Ahmed Zaki (actor)

Ahmed Zaki Metwally Abdelrahman Badawi (أحمد زكي متولي عبد الرحمن بدوي; 18 November 1949 – 27 March 2005), usually known as Ahmed Zaki (أحمد زكي), was an Egyptian film actor. He was characterized by his talent, skill, and ability in impersonating. He was also famous for his on-screen intensity. Though he first appeared in a small role in a comedy play, he is widely regarded as one of the most talented male actors, especially in dramatic and tragic roles. Zaki has worked in six films that have been listed in the Top 100 Egyptian films.

Early days
Ahmed Zaki was born in the city of Zagazig, about 50 mile 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.

Highlights
Many of his films were written by screenwriter Wahid Hamed and had a strong political message that exposed governmental and police corruption. He also starred in the famous 1985 television comedy musical series Howa wa Heya with actress Soad Hosny. Zaki also starred in a series of successful 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 Mohamed 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. In the 1980s, Zaki had the chance to act alongside Salah Zulfikar, the two starred together in two movies. He was also known for portraying prominent figures 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, 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 Fouad 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 granted him the Order of Merit 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 Tarek El Shennawi, Mohammad Al Shafe’ee, and Waleed Saif.

Legacy
On November 18, 2020, Google celebrated his 71st birthday with a Google Doodle, which included boxing gloves to refer to Al Nimr Al Aswad (The Black Tiger), a crab for Kaboria (The Crab), a camera for Edhak El-Sora Tetlaa’ Helwa (Smile, the Picture Will Come Out Fine), and the animals from Arba’a Fi Muhimma Rasmiya (Four on an Official Mission).

Filmography

 * 1974: Abnaa Al-Samt (The Children of Silence) – Mahmoud
 * 1978: El Omr Lahza (Life is a Moment)
 * 1979: Alexandria... Why? – Ibrahim
 * 1979: Shafika and Metwali
 * 1980: Al Batneyya – Safrot
 * 1981: Maowid ala ashaa – Shukri
 * 1981: Ana La Aktheb Wlakenani Atajaml – Ibrahim
 * 1981: Taer ala el tariq – Fares
 * 1981: Oyun la tanam
 * 1982: El-akdar el-damia – Kher
 * 1982: Al-Awwama rakm 70
 * 1983: Darb El Hawa – Abdel Aziz
 * 1983: El Ehteyat Wageb – Hassan
 * 1983: Al modmen
 * 1984: The Black Tiger – Muhammed Hassan
 * 1984: El-Raqesah wa el-Tabbal – Abdo
 * 1984: El Lela AL Mawooda – Fathi
 * 1984: The Prince – Prince Yousef Othman Basha
 * 1984: Al-Takhshiba – Majdy El Douski
 * 1985: Saad El Yateem – Zakaria
 * 1985: Howa wa heya (Him & Her) (TV Mini-Series) – Afifi Abu Al Naja / Mahrous Al Dishnawi Shawqi / Moonis Khalil / Majdi / Metwalli / Nader / Khaled / Medhat / Jalal
 * 1986: Shader al-samak – Ahmad Abu Kamel
 * 1986: Love on the Pyramids Plateau
 * 1986: Al Bedaya (The Beginning)
 * 1986: The Innocent – Ahmad Saba' Al Layl
 * 1987: Arba’a Fi Muhimma Rasmiya – Anwar
 * 1987: Al Makhtufa – Hussien
 * 1987: The Wife of an Important Man – Hesham
 * 1987: El Beih El Bawwab – Abdulsamee
 * 1988: Al-Darga Al-Thalitha (The third Class) – Sorour
 * 1988: Dreams of Hind and Camilia – Eid
 * 1989: Those Guys – Zaki Al Humsani
 * 1990: One Woman Is Not Enough – Hussam
 * 1990: Kaboria – Hassan Hudhud
 * 1990: El-Baydha Wal Hagar – Mustataa
 * 1990: Al Embrator – Zeinhom Abdel-Haq
 * 1990: Al Beh Al bawab (The Rich guard)
 * 1991: Escape – Montaser Abdel Ghafour
 * 1991: Al-Ra'i wal Nisaa (The Shepherd and the Women)
 * 1992: Dhid el hokouma – Mustafa Khalaf
 * 1992: Al Basha – Hazem El Shennawy
 * 1993: Sawwaq el hanem – Hamada
 * 1993: Mr Karate
 * 1994: Al ragol al talet
 * 1996: Esstakoza – Abbass
 * 1996: Abo Dahab – Abo Dahab
 * 1996: Nasser 56 – President Gamal Abdel Nasser
 * 1996: Nazwa
 * 1996: Hysteria
 * 1997: Hassan Ellol (Hassan) – Hassan
 * 1998: El Batal (The Hero)
 * 1998: Edhak El-Sora Tetlaa’ Helwa (Smile to make the photo looks good, Sherif Arafa) – Sayed Gharib
 * 2000: Ard el khof (The Land of Fear) – Yehia
 * 2001: Ayyam El Sadat (The Days of Sadat, Mohamed Khan) – President Anwar Sadat
 * 2003: Ma'ali al Wazir – Ra'fat Rostom
 * 2005–2006: Halim (directed by Sherif Arafa) – Abdel Halim Hafez (final film role)