Hussein Fahmy | |
---|---|
حسين فهمي محمود | |
Fahmy in London, October 2008 | |
Born | Hussein Fahmy Mahmoud 22 March 1940 Cairo, Egypt |
Alma mater | University of California, Los Angeles (MFA) |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1963–present |
Spouses | Nadia Moharram (divorced)Hala Fathy
(m. 2001; div. 2007)Leeka Sewidan
(m. 2008; div. 2012)Rana Algosaibi
(m. 2013; div. 2016) |
Children | 5 |
Hussein Fahmy (Arabic: حسين فهمي; born 22 March 1940) is an Egyptian actor.[1][2] He worked in the film and television industry for more than 50 years, specializing in film directing and appearing in over 100 film, television, and theatre productions. He graduated from UCLA with a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree.[3] Academically he continued to teach at the Academy of Arts (film institute) for twelve years. A leading movie star and the first UNDP Regional Goodwill Ambassador for the Arab States in 1998, Hussein Fahmy is noted for his humanitarian effort. He has worked hard to convey to his audience in the Middle East important human development issues. His contract ended before the Lebanese situation in 2006.
Fahmi's good looks made him an instant film star. He was young, debonair and handsome, with fair hair, fair skin and blue eyes — features, might probably be related related to some far genes from Europe. He filled the void left when Omar Sharif crossed over, out of Egypt, to the international world of film stardom. He worked on one film with the tall, dark and handsome Rushdi Abaza, who died in his prime. Thereafter, he was the quintessential "jeune premier" of Egyptian cinema. Fahmi's father, an Egyptian parliamentarian from a long line of parliamentarians, had envisaged a conventional career for his son. Having won a Fulbright scholarship, Fahmi compromised. He set off for California to study film directing at UCLA. He finished four years of academic studies and extended his stay for a two-year apprenticeship. Years later, his younger brother Mustafa would also disappoint his parents by turning from photography to acting.