Ahmed Hegazi

CAREER

Hegazi was a working character actor in Egyptian cinema and television from the 1960s through the early 2000s. His best-known and most critically noted role is that of Ayub (the elder brother of the protagonist Wannis) in Shadi Abdel Salam’s landmark historical film The Mummy (Al-Mummia / The Night of Counting the Years, 1969). The film is widely regarded as one of the masterpieces of Egyptian and Arab cinema. Other film credits include: In Desert and Wilderness (W pustyni i w puszczy, 1973; and the related miniseries) – as Gebhr Sphinx (1981) – as Iramen Ahlam Hind wa Kamilya (Dreams of Hind and Camilia, 1988) Alexandria Again and Forever (1990, directed by Youssef Chahine) Additional appearances in films such as El-Tufan, El-Toq wa el-Iswerah, Antar Zamanuh, and many supporting roles across the 1970s–1990s On television he appeared in numerous series, among them the popular spy drama Raafat Al-Haggan (1988, in dual roles), Layali al-Helmiya, Al-Do’ el-Shared, historical and social dramas, and continued working into the early 2000s (including Awraq Masriya). He also had occasional credits in radio directing/producing. His screen presence was typically that of a solid supporting player in both serious dramatic works and more commercial Egyptian productions.

Ahmed Hegazi is primarily remembered for his contribution to The Mummy, which secured him a place in the history of classic Egyptian cinema. He maintained a steady career as a character actor for several decades. He died on 15 June 2002 in Egypt.