Hassan Hosny (Arabic: حسن حسني) (June 19, 1936 – May 30, 2020) was an Egyptian actor and comedian. Widely regarded as a veteran of Egyptian cinema, his acting career spanned over 50 years and included performances in almost 500 films, television programs and theatre plays. He has been referred to as the Joker of Egyptian cinema.
Biography
Hassan Hosny was born in the citadel district of Cairo on June 19, 1936.Tarek El Shennawi mentioned in his book "Hassan Hosny Al Meshakhasaty" that Hassan Hosny was born on June 19, 1936, yet several other sources mistakenly reported that he was born on October 15, 1931.}} Born to an entrepreneur father named Hosny, he lost his mother when he was six years old. Described as a thespian during his school years, Hassan Hosny started acting in the 1960s in theatre plays as part of the Egyptian military's theatrical group.
At the beginning of his career, Hosny appeared in minor roles in several films, including La Wakt Lel Hob (No Time for Love) in 1963 and Bent el-Heta (Neighborhood’s Girl) in 1964.
The 1970s brought new opportunities for Hosny, as he appeared in numerous films, including Sook el-Hareem (Females’ Market), Hob Wa Kebreya’a (Love and Pride), Madinat el-Samt (City of Silence), among others.
His breakthrough role came when he starred as a corrupt civil servant in the popular TV show 'My Dear Children, Thank You'. He then collaborated in major TV shows with superstars Faten Hamama, Salah Zulfikar and Farid Shawqi. Popularly known for his comedic style, he also established himself as a serious actor in dramas.
During the 1980s, Hosny continued to appear in successful films, including Sawa’a el-Otobees (The Bus Driver), directed by Atef El-Tayeb. His performance in the film further established him as a talented actor and marked a significant turning point in his career, particularly by highlighting his ability to portray villainous characters convincingly.
Hosny continued his collaboration with El-Tayeb in several films, including El-Bare’e (The Innocent) in 1985 and El-Horoob (The Getaway) in 1991. Throughout his career, he also worked with numerous prominent Egyptian directors, including Mohamed Khan, Osama Fawzy, and Dawood Abdel Sayed.
He married Magda in 1995, and they together had three daughters and a son. One of his daughters died of lymphoma.
During the 2000s, Hassan Hosny achieved further success as a veteran comedian, taking on increasingly significant roles in films.
Hosny was cast in famous egyption movies such as El Basha Telmiz, Ahlam Al-Fata Al-Tayesh, Bobbos, Askar Fi El-Mu’askar, Ya Ana Ya Khalty, Bouha, Ga3alatny Mogreman, Katkout, El nazer, Africano, El lembi, Ghabi Minno Fih, Zaki Chan, Abood Ala el-Hodood" (Abood on The Border), Sarek El Farah, Al Masateel and many others.
Hosny’s strong sense of humor established him as one of the most prominent comedic actors in Egyptian cinema over the last two decades. His theatrical career also includes several highly successful plays, such as Hazemny Ya and Tara’eo, among others.
In the 2018 Cairo International Film Festival, he was awarded the Faten Hamama award in recognition of his lifetime achievements and contribution to Egyptian cinema. At the ceremony, Hosny commented that he was extremely happy to accept the award while he was still alive.
Death
Hassan Hosny died on May 30, 2020, due to a sudden heart attack. He was buried in his family's cemetery outside Cairo. His last performance was in Sultana of Al Moez which aired during Ramadan in the same month.