Egyptian comedy icon Samir Ghanem died aged 84 on Thursday after having contracted the COVID-19 disease, Egyptian media reported.
Ghanem had been suffering from organ failure in his kidneys and was transferred to the intensive care unit, while his wife, renowned actress Dalal Abdel Aziz, was transferred to another hospital in Cairo due to an acute health deterioration from coronavirus.
Ghanem began his career in the 1960s as part of a celebrated comedy trio, including George Sidhom and El Deif Ahmed.
The trio starred in a number of hugely successful films, which cemented Ghanem's place as one of the essential figures of Egyptian cinema's golden age. He also helped discover actresses that would go on to be stars, like Athar El-Hakim, whom he had convinced to enter the limelight.
In addition, Ghanem supported several young actors by taking minor roles in their works, and he collaborated with his daughter on several of her works. In 2017, Ghanem was honored at the Cairo Festival, receiving the Faten Hamama Honorary and Excellence Award.
Mourning the loss, Egyptian Minister of Culture Ines Abdel-Dayem, said: "The artistic scene in Egypt and the Arab world has lost one of the geniuses of comedy who painted pages of joy in the history books of theatrical performance."
Abdel-Dayem pointed out that "his distinctive style managed to draw the public in over many years. His work will be remembered fondly for its uniqueness for many years.”
She and many artists expressed condolences to Ghanem's family, friends and loved ones.
Dr. Samia Habib, Head of Higher Institute of Art Criticism Academy, told Asharq Al-Awsat: "Samir Ghanem was a talented performer in all the artistic phases that he went through. He relied heavily on folk art techniques, especially in improvised theater. He was skilled in taking on female characters' roles, taking advantage of his comedic talent to diversify his roles and his ability to improvise.”
“A pioneer in Egyptian comedy, he passed his teachings to the generations that came after him, and many adopted his satirical performance style, which is a testament to his authenticity as an artist."
