Hassan Hosny — A Concise Profile

General Overview

• Name: Hassan Hosny
• Profession: Egyptian actor
• Born: 15 October 1931 — Cairo, Egypt
• Died: 30 May 2020 — Cairo, Egypt
• Known epithets: “Qashshash al-cinema al-Masriyya” (an affectionate nickname praising his ubiquity and versatility) and “The Joker”
• Marital status: Married, with children

Early Life and Education

• He grew up and studied in Cairo.
• His passion for acting began in school theater, then he continued on the stage until joining professional troupes.

Career Beginnings and Trajectory

• Started on stage, including with troupes attached to official institutions—an experience that honed his craft in both serious and comic roles.
• Moved into television in the 1970s, then gained notable visibility in cinema during the 1980s through impactful dramatic performances.
• From the 1990s through the following two decades, he became one of the most ubiquitous faces in Egyptian cinema, excelling as the warm father figure, the popular everyman, and the villain with a comic edge.
• Renowned for his prolific output and range across theater, television, and film.

Selected Works

• Film (highlights):
• Zawjat Rajul Muhim (Wife of an Important Man) — 1988
• al-Hurub (The Escape) — 1991
• Sariq al-Farah (Thief of Joy) — 1994
• al-Nazer (The Headmaster) — 2000
• al-Limby — 2002
• Ghabi Minno Fih (So Stupid It Shows) — 2004
• Ya Ana Ya Khalti (Me or My Aunt!) — 2005
• al-Basha Tilmiz (The Pasha Is a Student)
• al-Li Bali Balak (You Know What I Mean) — a colloquial phrase meaning “you know what I’m talking about”

• 'Ala Gossati (Over My Dead Body) — 2013

• Television:

• Abu Gabal
• Rahim
• Ibn al-Nizam (Son of the System)
• Amira fi 'Abdin (Princess in 'Abdin)
• Juha al-Masri (Juha—the folk trickster—set in Egypt)
• Ya Rijal al-'Alam Ittahidu (Men of the World, Unite!)
• Abna'i al-A'izza', Shukran (My Dear Sons, Thank You)

• …and dozens of roles across social and dramatic series in the 1980s, 1990s, and beyond.

• Theater:

• 'Afrotto
• Hazimni Ya
• Gawz wa-Lawz

Note: Several titles are Egyptian colloquialisms; brief glosses are included above for clarity.

Awards and Honors

• Faten Hamama Honorary Award — Cairo International Film Festival (2018).
• Multiple local acting honors in the 1990s, with wide acclaim for his role in Sariq al-Farah (Thief of Joy).

Passing

• He died on 30 May 2020 from a sudden heart attack, after a decades-long career that left a lasting imprint on audiences.

Facts and Anecdotes

• Nicknamed “Qashshash al-cinema al-Masriyya,” a colloquial label celebrating how often he appeared on screen and his knack for making any role come alive.
• Famous for blending tragedy and comedy, he was equally loved in serious and lighthearted parts.
• He endured the loss of one of his daughters, a grief he spoke about movingly in later interviews.