Egyptian actor Ezzat Abou Aouf Dies at 71

Rabat – Award-winning Egyptian actor, Ezzat Abou Aouf, died this morning, Monday, June 1, in a hospital in Cairo. The iconic 71-year-old actor is said to have been suffering from heart and liver problems in recent years. He spent the last few weeks of his life in the ICU receiving treatment for the conditions.

Abou Aouf had become a beloved icon in the Egyptian film industry, having starred in over 100 productions, either in film, television or theatre.

The actor was born in 1948, and after gaining a bachelor’s degree in medicine, began a career as an obstetrician. However, he decided to leave the profession to follow his passion for creative arts.

He then formed a band in the early 80s with his four sisters, Mona, Maha, Manal and Mervat, called 4M. As the band gained popularity, the film industry spotted Abou Aouf’s natural talent and easy charm and he began taking on-screen jobs in 1992.

He starred in dozens of productions, such as “Hawanem Garden City” (Garden City Ladies), “Nisf Rabie Al Akhir” (The Other Half of Rabie), among others, before becoming the director of the Cairo International Film Festival for seven years, solidifying himself as a pioneer of Egyptian film.

He also never lost his passion for music as his acting career took off, having developed soundtracks for many productions alongside acting.

His funeral will take place on Monday, at the Sayeda Nafisa Mosque in Cairo shortly after noon prayers. He leaves behind two children, Kamal and Mariam Abou Aouf, the latter of which followed his footsteps into the film industry and is a director.