Profile

• Riyad al-Qasabji was a prominent Egyptian actor known for popular comedy and light villainy, forever associated with the character “al-Shawish 'Atiyya.”
• Full name: Riyad Muhammad al-Qasabji
• Born: 1 January 1903 — Girga, Sohag Governorate, Egypt
• Died: 23 April 1963 — Cairo, Egypt
• Active years: Mid-1930s to early 1960s
• Filmography: Appeared in more than 150 Egyptian films

Note on terms: - al-Shawish: A police sergeant; a familiar stock figure in mid-century Egyptian comedies. - Futuwwa: A neighborhood tough or enforcer, a common archetype in classic Egyptian cinema.

Early Life and Beginnings

• He received a basic education before joining the Egyptian State Railways.
• His passion for performance began as a hobby and through involvement with the theater. He soon moved into small screen roles, gradually establishing himself as a distinctive comic presence.

Entering the Industry

• Moving from stage to screen, his imposing features and solid build led to early roles as a futuwwa (tough), guard, or policeman.
• Over time he developed a signature comic style built on the contrast between a stern exterior and playful delivery, culminating in his iconic “al-Shawish 'Atiyya,” one of Egyptian comedy’s most enduring characters.

Career and Roles

• He excelled at blending severity with humor, commanding attention even in supporting parts.
• Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, he portrayed variations of the “shawish” (sergeant) with different shades of strictness and wit.
• He worked in both theater and cinema, but his peak fame came through film comedies of the 1950s.

Key Works

• Ibn Hamido (1957)
• al-Anisa Hanfi (Miss Hanfi)
• Ismail Yassin fi Mustashfa al-Majanin (Ismail Yassin in the Mental Hospital)
• Bahbouh Afandi (Mr. Bahbouh)
• He also headlined a run of films in the mid-to-late 1950s as “al-Shawish 'Atiyya,” cementing his place in popular memory.

Health and Passing

• In his later years, he suffered a stroke that caused partial paralysis (hemiplegia), which curtailed his work.
• He passed away in Cairo on 23 April 1963, at the age of 59.

Artistic Legacy

• He remains a textbook model of the “comic villain” and the quintessential “shawish” figure—tough on the surface, irresistible in charm.
• His scenes and expressions are embedded in Egypt’s comedy heritage, and “al-Shawish 'Atiyya” stands as a touchstone for an entire generation of 1950s films.