Samir Ghanem

Samir Youssef Ghanem (; 15 January 1937 – 20 May 2021) was an Egyptian actor, known primarily for his comedy roles. He is considered an icon who had a six decade career in theatre and cinema.

Early life and education Ghanem was born in al-ʿAtawlah, Asyut Governorate. After graduating from high school, he joined the Police Academy following the example of his father, who was a police officer, but he was dismissed from it after failing two consecutive years, so he transferred papers to the College of Agriculture at Alexandria University and joined the acting teams there. He earned a bachelor's degree in Agriculture from Alexandria University. During the period of his studies in the police academy, Samir Ghanem narrates that he lived through the period of the presence of the famous actor Salah Zulfikar, who was a professor at the academy at the time. Ghanem stated that Zulfikar was a captain and was just promoted to the rank of major, and that Zulfikar was his idol and he had a great deal of respect for him.

Career

In Alexandria, Ghanem met artists Waheed Seif and Adel Nassif and formed a group that performed sketches on stages in Alexandria. George Sidhom was also gaining recognition at Ain Shams University, while El Deif Ahmed was becoming known at Cairo University. Ghanem eventually joined them, and the three established the famous “Trio of Stage Lights” (Tholathy Adwa’a El Masrah). The group went on to perform in numerous films and plays, as well as comedic sketches known for their fast-paced performances and light melodies. Their first show, “Doctor Save Me”, was a short performance that marked their entry into the entertainment industry.

The trio eventually separated after El Deif Ahmed died in 1970. Ghanem and Sidhom continued working under the name “Trio of Stage Lights” until the 1980s, although their later success was more limited. Together, they produced works such as ‘’Al-Mutazawwigun’’ in 1978.

Personal life He was married to actress Dalal Abdel Aziz, and the father of actresses Donia and Amy. Death Ghanem, who was recovering at a hospital from serious conditions after contracting COVID-19, died from complications of kidney functions and associated mucormycosis related to the infection at El Safa Hospital in Mohandiseen, Giza on 20 May 2021, at the age of 84.

His wife, Dalal Abdel Aziz, died on 7 August 2021, also from COVID-19 complications.

Selected filmography Ghanem participated in more than 300 acting roles including films, TV series and theater plays, the last of which was in the series Badal Al Hadduta Talata with his daughter Donia Samir Ghanem. Samir Ghanem continued producing plays. Habash house (beit el habash) Goha Rules the City Faris wa Bani Khayban (The Knight and Disaster Clan) Akhuya Hayes wana Layes (Happy Is My Brother, Lost Am I) Ana wal-Nizam wa Hawak (Me, the Government and Your Love) Bahloul fi Istanbul (Bahloul in Istanbul) Ana wa Mirati wa Monica (Me, My Wife and Monica)

Films Khally Balak Min ZouZou Fi Saif Lazim Nohib El Mothneboon Easabat Al'nisa Al Baad Yathhab Lil Mathon Maratain (1978) The Hooligans Get Drafted (1984)