Samir Ghanem, a legendary actor and comedian from Egypt, died on Thursday after a battle with COVID-19.
Ghanem was beloved across the Arab world for his music, film, theatre and television work.
Hi wife is also a renowned actress, Dalal Abdel Aziz, who is also currently battling COVID-19.
Ghanem was born in al-‘Atawlah, Asyut Governate. He was a member of the stand-up comedy trio Tholathy Adwa’a El Masrah, where he first came to famg alongside George Sidhom and El Deif Ahmed.
They were the presenters of Ramadan Riddles, which became an institution in the country. El Deif Ahmed passed away in 1970, leading the other two members of the trio to continue for nearly two decades.
Ghasem was also the host of the popular series An Hour with Samir Ghanem.
He was active until late in his life, still starring in numerous productions until recently.
Ghanem’s daughter, Donia Samir Ghanem, test positive in April along with her father and mother. Donia’s husband, the television presenter Ramy Radwan, recovered from the virus at the end of 2020.
It was Radwan who announced the serious illness of his wife’s parents at the end of April.
Dalal, Ghanem’s wife, is reportedly in serious condition.
There has been an outpouring of support from across the Middle East, as the biggest names in entertainment mourn the loss of a true luminary of Egyptian culture.
“An artist of rare style, I always felt that he was a member of the family and he was one of the people who made us laugh and got us out of any emotional state as soon as we watched any scene he was in. Goodbye, the last lights of the beautiful theater, may god have mercy on the star,” said Egyptian actress Hend Sabri on Instagram.
“The giant of theater and the legend of comedy,” wrote Mohamed Ramadan.
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