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Adel Emam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Adel Emam
عادل إمام
Adel Emam at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival on December 28, 2009.
Born
Adel Mohammed Emam Mohammed Bukhariny

(1940-05-17) May 17, 1940 (age 86)
Mansoura, Kingdom of Egypt
Other namesEl Zaeem (الزعيم, 'The Boss')
EducationCairo University
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1962–2020
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
SpouseHala Al Shalaqani
Children3, including Mohamed and Ramy
RelativesMustafa Metwalli (brother-in-law)

Adel Mohammed Emam Mohammed Bukhariny (Arabic: عادل محمد إمام محمد بخاريني; born 17 May 1940)[1] is an Egyptian film, television, and stage actor. Over a career spanning more than 150 films, plays, and television series in comedic, social, and political genres,[2] he became known as one of the leading figures of the second generation of Egyptian and Arab comedy performers.[3] Although primarily known for comedy, he also took on more dramatic material, and in his early secondary roles combined comedy with romance, notably in films such as My Wife, the Director General, My Wife's Dignity, My Wife's Goblin and Virgo, all films starring Salah Zulfikar.

Emam began acting in the 1960s and became one of the best-known performers in Egyptian cinema. He holds a bachelor's degree in Agriculture from Cairo University, and has appeared in more than 103 films and 10 stage plays.[4] He is married to Hala El-Shalaqani; their children include director Ramy Emam and actor Mohamed Emam.

Through roles that addressed social and political issues, Emam gained wide popularity across the Arab world during the 1980s and 1990s and is frequently described in Egyptian media as one of the country's leading cultural figures.[5][6]

Emam has received a number of lifetime achievement awards and honors from Egyptian and international film festivals. In January 2000, the United Nations appointed him a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR.

Personal life

[edit]

Early life and education

[edit]
Cairo University's theater (the Grand Celebration Hall), where Emam trained on stage in his youth.

Adel Emam was born into a poor farming family on 17 May 1940 in the Sayeda Aisha district of Cairo,[1] though his family's origins trace back to the village of Shaha in the Mansoura district of Dakahlia Governorate. His full name is Adel Mohammed Emam Mohammed Bukhariny (Arabic: عادل محمد إمام محمد بخاريني). Emam has said he was very close to his mother and was deeply affected by her death.[7] His father, Mohamed Emam, was religious and worked as a "shawish" in the police force;[1] he died in 1997 after suffering from Alzheimer's disease.[8] Emam has one brother, producer Essam Emam, and two sisters, Eman and Mona.[9] Mustafa Metwalli, his brother-in-law, is married to his sister Eman.[1]

During his childhood, Emam moved with his family from Sayeda Aisha to the Helmiya district, then to Omrania in Giza, then to Mohandiseen, and later to Mansouria.[1] He studied at Helmiya School before transferring to Benbaqdgan Secondary School and then to Marqosiya Secondary School in Alexandria. He then joined the Faculty of Agriculture at Cairo University, where his classmates included actor Salah El-Saadany and future Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud Al-Zoubi.[10] Emam has said that Amin Shalaby, Younes Shalaby, Saeed Saleh, and Salah Al-Saadani were his closest friends from university.[11] He began performing at Cairo University's theater and appeared in the play Ana Wa Howa Wa Heya (1963) during his third year there.[12]

His marriage and family

[edit]

Emam has been married once, to Hala El-Shalaqani, since the mid-1960s. In interviews, he has said he was not initially interested in marriage, but that his wife, who came from a wealthy, land-owning family with ties to the Liberal Constitutional Party, was determined to marry him despite their different social backgrounds, and that her family was reluctant given his status at the time as an actor in minor roles. In one televised account, Emam described how he and his wife were once at the home of their friend Samir Khafaga when he first saw her, and that although others around them tried to flirt with her, he did not, saying he did not know how.[13]

Hala El-Shalaqani discussed their early relationship in an interview with media personality Mufid Fawzy, saying she had insisted on marrying Emam because he was shy and hesitant about starting a new relationship. She recalled: "He once told me that he wasn't thinking about marriage at all."[14] Emam has said the couple chose not to hold a wedding ceremony in order to save money, and that they built their household gradually, first buying a chair, then a refrigerator, then a stove. He has also said the marriage took place without his wife's family's approval, since they objected to his status as a film extra at the time, adding: "God loves me because I married Hala."[15]

Emam with his grandchildren

Emam has three children: director Ramy Emam, Sarah Emam, and actor Mohamed Emam, who played Taha El-Shazli in The Yacoubian Building. He has eight grandchildren: Adel, Ezz El-Din, and Roqaya (Ramy's children); Hala, Camellia, and Amina (Sarah's daughters); and Khadija and Qismat (Mohamed's daughters).[16] Ramy's wife is Yasmine, Sarah's husband is Ahmed Mokbel, and Mohamed's wife is Nouran Talaat.[17][18]

Emam typically spends summers with his children and grandchildren at a family villa on the North Coast. He is a keen reader and keeps a large personal library, and has a longstanding hobby of gardening.[19]

Net worth

[edit]

No official figures for Emam's wealth have been published. Some media reports have estimated his net worth at around $100 million, making him the richest actor in Egypt, though these figures are not independently verified.[20][21]

Acting career

[edit]

1962–1969: Early career breakthrough

[edit]

Emam began performing in theater in Ana w Howa w Heya (1962) with Fouad El-Mohandes and Shwikar,[22] and made his film debut in 1967 in small roles.[3] His early film work included My Wife, the Director General (1966), My Wife's Dignity (1967), followed by his first significant role in My Wife's Goblin (1968) opposite Salah Zulfikar and Shadia.[22] He was part of a younger generation of actors who emerged during a period of social and political change in 1960s Egypt, and was noted for both comedic and dramatic range.[22] Despite his early minor roles, Emam drew the attention of writer Mahmud Sadani, who discussed him in his 1969 book The Comedians:[23][24]

If Adel Imam realized how talented and in demand he is, he would have saved himself from the trap set for him. If he didn’t quickly escape from this narrow corner he was placed in, to roles of light-hearted villainy, the charming conman, a mix of Richard Widmark and Clifton Webb, a blend of Tawfik El-Deken and Fouad el-Mohandes, a concoction of Hassan Yousef and Abdel Moneim Ibrahim, even if Adel failed to escape this fate, even if he remained stagnant in supporting roles, it would not diminish his talent, nor undermine his stature as a brilliant, talented, and great artist.

— Mahmud Sadani, The Comedians (1969), p. 167

1970s: Rise to fame

[edit]
Emam (left) with Salah Zulfikar in Virgo, 1970.

In the early 1970s, Emam gained a reputation for comedic and dramatic versatility,[25] with roles including Virgo (1970), alongside Salah Zulfikar, and Searching for a Scandal (1973), shared with Mervat Amin and Samir Sabry.

During the early 1970s, Emam appeared in films addressing themes of love, youth, and societal pressures.[26] Bahibek Ya Helwa (1970), co-starring Hassan Youssef and Nahed Sherif, was a romantic comedy centered on emerging youth culture and its effect on relationships.

Emam (left) with Abdel Halim Hafez during a recording session, 1973.

By the mid-1970s, Emam was a household name in Egyptian cinema. His roles in comedy and theatre, including Madraset El Moshaghbeen (1973), established him as one of the leading comic actors of the period. [27] In that play, he played the mischievous character Bahgat El Abasery, one of his best-known roles.[28] In 1976, he starred in the play Shahed Ma Shafsh Haga (Witness Who Saw Nothing) alongside Omar Al-Hariri and Nahed Jabr.[29]

1980s: Versatile roles

[edit]
Emam in the 1980s.

The 1980s were a period of professional growth for Emam, who took on a wider range of characters across comedy and drama. The 1981 film The Suspect (Arabic: المشبوه, 1981) marked a shift from comedy toward crime drama: Emam played Maher Al-Nemr, a man confronting his criminal past while trying to build a better future, in a film scored by composer Hani Shnouda.[30] The film is one of several from this period, alongside collaborators including director Ashraf Fahmy and Shnouda, that have been described as part of a broader turn in Egyptian cinema toward realism and social commentary.[30]

Emam was among the highest-paid Egyptian actors of the 1980s, and his films were reported to have led the domestic box office during the period.[23][31] He co-starred with actress Soad Hosny in several films, including Love in a Jail Cell (1983). In The Street Player (1983), he played a character combining comedy with social commentary. Other films of the period included Smart but Foolish (1980); The Human Lives Only Once (1981), in which he played a man undergoing a personal transformation; At the Minister's Door (1982), in which his character dealt with bureaucratic obstacles while seeking a government job; Hamada and Tutu's Gang (1982), which combined action and comedy in a story involving organized crime; and The Beggar (1983), in which he played a wealthy man who becomes homeless.

In 1984, Emam starred in So That the Smoke Doesn't Fly, based on the novel by Ihsan Abdel Quddous, playing a man struggling with addiction.[32] The Humans and the Jinn (1985) was his only film in the horror genre — then uncommon in Arab cinema — in which he played a man caught between the human and supernatural worlds. He also starred in the play Al-Wad Sayed Al-Shaghal, playing a young man named Sayed; it has been described by some critics as among the best-known modern Arabic plays.[33][34]

1990s: Career peak

[edit]

The 1990s are generally regarded as the peak of Emam's career: he was among the highest-paid actors and a leading star of Arab cinema.[35] His collaborations with director Sherif Arafa such as Terrorism and Kebab (1992) produced iconic works.

The 1990s marked the peak of Adel Emam's career, as he reigned over the Egyptian cinema, being the highest-paid actor and the number one star in Arab cinema. His collaborations with directors like Sherif Arafa produced iconic works such as Terrorism and Kebab (1992), though technically just outside this decade, and Jazeerat al-Shaytan (1987). Emam’s style in the 1990s was often characterized by strong social criticism laced with humor. His performances in these films resonated with wide audiences across the Arab world, earning him massive popularity.

In an interview with journalist Mufid Fawzy on the set of El-Mansi (1993), Emam said, "Time is my only competitor."[23] He explained that he took on a heavy workload, often filming more than one movie a year while performing in a play daily.[23]

Emam continued to take on socially and politically themed roles through the 1990s. These included Al-La'ib Ma'a Al-Kibar (Playing with the Big Boys, 1991), a black comedy in which he plays an ordinary man drawn into a high-stakes game involving powerful figures; The Terrorist, combining comedy with a political message and portraying a former terrorist seeking redemption; and Risala Ela Al-Wali (1998), in which he played a man tasked with delivering an important letter to a corrupt governor. He earned the nickname Al-Zaeem ("The Leader") after starring in the 1993 play of the same name, in which his character dealt with themes of political power and leadership.[4]

2000–2023: Continued prominence

[edit]
Adel Emam on February 2, 2006

During the 2000s, Adel Emam continued to appear in both films and television series. In 2003, he played the lead role in The Danish Experience. The film was described at the time as a major commercial success and was reported to have been the highest-grossing film in Lebanon that year.[36]

In 2005, Emam starred in The Embassy in the Building. He played a Cairo resident whose life is disrupted when the Embassy of Israel moves into his apartment building. The following year, he appeared in the ensemble cast of The Yacoubian Building, an adaptation of the novel by Alaa Al Aswany. The film depicts the lives of residents of a deteriorating apartment building in downtown Cairo. Emam played Zaki el-Dessouki, an aging womanizer whose story forms one of the film's main narrative strands.[37][38]

Many of Adel Emam's films and stage plays dealt with political, social and religious issues in Egypt. His work included films that addressed subjects such as religious extremism, political authority and relations between different groups in Egyptian society. In The Terrorist (1994), directed by Nader Galal, he played an Islamist militant who comes to question his beliefs after living with a modern Egyptian Muslim family. The film also featured Salah Zulfikar in his final film role.

Emam later worked with producer Emad Adeeb on several films, including Morgan Ahmed Morgan (2007), and Hassan and Marcus (2008). The latter starred Emam alongside Omar Sharif and dealt with religious extremism and sectarian tensions in Egypt.

After a period away from television drama, Adel Emam returned to the medium in 2012 with Fer'et Naji Atallah (Naji Atallah's Group). He subsequently appeared in several Ramadan television series, including El Araf (2013), Saheb El Saada (2014), Afaret Adly Alam (2017) and Awalem Khafeya (2018).[39]

His final television series was Valentino, which was broadcast in 2020. Reports at the time described Emam as one of the highest-paid actors appearing in Ramadan television, although claims about his exact ranking and salary vary by source.[40]

In May 2024, Alzheimer's (2010) was re-released in cinemas in Egypt and several Arab countries to mark Emam's 84th birthday. The screenings ran for three days, beginning on May 16 in Egypt and some Gulf markets. The release was organized by producer Esaad Younes as part of celebrations for Emam's birthday.[41]

Retirement

[edit]

On January 21, 2024, it was officially confirmed that Emam has retired, as his son, Rami Emam, stated that his father decided to step away from artistic endeavors to dedicate his time to family life. He retired from acting after a 60-year career.[42][43][44]

Works

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Film in Arabic Name Translation Role
1964 Ana Wa Howa Wa Heya Me, him and her (film) Dessouky – assistant to Hamdy the lawyer
1965 Al-Modir Al-Fanny The Artistic Director
1965 Al-Uqalaa Al-Thalatha The Three Wise Men the buffet worker (minor role)
1966 Mirati Modeer Aam My Wife, the Director General Abou El-Magd
1966 3 Losoos Three Thieves a passenger on the bus (minor role)
1966 Sayed Darwish (biographical film about composer Sayed Darwish)
1966 Agaza Bel-Afya A Well-Deserved Vacation Mabrouk, a detective
1967 Karamat Zawgaty My Wife's Dignity Amin
1967 Al-Khoroog Men Al-Ganna Exit from Paradise Abbas, secretary to the Mokhtar (mayor)
1967 Al-Ragel Da Hayganenny This Man Will Drive Me Crazy Talba Abbas, a lawyer's assistant
1968 Afreet Mirati My Wife's Goblin Shafei
1968 Losoos Laken Zorafaa Thieves, But Charming Ones Ismail
1968 Helwa We Shaqeya Pretty and Naughty Latif
1968 Kayfa Tasriq Milyoneir How to Rob a Millionaire Mansour
1968 Afraah Weddings Halim
1968 Ana Al-Doctor I Am the Doctor Abdo Nofalgin
1968 Hikayet 3 Banat The Story of 3 Girls Fahmy
1969 Ana We Meraty Wel Gaw Me, My Wife, and the Weather Shawkat
1969 Fatat Al-Este'raad The Showgirl Fahmy
1969 Nos Sa'a Gawaz Half an Hour of Marriage Sameh
1969 Al-Nas Elly Gowa The People Inside Souka
1969 7 Ayyam Fi Al-Ganna 7 Days in Paradise Shokry, a journalist
1970 Borj El-Athraa Virgo Amin
1970 Hob Al-Morahekat Teenage Girls in Love
1970 Bahibek Ya Helwa I Love You, Beautiful Said
1970 Al-Miraya The Mirror Hamdy
1970 Reda Bond (a play on "James Bond") Salah Eid
1971 Sahira (short) Witch Waiter
1971 Al-Buyut Asrar Houses Have Secrets Raouf
1971 Gharam Fi Al-Tareeq Al-Zera'i Love on the Agricultural Road Hamada
1971 Rehla Latheeza A Delicious Trip Metwally
1971 Mozakerat Al-Anesa Manal The Diary of Miss Manal Aouf
1971 Shabab Fi Asefa Youth in a Storm Saleh
1971 Banat Fi Al-Gam'a Girls at University Ibrahim
1972 Adwaa Al-Madina City Lights Sharshar
1973 Endama Yughanna Al-Hob When Love Is Sung Mounir
1973 Shea' Men Al-Hob A Bit of Love Adel
1973 Al-Shayateen Wal-Kora The Devils and the Ball Okasha
1973 Al-Bahth An Fadiha Searching for a Scandal Magdy
1973 Kalam Fel-Hob (Shellat Al-Moshaghebeen) Talk of Love (The Troublemakers' Gang) the director, Rico
1974 Al-Muhem Al-Hob What Matters Is Love Fahmi
1974 24 Sa'a Hob 24 Hours of Love Ahmed
1974 Shayateen Ela Al-Abad Devils Forever Fakhrany Abdel-Hamid
1974 Al-Zawag Al-Sa'eed The Happy Marriage Magdy
1975 Al-Bahth An Al-Mataeb In Search of Trouble Shaaban
1975 Sabreen Sabreen Mohamed
1975 Al-Kul Awez Yehebb Everyone Wants to Love Abdel-Salam Khafaga
1975 Alo.. Ana Al-Otta Hello, I'm the Cat Mahboub
1975 Mamnou' Fi Laylat Al-Dokhla Forbidden on the Wedding Night Tahsin
1976 Malek Al-Taxi The Taxi King Essam
1976 Gawaz Ala Al-Hawa Marriage on a Whim Ghareeb
1976 Azwag Ta'esheen Reckless Husbands Sherif
1977 Al-Azwag Al-Shayateen The Devilish Husbands Mamdouh
1977 Zahrat Al-Banafsag The Violet Flower Nasser
1977 Gens Na'em The Fair Sex Adel
1977 Harami Al-Hob The Thief of Love Ma'moun
1978 Al Baad Yathhab Lil Mathon Maratain Some Go to the Marriage Officer Twice Masoud Al-Sharnoubi
1978 Mugamaroun Hawl Al-Alam Adventurers Around the World Mamdouh
1978 Ragab Fawq Safeeh Sakhen Ragab on a Hot Tin Roof Ragab Abdel-Barr
1978 Al-Mahfaza Ma'aya The Wallet Is With Me Atwa
1978 Shabab Yarqus Fawq Al-Nar Youth Dancing on Fire Adel
1978 Aib Ya Lulu.. Ya Lulu Aib Shame on You, Lulu Shehab Aly
1979 Ihna Bitua' al-Autobis We are the Bus people Jabir
1979 Khally Balak Men Giranak Beware of Your Neighbors Ahmed Nafei, a lawyer
1979 Qatel Ma Ataltesh Hadd A Killer Who Never Killed Anyone Adel Ghareeb
1979 Al-Lo'ba The Game Zaghloul
1979 Al-Khudaa Al-Khafeya The Hidden Deception Sami Wahdan, a journalist
1980 Al-Jaheem Hell Ramzi
1980 Shaaban Taht Al-Sefr Shaaban Below Zero Shaaban / Farid Al-Ghatrifi
1980 Ghawy Mashakel Trouble Lover Medhat
1980 Azkeyaa Laken Aghbeyaa Smart but Foolish Zaghloul Ezdahmed / Bahira
1980 Ragol Faqad Aqlo A Man Who Lost His Mind Zaki / Ziko
1981 Al-Mashbouh The Suspect Maher Sayed Aly
1981 Ummahat Fi Al-Manfa Mothers in Exile Hassouna
1981 Laylat Shitaa Dafia A Warm Winter Night Mamdouh Amin
1981 Al-Ensan Yaeesh Marra Wahda The Human Lives Only Once Hany Aly Sultan
1981 Entakhabu Al-Doctor Suleiman Abdel-Basset Elect Dr. Suleiman Abdel-Basset Dr. Suleiman Abdel-Basset
1982 Ala Bab Al-Wazir At the Minister's Door Kamal Abdel-Samad
1982 Esabet Hamada wa Tutu Hamada and Tutu's Gang Hamada Al-Zaftawy
1983 El Harrif The Professional Fares Bakr
1983 Al-Motasawel The Beggar Hasanin Al-Bartoushy
1983 El Avocato The Advocate Hasan Sabanekh
1983 Al-Ghoul The Ghoul Adel Issa
1983 Khamsa Bab (title uncertain — possibly "Five Doors") Mansour
1983 Wala Men Shaf Wala Men Dara No One Saw, No One Knew Morsi
1983 Antar Shayel Seifo Antar, Carrying His Sword Antar
1983 Hob Fi Al-Zinzana Love in a Jail Cell Salah Al-Gharbawy
1984 Hatta La-Yeteer Al-Dukhan So that smoke won't fly Fahmi Abdel-Hady
1984 Al Ins wa Algen Humans and The Jinn Jalal Sultan
1984 Meen Fina El-Harami Which One of Us is the Thief? Sherif / Hussein
1984 2 Ala Al-Tareeq 2 On the Road Mamdouh
1984 Ehtares Men Al-Khat Beware of the Line Khosousi / Al-Khat Khalifa Al-Khat
1984 Wahda Be Wahda One for One Salah Fouad
1985 Al Halfout (colloquial term, roughly "street hustler") Arafa Mashawer
1985 Ramadan Fawq Al-Borkan Ramadan Above the Volcano Ramadan
1985 Zoug Taht Al-Talab Husband on Demand Mamdouh Fetiha
1985 Ana Elly Atalt Al-Hanash I'm the One Who Killed the Snake Hassanein
1985 Khally Balak Men Aqlak Mind Your Mind Wael
1987 Al-Nemr Wal-Ontha The Tiger And The Female Major Waheed
1989 Al-Mouled The Mawlid (Festival) Ibrahim (Hema) / Ghareeb / Barakat
1990 Jazeerat al-Shaytan Devil's Island Jalal
1990 Hanafy Al-Abbah Hanafy Al-Abbah Hanafy Al-Abbah
1991 Al-La'ib Ma'a Al-Kibar Playing with the Big Boys Hassan Behnasi Behloul
1991 Shams Elzanaty Shams Elzanaty Shams Elzanaty
1991 Musaggal Khatar A Marked Man (habitual offender) Sayed Kabaka
1992 El Erhab Wal Kabab Terrorism and Kebab Ahmed Fathallah
1993 El Mansy The Forgotten Youssef El Mansy
1994 Al-Erhabi The Terrorist Ali Abdel-Zaher (alias Mostafa Abdel-Rahman)
1995 Bekheet Wa Adeela Bekheet And Adeela Bekheet
1995 Toyoor Al-Zalaam Birds Of Darkness Fathy Nofal
1996 Al-Nom Fil-Assal Sleeping In The Honey Colonel Magdi Nour
1996 Bekheet Wa Adeela 2: El-Gardal wel-Kanaka Bekheet and Adeela 2: The Pail and the Coffeepot Bekheet
1998 Risala Ela Al-Wali A Message to the Governor Harfoosh Ben Barqouq Al-Rakabdar
1999 El-Wad Mahroos Betaa El-Wazeer Mahroos; The Minister's Guy Mahroos Matawe Al-Dokhakhny
2000 Bekheet Wa Adeela 3: Hello America Bekheet And Adeela 3: Hello America Bekheet Hanidak Al-Mohaitel
2002 Ameer Al-Thalaam Prince of Darkness Saeed Al-Masri
2003 Al-Tagroba Al-Danemarkeya The Danish Experiment Qadri Al-Manyawi
2004 Arees Menn Gehha Amneya A Security Service Groom Khattab Al-Naggari
2005 El-Sefara fi El-Omara The Embassy Is In The Building Sherif Khairy
2006 Emaret Yaqubian The Yacoubian Building Zaki Al-Dessouki
2007 Morgan Ahmad Morgan Morgan Ahmad Morgan Morgan Ahmad Morgan
2008 Hassan w Morqos Hassan and Marcus Boules / Hassan Al-Attar
2009 Bobbos Bobbos Mohsen Hendawi
2010 Zahaimar Alzheimer's Mahmoud Shoeib
2020 Omar Men Al-Bahga A Lifetime of Joy himself (archival footage)

Television

[edit]
Year TV Series in Arabic Name Translation Role
1964 Al-Manshet Al-Ahmar The Red Headline
1966 Sheikh Al-Hara The Neighborhood Sheikh
1968 Al-Wahm The Illusion
1969 Al-Fannan Wal-Handasa The Artist and Engineering Said
1969 Masyadat Al-Doctor Ghorab Dr. Ghorab's Trap
1970 Adam Wa Hawa Wal-Shaitan Adam, Eve, and the Devil Adam
1970 Al-Nashal The Pickpocket Salama
1971 Al-Naseeb Fate
1971 Meen Wala Meen Which One
1973 Al-Ragol Wal-Dokhan The Man and the Smoke Bisyouny
1978 Ahlam Al fata Al ta2r Dreams Of The Fugitive Boy Ibrahim El-Tayer
1978 Kayfa Takhsar Milyoun Guinea How to Lose a Million Pounds Hamza
1980 Dumu Fi Uyun Waqeha Tears In Insolent Eyes Gomaa Mahmoud Al-Shawan
2012 Firqit Naji Atallah Naji Atallah's Team Naji Atallah
2013 Al Aaraf The Fortune-teller Abd-El-Hamid El-Bakry / Hazem Ghorbal / Al-Brens / Mostafa Zahran / Araby El-Kahky / Sobhy Abou-El-Fadl / Abou-El-Haggag El-Masry / Shawky El-Mor / Mahmoud Salem
2014 Saheb El Saada His Majesty Bahgat Abou-Kheir
2015 Ostaz wa rayees kesm Professor and Head of Department Fawzy Gomaa
2016 Ma'amoon wa shorakaah Ma'amoon and his partners Ma'amoon Mobasher Abu El-Ata
2017 Afareet Adly Alam Adly Alam's Ghosts Adly Alam
2018 Awalem Khafyah Hidden Worlds Helal Kamel
2020 Valentino Valentino Noor Mohamed Ahmed Valentino

Plays

[edit]
Year Play in Arabic Name Translation Role
1960 Serri Gedan Very Secret
1963 Ana Wa Howa Wa Heya Me, him and her Dessouky
1965 Ana Feen W Enti Feen Where am I and where are you? Haikal
1966 Al-Nassabeen Scammers
1967 Dhat Al-Bijama Al-Hamraa Red Pajamas Hassan
1967 Halet Hob A State of Love Elham Al-Malfouf
1967 Hessa Qabl Al-Nawm A Bedtime Lesson
1970 Gharameyat Afifi Khalifa
1971 Madrast Al-Mushaghebeen The School of Mischievous Bahgat Al-Abasiry
1975 Shahed Ma Shafsh Haga The Witness Who Didn't See Anything Sarhan Abdelbaseer
1975 Qesat Al-Hay Al-Gharby The Story of the West Side
1984 Al-Wad Sayed Al-Shaghal The Boy Sayyed The Servant Sayed Al-Kawawy
1993 Al-Zaeem The Leader Al-Zaeem (Zeinhom)
1999 Body Guard Body Guard Adham Al-Gabali

Radio

[edit]
Year In Arabic Name Translation Role
1972 Sabreen Sabreen
1973 Argouk La Tafhamny Bi Sur'a Please Don't Understand Me So Quickly Ahmed
1981 Ala Bab Al-Wazir At the Minister's Door Kamal
undated Al-Ensan Yaeesh Marra Wahda The Human Lives Only Once
undated Ta'aban Gedan Very Tired the psychiatrist

Societal and humanitarian contributions

[edit]
Adel Emam speaking at the Cairo International Book Fair in 2000.

Adel Emam has significantly influenced societal and humanitarian efforts beyond his career in the arts. Emam has also been an advocate for political and social progress in Egypt. He was an outspoken support for democratic principles and freedom of expression during periods of political upheaval. Furthermore, he has been active in charitable work, notably in healthcare and education. He has contributed to funding hospitals and educational initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for marginalized communities.[45] Adel Imam makes donations and provides assistance to those in need without publicizing them. He prefers these charitable acts to remain "private," away from the spotlight and media, without any fanfare.[19]

In recognition of his humanitarian contributions, Emam was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).[46] This role allowed him to support the rights and needs of refugees and displaced individuals. By using his widespread fame, he participated in numerous campaigns and events to raise awareness about the plight of refugees.[47] When Adel Emam became Goodwill Ambassador he said:

In many of my films I fight against discrimination and raise awareness about poverty and social problems – issues that need to be addressed but which are often not discussed easily.[46]

Emam’s political influence extends to his cinematic work. He has explored pressing local and regional issues. His films have addressed topics such as terrorism, sectarian violence, and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. A prominent example is his 1994 film The Terrorist, which delved into the impact of extremism. The film’s release coincided with a notable incident: the attempted assassination of Adel Emam by Muhammad Kroum, a former member of an extremist group. Kroum revealed that he was tasked with assassinating Adel Imam because of his film The Terrorist, which raised awareness among young people about jihadist movements.[48] This highlighted the controversial and impactful nature of Emam's work. Many of today's stars acknowledge Imam's credit for giving them golden opportunities at the beginning of their artistic careers, and it is said that he does not only offer advice and guidance, but also seeks to provide actual support by providing job opportunities and participating in artistic works.[19] Randa Abu al-Azm, director of Al Arabiya’s office in Egypt, remarked during an interview on Al-Hekaya with Amr Adib on MBC Masr: "We could produce twenty successful documentaries about Adel Emam".[49]

[edit]

In February 2012, Emam was sentenced (in absentia) to three months in jail for offending Islam.[50] Emam said he would appeal the sentence.[51] On September 12, 2012, Emam won his appeal when a Cairo misdemeanours court cleared him of defaming Islam in his films.[52]

Awards and honours

[edit]
Adel Emam on December 3, 2015

Adel Emam has received numerous awards throughout his five-decade career. He won the Horus Award twice, for his leading roles in Omaret Yakobean and Al-irhabi, at the Cairo International Film Festival. Additionally, in 2014, a testament to his legacy he was honored with the Honorary Award at the Marrakech International Film Festival. His international acclaim continued as he received the International Jury Award at the São Paulo International Film Festival.[53] Furthermore, in both 2005 and 2008, the Dubai International Film Festival awarded Adel Emam the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2017, he was presented with the first-ever Career Achievement Award at the El-Gouna Film Festival. Most recently, in January 2024, he was honored with the Arab Art Leader Award at the Joy Awards.[54]

Cairo International Film Festival

[edit]
Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1995 Best Actor Al-Irhabi (The Terrorist) Won
2007 Best Actor Omaret Yakobean (The Yacoubian Building) Won

Dubai International Film Festival

[edit]
Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2005 Lifetime Achievement Award All his works Won [55]
2008 Lifetime Achievement Award All his works Won [56]
[57]
[58]

El Gouna Film Festival

[edit]
Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2017 Career Achievement Award All his works Won [59]

Joy Awards

[edit]
Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2024 Arab Art Leader Award All his works Won [54]

Marrakech International Film Festival

[edit]
Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2014 Honorary Award Alzheimer's Won [60]
[61]

São Paulo International Film Festival

[edit]
Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2006 Best Actor Omaret Yakobean (The Yacoubian Building) Won [62]

Tribeca Film Festival

[edit]
Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2006 Actor in a Narrative Feature Omaret Yakobean (The Yacoubian Building) Won [63]

Egyptian honours

[edit]

Foreign honours

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 بيدس, أشرف (2018-01-01). عادل إمام: الغالب مستمر [Adel Imam: The Winner Endures] (in Arabic). سما للنشر والتوزيع. p. 28. ISBN 978-977-781-148-4. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022.
  2. ↑ "The Top 3 Arab Male Actors". Forbes Middle East. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
  3. 1 2 كمال, إيمان. ""الزعيم" عادل إمام.. 60 عاما من اللعب مع الكبار" ["The Leader" Adel Imam: 60 Years of Playing with the Big Leagues]. الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  4. 1 2 "Adel Emam: The biggest star in Arab cinema". Arab News. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  5. ↑ أمين, هبة (2020-05-16). "في عيد ميلاده.. أشهر إفيهات عادل إمام "زعيم القلش": هو الدين بيقول إيه" [On His Birthday: Adel Imam's Most Famous Catchphrases as the "King of Comedy": "What Does Religion Say?"]. الوطن (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  6. ↑ "Notebook: adel emam". www.amazon.ae. أمازون. Archived from the original on 12 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  7. ↑ "On his 80th birthday... These are the most important women in Adel Imam's life" (in Arabic). Al Arabiya. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  8. ↑ "Surprise: Adel Imam's father suffered from Alzheimer's before his death | Sayidaty Magazine". www.sayidaty.net (in Arabic). Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  9. ↑ "5 unknown facts about "Madrasat Al-Mushaghibeen"". Laha Magazine. 2015-05-19. Archived from the original on June 7, 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-13.
  10. ↑ Aḥmad ʿAlāwinah (1998), ذيل الأعلام (in Arabic), vol. 3 (1st ed.), Jeddah: Dar al-Manarah, p. 187, OCLC 39194562, Wikidata Q115452583
  11. ↑ "لقاء الزعيم "عادل إمام" مع هالة سرحان من إحتفالية روتانا سينما". Rotana Cinema. December 31, 2014. Archived from the original on 2021-03-15. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  12. ↑ "Yes, I Am Famous. Adel Imam - Episode 2. Minute 30:00" (in Arabic). Shahid.net. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  13. ↑ "بدأت من الشباك.. قصة حب عادل إمام وهالة الشلقاني". الأسبوع (in Arabic). 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  14. ↑ CBC Egypt (2024-05-17). "كانت قصة حب من نوع خاص، قولت لو هتجوز مش هتجوز غيرها".. الزعيم عادل إمام عن شريكة حياته وقصة حبهما. Retrieved 2024-12-25 – via YouTube.
  15. ↑ "عادل إمام: ربنا بيحبنى إنى تزوجت هالة وقصة حبنا من نوع خاص.. فيديو". اليوم السابع (in Arabic). 2024-05-15. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  16. ↑ Motawa, Walaa. "After Rami's son celebrated his graduation: These are Adel Imam's grandchildren". Layalina (in Arabic). Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  17. ↑ "Khabr Abyad | Sarah Adel Imam ventures into business, opens a restaurant in the North Coast with her husband Ahmed Mokbel". Khabr Abyad. 2021-06-08. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  18. ↑ "After they welcomed their daughter Khadija: Mohamed Imam and Noura celebrate her arrival". Masrawy. 2019-06-17. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  19. 1 2 3 "أسرار عادل إمام.. ما لا تعرفه عن والده وطفولته وزوجته وثروته وسجنه | دال" (in Arabic). 2024-06-09. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  20. ↑ Boddu, Rishitha (2023-12-22). "From 'Omaret Yakobean' to 'The Yacoubian Building'; What Is Adel Emam's Net Worth?". www.marketrealist.com. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  21. ↑ "Richest Actors - TOP 510 Richest Actors". nichesss.com. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  22. 1 2 3 "عادل إمام يتصدر اهتمامات المصريين... والجمهور يستعيد أفلامه" [Adel Imam Tops Egyptians' Interests... Fans Revisit His Films]. aawsat.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  23. 1 2 3 4 "عادل إمام في السينما ومنافسة دائمة مع الزمن.. بدأ الزعامة نهاية السبعينيات بإيرادات قياسية وأكدها في الثمانينيات.. الكاتب محمود السعدني قدم نصيحة غيرت مسيرته السينمائية.. وأدواره المختلفة نالت إعجاب الجماهير" [Adel Imam in Cinema and His Ongoing Battle with Time: He Began His Reign in the Late 1970s with Record-Breaking Box Office Earnings and Solidified It in the 1980s. Writer Mahmoud El-Saadany Offered a Piece of Advice That Changed His Cinematic Career, and His Diverse Roles Won the Admiration of Audiences.]. اليوم السابع (in Arabic). 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  24. ↑ فرج, عبد الله. "أطوار عادل إمام.. التملص من السذاجة إلى قمة هرم الزعامة" [The Phases of Adel Imam: From Escaping Naivety to Reaching the Pinnacle of Leadership]. الجزيرة نت (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  25. ↑ "60 عاما على ظهوره.. كيف تحول عادل إمام من "السنّيد" إلى "الزعيم"؟ | الحرة" [Decades After His Debut: How Did Adel Imam Transform from a "Supporting Actor" to "The Leader"?]. www.alhurra.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  26. ↑ "دراما السبعينيات.. ظلال التقلبات الاجتماعية على الشاشة الصغيرة" [Seventies Drama: Reflections of Social Upheavals on the Small Screen]. الجزيرة الوثائقية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  27. ↑ "مدرسة المشاغبين علامة فارقة في تاريخ عادل إمام.. تعرفوا كيف أسهمت في مسيرته | مجلة سيدتي" [Madraset El Moshaghbeen: A Milestone in Adel Imam's Career... Discover How It Shaped His Journey]. www.sayidaty.net (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  28. ↑ زكريا, عصام (2022-03-01). "عادل إمام... ثورة بهجت الأباصيري!" [Adel Imam... The Revolution of Bahgat Al-Abasiri!]. باب مصر (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  29. ↑ المُصّوَر (in Arabic). موسوعة دار الهلال. 1989. p. 25.
  30. 1 2 "حين ألوذ بموسيقى "المشبوه"" [When I Seek Refuge in the Music of "Al-Mashboh" (The Suspect)]. اليوم السابع (in Arabic). 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  31. ↑ الكويتية, جريدة الجريدة (2007-10-03). "عادل إمام... من الحارة إلى السفارة 18 بعد نجاحي في الثمانينات زادت وسوستي ورفضت تخفيض أجري كان من الطبيعي بعد رجب أن يأتي شعبان ثم رمضان" [Adel Imam... From the Alley to Embassy 18: After my success in the 1980s, my ego grew, and I refused to lower my salary. It was only natural that after Rajab, came Shaaban, then Ramadan.]. جريدة الجريدة الكويتية (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  32. ↑ عثمان, كريم (2020-01-24). "آخرها "حتى لا يطير الدخان".. أعمال روائية خُلدت بفيلم ومسلسل" [The Latest: "So That the Smoke Doesn’t Fly" – Novels Immortalized in Film and TV Series]. الوطن (in Arabic). Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  33. ↑ الترباوي, حمزة (18 November 2016). "أشهر 13 مسرحية عربية لن تنسى" [13 Most Famous Arab Plays You Will Never Forget].
  34. ↑ "«إجازة العيد في البيت».. مسرحيات كوميدية لا تفوت مشاهدتها في عيد الأضحى". نجوم إف إم (in Arabic). 2024-06-12. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  35. ↑ "الأعلى أجرا فى1997.. عادل ونادية الجندى أغلى الممثلين وعمرو دياب نجم الغناء" [The Highest-Paid in 1997: Adel Imam and Nadia El-Gendy Were the Most Expensive Actors, and Amr Diab Was the Singing Star.]. اليوم السابع (in Arabic). 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
  36. ↑ Adel Imam outs James Bond and puts Nicole Saba ahead of Nicole Kidman (translated title), Al-Mustaqbal (newspaper) (in Arabic), Retrieved December 14, 2010 (noting that the film was viewed by about 80,000 in Lebanon, beating out Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl)
  37. ↑ "الخميس.. عادل إمام يسافر للغردقة استعدادا لتكريمه بمهرجان الجونة السينمائى - اليوم السابع". اليوم السابع (in Arabic). 2017-09-16. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
  38. ↑ "عادل إمام يتسلم جائزة الإنجاز الإبداعى فى الدورة الأولى للجونة السينمائى - اليوم السابع". اليوم السابع (in Arabic). 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
  39. ↑ "Adel Emam: The Most Popular Arab Actor in History". Egypt Today. Egypt Today. 17 May 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  40. ↑ "Highest paid actors of Ramadan TV series: Adel Emam tops the list". Ahram Online. Ahram Online. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
  41. ↑ "Adel Imam returns to cinema again after an absence of 14 years". Sbisiali News Portal. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  42. ↑ "رامي إمام يطمئن الجمهور على عادل إمام: "الزعيم" قرر يتفرغ للحياة الأسرية". مصراوي.كوم (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2024-01-20. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  43. ↑ "الزعيم يعتزل الفن". www.msn.com. Archived from the original on 2024-01-22. Retrieved 2024-01-21.
  44. ↑ "عادل إمام يعتزل الفن.. نجله يؤكد". العربية (in Arabic). 2024-01-21. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  45. ↑ "Adel Emam Net Worth: A Look Into The Life And Career Of Egypt's Comedy King". TheHandcraftHub Secrets. 2024-12-16. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  46. 1 2 "Adel Imam". UNHCR UK. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  47. ↑ "Goodwill Ambassador Adel Imam". UNHCR Egypt. Retrieved 2024-12-15.
  48. ↑ Sada Elbalad - صدى البلد (2024-05-18). المكلف باغتيال عادل إمام: عبود الزمر أمر بالتخلص من الزعيم بسبب أفلامه التي لم تخلو من الجماعات. Retrieved 2024-12-25 – via YouTube.
  49. ↑ "Adel Emam's political, social roles explored in new documentary - Screens - Arts & Culture". Ahram Online. Archived from the original on 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  50. ↑ "BBC News - Egyptian court upholds actor Adel Imam's sentence". bbc.co.uk. 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2013-06-30.
  51. ↑ "Islamists halt filming of Egyptian TV series". Daily News Egypt. 2012-02-09. Archived from the original on 2016-06-10. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
  52. ↑ "Egyptian actor Adel Imam wins appeal in defaming Islam case". Ahram Online. 2012-09-12.
  53. ↑ "41ª Mostra Internacional de Cinema - 30ª Mostra - Premiações". 41.mostra.org. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  54. 1 2 "Adel Imam receives Arab Art Leader Award at Joy Awards 2024 amid retirement confirmation". 2024-01-21.
  55. ↑ Bishara, Motez. "Dubai honours Arab film icon". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  56. ↑ "Celebrating the birthday of the one and only Adel Emam". EgyptToday. 2023-05-17. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  57. ↑ "Adel Imam: The Icon of Egyptian Art and Actor Nonpareil". en.majalla.com. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  58. ↑ "Adel Emam: 50 years of artistic leadership". EgyptToday. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  59. ↑ "El-Gouna Film Festival to honour Egyptian actor Adel Imam with Career Achievement Award - Film - Arts & Culture - Ahram Online". english.ahram.org.eg. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  60. ↑ "14th EDITION 2014". Marrakech International Film Festival. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  61. ↑ "Adel Imam monte les marches (PHOTOS)". Al HuffPost Maghreb (in French). 2014-12-06. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015. Retrieved 2018-03-17.
  62. ↑ "São Paulo International Film Festival 2006". MUBI. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  63. ↑ "Tribeca Film - The Yacoubian Building". www.tribecafilm.com/.
  64. ↑ "Adel Imam évoque ses souvenirs avec Bouteflika chez le président tunisien (Vidéo)". 2016-12-04.
  65. ↑ "LEBANON-EGYPT-IMAM". 2003.
  66. ↑ "سلِّم لى على عادل إمام". 2019-01-16.
  67. ↑ "عادل امام ــ توسيمه من لدن الملك الحسن الثاني رحمه الله". YouTube. 10 July 2014.
  68. ↑ "Adel Imam à Carthage : Décoré du Mérite culturel". 2016-11-03.
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