Mishari al-Balam, a tenured actor of stage and screen, passed away on Thursday. He was 48.
The Kuwaiti actor had contracted COVID-19, entering intensive care at Jaber Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah Hospital in Kuwait on 21 February.
The actor, whose career began 30 years ago in Kuwait’s theatre scene before he transitioned to television, had a long, successful career in Kuwait, starring in more than 56 series, including Maa’ Hest Qalam.
The actor is survived by his wife and five children.
“Do not forget me from your prayers. Praise be to God in any case. My family, fellow artists, and the loyal, beloved audience, thank you for asking. All that happened was I got infected during the vaccination. It’s fate and forgive me for I cannot respond to the calls,” al-Balam wrote in an Instagram post before his passing.
On February 11, the actor shared a video of himself receiving the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
He was moved to the ICU when his oxygen levels began to drop.
Outpourings of love for the actor poured onto social media over the weekend, including from Dubai’s arthouse cinema Cinema Akil, who posted a remembrance for the actor on their social media.
His cousin, actor Hasan Al-Balam, asked for condolences on his social media after Mishari’s passing.
“May God reward you the resting place of paradise,” Kuwaiti actress Zahra Al Kharji wrote on Instagram.
“My Lord heals you and protects you from all evil,” wrote Gulf actress Haifa Hussain wrote to al-Balam after his passing.
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