Hassan Hosny (Arabic: حسن حسني) (June 19, 1936 – May 30, 2020) was an Egyptian actor and comedian. He was known for El Nazer ("The headmaster") (2000), El basha telmiz (2004) and Zaky Chan (2005).[1] Widely regarded as a veteran of Egyptian cinema, his acting career spanned over 50 years and included performances in almost 500 films, television programs and theatre plays.[2] He has been referred to as the Joker of Egyptian cinema.[3]
Biography
Hassan Hosny was born in the citadel district of Cairo on June 19, 1936.[citation needed][a] Born to an entrepreneur father named Hosny, he lost his mother when he was six years old. Described as a thespian during his school years, Hassan Hosny started acting in the 1960s in theatre plays as part of the Egyptian military's theatrical group.[3] His breakthrough role came when he starred as a corrupt civil servant in the popular TV show 'My Dear Children, Thank You'.[2] He then collaborated in major TV shows with superstars Faten Hamama, Salah Zulfikar and Farid Shawqi. Popularly known for his comedic style, he also established himself as a serious actor in dramas.[2]
He married Magda in 1995, and they together had three daughters and a son. One of his daughters died of lymphoma.[4]
In the 2018 Cairo International Film Festival, he was awarded the Faten Hamama award in recognition of his lifetime achievements and contribution to Egyptian cinema. At the ceremony, Hosny commented that he was extremely happy to accept the award while he was still alive.[2][5]
Death
Hassan Hosny died on May 30, 2020, due to a sudden heart attack.[6][7][8] He was buried in his family's cemetery outside Cairo. His last performance was in Sultana of Al Moez which aired during Ramadan in the same month.[2]
^Tarek El Shennawi mentioned in his book "Hassan Hosny Al Meshakhasaty" that Hassan Hosny was born on June 19, 1936, yet several other sources mistakenly reported that he was born on October 15, 1931.