Hussein Al-Sherbiny

Biography

• Name: Hussein El-Sherbini (also spelled El-Sherbiny/El-Sherbini)
• Profession: Egyptian actor (film, television, and stage)
• Born: 16 November 1935 — Cairo, Egypt
• Died: 14 September 2007 — Cairo, Egypt

Early Life and Education

• Earned a Bachelor of Arts from Cairo University (Sociology/Philosophy).
• Turned to acting soon after his studies, with a special focus on the stage before moving into television.

Career

• Began on Egyptian Television in the early 1960s, then established himself on stage before cementing his presence in cinema.
• Recognized for his serious features, dry wit, and a deft ability to portray authoritarian officials and domineering bureaucrats, alongside finely tuned, detail-rich comic roles.
• Worked across several decades in dozens of films, series, and plays, leaving a strong imprint as a standout “second lead” and a commanding supporting presence.
• Note: In Egyptian industry parlance, “saned” (support) refers to a powerful supporting actor who anchors the lead—often as a formidable foil or scene-stealer.

Selected Works

• Afwah wa 'Araneb (Mouths and Rabbits)
• Wala 'Aza' lil-Sayyidat (No Consolation for Women)
• Al-Avocato (The Lawyer)
• Jary al-Wuhush (Running with the Beasts)

Awards and Honors

• Received multiple local honors and awards, particularly for his supporting and comic performances.

Additional Notes

• Passed away at 71, just two months shy of his 72nd birthday. He remains celebrated as one of the foremost performers of complex roles and sharp social satire in the 1980s and 1990s.