ironically the two starred together in two movies several years earlier.
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.
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]] and [[Waleed Saif]].
== Filmography in order of 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)
* 1978 ''[[Waraa Al-Shams]]'' (''Beyond the Sun'', M Radi)
* 1978 ''[[Iskandereiya... leh?]]'' (''Alexandria, Why?'', [[Youssef Chahine]])
* [[1979]] ''[[Chafika et Metwal]]'' (''A Badrakhan'')
* [[1980]] ''[[Al-Batniya]]'' (''Hossameddin Mustafa'')
* 1980 ''[[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)
* 1982 ''[[Al-Aqdar Al-Damiya]]'' (''Bloody Fates'', K Bishara)
* [[1983]] ''[[Al-Ihtiyat Wagib]]'' (''Being on Guard is Smart'', A Fouad)
* 1983 ''[[Darb Al-Hawa]]'' (''The Alley of Desire'', H Mustafa)
* 1983 ''[[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)
* 1984 ''[[Al-Raqisa Wal Tabbal]]'' (''The Bellydancer and the Drummer'', A Fahmi)
* 1984 ''[[Al-Takhshiba]]'' (''The Detention Room'', A El-Tayeb)
* 1984 ''[[Al-Nimr Al-Aswad]]'' (''Black Tiger'', A Salem)
* 1984 ''[[Al-Brins]]'' (''The Prince'', F Saleh)
* [[1985]] ''[[Saad Al-Yatim]]'' (''Saad the Orphan'', A Fahmi)
* [[1986]] ''[[Shader Al-Samak]]'' (''Fish Market'', A Abdel-Khaleq)
* 1986 ''[[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)
* 1987 ''[[Al-Beih Al-Bawab]]'' (''His Excellency the Porter'', H Ibrahim)
* [[1989]] ''[[Ahlam Hind wa Camilia]]'' (''Dreams of Hind and Camilia'', M Khan)
* 1989 ''[[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)
* 1990 ''[[Kaboria]]'' (''Crab'', K Bishara)
* 1990 ''[[Al-Beida Wal-Hagar]]'' (''Charlatan'', A Abdel-Khaleq)
* 1990 ''[[Al-Imbrator]]'' (''The Emperor'', T El-Erian)
* [[1991]] ''[[Al-Makhtoufa]]'' (''The Kidnapped'', S Yehia)
* 1991 ''[[Al-Huroub]]'' (''The Escape'', A El-Tayeb)
* 1991 ''[[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)
* 1993 ''[[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)
* 1996 ''[[Abul-D]]'' (''Wonderland'', Diaaeddin)
* 1996 ''[[Nasser 56]]'' (M Fadel)
* 1996 ''[[Nazwa]]'' (''Slip'', A Badrakhan)
* [[1997]] ''[[Hassan El-Lol]]'' (N Galal)
* 1997 ''[[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]] ''[[Halim (film)|Halim]]'' (''Halim'', S. Arafa)
== See also ==
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0952304/ IMDB profile]
* [http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2005/736/cu1.htm Ahram Weekly, 31 March - 6 April 2005]
{{CinemaofEgypt}}
[[Category:1949 births|Zaki, Ahmed]]
[[Category:2005 deaths|Zaki, Ahmed]]
[[Category:Egyptian film actors|Zaki, Ahmed]]
[[Category:Lung cancer deaths|Zaki, Ahmed]]
[[ar:أحمد زكي]]
[[fr:Ahmed Zaki]]