Adel Emam
Encyclopedia
Adel Imam , born May 17, 1940 in El Mansoura (المنصورة), is a popular Egyptian
movie
and stage
actor
. He is primarily a comedian
, but he has starred in more serious works and, especially in his earlier films, has combined comedy with romance.
Emam earned a Bachelor's Degree
in Agriculture
from Cairo University
. Since then he has appeared in over 100 movies and 10 plays
. He is one of the most famous actors in Egypt
, and has received critical and popular praise throughout his career. Emam's roles have displayed a wide range of humour
including slapstick
, farce
, and even the occasional double entendre
. His character archetype is an individual down on his luck who rises above powerful outside pressures. This has proved an extremely resilient archetype in Egypt.
In January 2000, the United Nations
appointed Emam as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR
. Since then, he has worked tirelessly for the cause of refugees. He has been cast several times by the producer Emad Adeeb
in movies like Morgan Ahmed Morgan and Hassan and Marcus
.
In 2005, he starred in Sifaara fil'Aimara (Embassy in the Building), playing a Cairene everyman inconvenienced when the Embassy of Israel
moves into his apartment building. In 2006, Emam appeared as one of the many stars of The Yacoubian Building
, a film reputed to be the highest-budgeted in Egyptian cinema and adapted from the novel of the same name. The story is a sharp look at contemporary Egyptian life through the prism of a faded downtown Cairo apartment building. Emam portrays an aging roué whose misadventures form a central strand of the film's complex narrative. In 2011, he starred in an ad campaign for Vodafone Egypt titled 'Kowetna' (Our Power).
, who also starred in the movie The Yacoubian Building
as Taha Shazli. He is the brother of Esam Imam and Iman Imam. His brother-in-law is the late actor Mustafa Metwalli
. Adel Emam stated on a talk show with host Hala Sarhan that Amin Shalaby and the late Younes Shalaby as well as Saeed Saleh were his best friends since university. He is also an important figure in the Arab community largely because of the political roles he took on in many of his films and plays. These roles, whether he intended it or not, often put him in a critical position vis-à-vis the president or the government.
Al-Nassabeen (1966)
Dhat Al-Bijama Al-Hamraa (1967)
Ana Feen W Enti Feen (1970)
Madrast Al-Moshagebeen (1973)
Gharameyat Afifi (1975)
Shahed Ma Shafsh Haga
(1975)
Al-Wad Sayed Al-Shaghal (1984)
Al-Zaeem (1998)
Body Guard (1999)
Egyptians
Egyptians are nation an ethnic group made up of Mediterranean North Africans, the indigenous people of Egypt.Egyptian identity is closely tied to geography. The population of Egypt is concentrated in the lower Nile Valley, the small strip of cultivable land stretching from the First Cataract to...
movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He is primarily a comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, but he has starred in more serious works and, especially in his earlier films, has combined comedy with romance.
Emam earned a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in Agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
from Cairo University
Cairo University
Cairo University is a public university located in Giza, Egypt.The university was founded on December 21, 1908, as the result of an effort to establish a national center for educational thought...
. Since then he has appeared in over 100 movies and 10 plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
. He is one of the most famous actors in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, and has received critical and popular praise throughout his career. Emam's roles have displayed a wide range of humour
Humour
Humour or humor is the tendency of particular cognitive experiences to provoke laughter and provide amusement...
including slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
, farce
Farce
In theatre, a farce is a comedy which aims at entertaining the audience by means of unlikely, extravagant, and improbable situations, disguise and mistaken identity, verbal humour of varying degrees of sophistication, which may include word play, and a fast-paced plot whose speed usually increases,...
, and even the occasional double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
. His character archetype is an individual down on his luck who rises above powerful outside pressures. This has proved an extremely resilient archetype in Egypt.
In January 2000, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
appointed Emam as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
UNHCR Goodwill Ambassadors are celebrity representatives of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees who use their talent and fame to advocate for refugees.-Current Ambassadors:...
. Since then, he has worked tirelessly for the cause of refugees. He has been cast several times by the producer Emad Adeeb
Emad Adeeb
- Personal life :He Is also a Successful Businessman and Has 4 Kids Nevine Riad Jala Riad Mohamed Adeeb And Ahmed Adeeb. His Family Also includes Bassima El Fakharany, his Mother, Adel Adeeb and Amr Adeeb, his Brothers, And Abdelhay Adeeb , His Father...
in movies like Morgan Ahmed Morgan and Hassan and Marcus
Hassan and Marcus
-Background:Being the first collaboration between Adel Imam and Omar Sharif, arguably the most powerful actors in Egypt and the Middle East, the movie was a much-anticipated summer blockbuster...
.
In 2005, he starred in Sifaara fil'Aimara (Embassy in the Building), playing a Cairene everyman inconvenienced when the Embassy of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
moves into his apartment building. In 2006, Emam appeared as one of the many stars of The Yacoubian Building
The Yacoubian Building (film)
The Yacoubian Building is an Egyptian film based on the novel of the same title by author Alaa Al Aswany. It has been reported to be the highest-budgeted film in the history of Egyptian cinema.-Background:...
, a film reputed to be the highest-budgeted in Egyptian cinema and adapted from the novel of the same name. The story is a sharp look at contemporary Egyptian life through the prism of a faded downtown Cairo apartment building. Emam portrays an aging roué whose misadventures form a central strand of the film's complex narrative. In 2011, he starred in an ad campaign for Vodafone Egypt titled 'Kowetna' (Our Power).
Personal Life
Adel Emam is married and has three children: the young director Rami Imam, Sarah Emam, and Mohamed ImamMohamed Imam
Mohamed Imam is an Egyptian actor. He comes from an artistic family as his father is actor Adel Emam . His brother is director Rami Imam.-Biography:...
, who also starred in the movie The Yacoubian Building
The Yacoubian Building (film)
The Yacoubian Building is an Egyptian film based on the novel of the same title by author Alaa Al Aswany. It has been reported to be the highest-budgeted film in the history of Egyptian cinema.-Background:...
as Taha Shazli. He is the brother of Esam Imam and Iman Imam. His brother-in-law is the late actor Mustafa Metwalli
Mustafa Metwalli
Mustafa Metwalli was a popular Egyptian movie and stage actor. He was primarily a comedian, but he played many different roles in Drama ....
. Adel Emam stated on a talk show with host Hala Sarhan that Amin Shalaby and the late Younes Shalaby as well as Saeed Saleh were his best friends since university. He is also an important figure in the Arab community largely because of the political roles he took on in many of his films and plays. These roles, whether he intended it or not, often put him in a critical position vis-à-vis the president or the government.
Selected Filmography
| Year | Film | Name Translation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Zahaymar | Alzheimer's Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death... |
Mahmoud |
| 2009 | Bobbos | Bobbos | Mohsen Hendawi |
| 2008 | Hassan w Morqos | Hasan and Marcus | Paulus / Hassan |
| 2007 | Morgaan Ahmed Morgaan | Morgaan Ahmed Morgaan | Morgaan |
| 2006 | Emaret Yaqubian The Yacoubian Building (film) The Yacoubian Building is an Egyptian film based on the novel of the same title by author Alaa Al Aswany. It has been reported to be the highest-budgeted film in the history of Egyptian cinema.-Background:... |
The Yacoubian Building | Zakki |
| 2005 | Al-Sefara Fil-Emara | The Embassy Is In The Building | Shereef |
| 2004 | Arees Menn Gehha Amneya | A Security Service Groom | Khattaab |
| 2003 | Al-Tagroba Al-Danemarkeya The Danish Experience The Danish Experience is a popular 2003 Egyptian comedy film starring Adel Imam and Nicole Saba.-Plot:... |
The Danish Experience | Qadri |
| 2002 | Ameer Al-Zalaam | Prince of Darkness | Saeed Al-Masri |
| 2000 | Bekheet Wa Adeela 3: Hello America | Bekheet And Adeela 3: Hello America | Bekheet |
| 1999 | El-Wad Mahroos Betaa El-Wazeer | Mahroos; The Minister's Guy | Mahroos |
| 1998 | Ressala Ila Al-Wali | A Message to the Governor | Harfoosh |
| 1997 | Bekheet Wa Adeela 2: El-Gardal wel-Kanaka | Bekheet and Adeela 2: The Pail and the Coffeepot | Bekheet |
| 1996 | Al-Nom Fil-Assal | Sleeping In The Honey | Colonel Magdi |
| 1995 | Bekheet Wa Adeela | Bekheet And Adeela | Bekheet |
| 1995 | Toyoor Al-Zalaam | Birds Of Darkness | Fathy Nofal |
| 1994 | Al-Erhabi | The Terrorist | Ali |
| 1992 | El Erhab Wal Kabab Terrorism and Kebab -Plot: The action primarily takes place in The Mogamma in Cairo, a well-known mammoth-sized government building that is a center of bureaucratic work. Adel Imam's character, Ahmed, queues up at the Mogamma one day to try to get a school transfer for his children, but gets bogged down... |
Terrorism and Kebab Terrorism and Kebab -Plot: The action primarily takes place in The Mogamma in Cairo, a well-known mammoth-sized government building that is a center of bureaucratic work. Adel Imam's character, Ahmed, queues up at the Mogamma one day to try to get a school transfer for his children, but gets bogged down... |
Ahmed |
| 1987 | Al-Nemr Wal-Ontha | The Tiger And The Female | Waheed |
| 1983 | Al-Motasawel The Beggar (film) The Beggar is a 1983 Egyptian comedy film starring Adel Imam.-Plot:Imam plays Hasanin, an uneducated man who leaves his small village to live with his uncle's family in the city. After having no luck keeping a job, he must return to his village... |
The Beggar The Beggar (film) The Beggar is a 1983 Egyptian comedy film starring Adel Imam.-Plot:Imam plays Hasanin, an uneducated man who leaves his small village to live with his uncle's family in the city. After having no luck keeping a job, he must return to his village... |
Hasanin |
Plays
Ana Wa Howa Wa Heya (1964)Al-Nassabeen (1966)
Dhat Al-Bijama Al-Hamraa (1967)
Ana Feen W Enti Feen (1970)
Madrast Al-Moshagebeen (1973)
Gharameyat Afifi (1975)
Shahed Ma Shafsh Haga
Shahed Ma Shafsh Haga
Shahed Mas Shafash Haga is a comedy play starring Adel Imam, Omar Hariri and Nahed Jabr.-Sypnosis:Imam plays Sarhan Abdel-Baseer, a naive young man who presents a local children's television program and in his spare time he visits the zoo to feed rabbits which are his favorite animals...
(1975)
Al-Wad Sayed Al-Shaghal (1984)
Al-Zaeem (1998)
Body Guard (1999)