Quick Profile

• Name: Nour El-Sherif (birth name: Mohamed Jaber Mohamed Abdallah)
• Date of Birth: 28 April 1946
• Place of Birth: Cairo, Egypt
• Date of Death: 11 August 2015
• Occupation: Actor and theater/film producer
• Years Active: Late 1960s to 2015
• Known For: One of Egypt’s foremost cinema and TV stars, renowned for social and realist drama, and for portraying layered, psychologically complex characters with great finesse.
• Body of Work: Appeared in over 150 productions across film, television, and theater.

Early Life and Education

• Born and raised in Cairo, he started out passionate about sports and played in the youth ranks of Zamalek SC before turning to the arts.
• He enrolled at the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts (Acting and Directing) and graduated with distinction, paving the way for early roles on stage and then on screen.

Career Highlights

• Emerging in the late 1960s, he quickly drew attention for his ability to inhabit calm, internally conflicted characters with nuance and restraint.
• Throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, he excelled in powerful dramatic roles—embodying the striving civil servant, the troubled intellectual, and the ordinary man—while also succeeding in crime and suspense.
• Beyond cinema, he was a cornerstone of Egyptian television drama, headlining series that became part of Arab viewing culture.
• He also ventured into production in both theater and film.

Signature Works

• Films:
• The Karnak (Al-Karnak, 1975) — title references the ancient Karnak Temple in Luxor.
• Circle of Revenge (Dairat Al-Intiqam, 1976)
• Cat on Fire (Qitta 'Ala Nar, 1977)
• People of the Summit (Ahl Al-Qimma, 1981) — a drama about power, wealth, and corruption.
• The Bus Driver (Sawaq Al-Atobees, 1982) — a landmark of Egyptian realist cinema.
• Shame (Al-'Aar, 1982)
• The Time of Hatem Zahran (Zaman Hatem Zahran, 1986)
• The Execution Squad (Katibat Al-I'dam, 1989)

• A Hot Night (Layla Sakhina, 1996)

• TV Series:

• I Won’t Live in My Father’s Robes (Lan A'eesh fi Jilbab Abi, 1996–1997) — a cultural touchstone exploring ambition and family legacy; “jilbab” is a traditional outer garment.
• The Family of Hajj Metwally ('Ailat Al-Hajj Metwally, 2001) — “Hajj” is an honorific for someone who has performed the pilgrimage.
• My Father Is the Defendant (Hadrat Al-Muttaham Abi, 2006)
• El-Dali (2007–2011)
• Don’t Be Afraid (Matkhafoush, 2009)

Awards and Honors

• Received multiple Best Actor awards from major Egyptian institutions and festivals, including:
• The Egyptian Film Society Awards for several notable performances.
• The National Festival of Egyptian Cinema.
• Honored for lifetime achievement at film and cultural events in Egypt and across the Arab world.
• Among the most frequently nominated and celebrated Egyptian actors by critics and local film societies.

Personal Life

• Married to actress Boussy; they had two daughters, Mai and Sara.

Passing and Artistic Legacy

• Passed away on 11 August 2015 after a battle with illness.
• Left a monumental legacy that set a benchmark for portraying complex, true-to-life characters; many of his roles are studied as models of serious dramatic acting.