500 500 Cancer Hospital dedicates Ramadan ad to Ahmed Zaki

CAIRO – 29 May 2018: 500 500 Cancer Hospital dedicated its Ramadan ad to the one and only late Egyptian actor, Ahmed Zaki, who died in 2005 after a severe battle with lung cancer.

The ad that gathered the admiration of a wide audience base hosted a notable number of stars who consider Zaki their mentor or who have worked with him, such as Ahmed Helmi, Mona Zaki, Yousra, Hend Sabri, Sherine Reda, Abdel Aziz Makhyoun, Gamil Rateb, Nagwa Fouad, Wafaa Salem, Mohamed Nagaty, Amr Saad, Mohamed Lotfy and his son Haitham Ahmed Zaki. These celebrities donated in Zaki’s name so that more patients could be treated for free from the disease that cost Zaki his life.



Famed Egyptian singer Sherine Abdel Wahab sang the heart-warming song of the ad.

Zaki is considered one of the most prominent actors in the history of Egyptian cinema.
Many of his films are considered stepping stones in his acting career, such as: “Ahlam Hend we Kamilia” (The Dreams of Hend and Kamilia), “Oyoon La Tanam” (Eyes that Don’t Sleep), “El-Bareea” (The Innocent), “El-Hob Fawk Hadabet Al-Haram” (Love on Top of the Pyramid) and “Ard El-Khouf” (The Land of Fear).

In efforts to reflect the values and identity of the Egyptian society, Zaki has perfectly portrayed low and middle class society citizens in roles such as the guard in “El Beh El Bawab” (The Gentle Guard). He also played the role of a simple photographer in “Edhak El Sora Tetlaa’ Helwa” (Smile, the Picture will Come Out Fine), and the role of the driver in “Sawaq El Hanem” (The Madame’s Driver).

Six of his films are listed on the best 100 Egyptian films in history, based on a selection by a number of Egyptian critics. Zaki has also introduced some of the most valuable biographical films, such as Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s biography, “Nasser 65”, and Egyptian President Anwar al Sadat’s biography, “Ayam El Sadat”.

He also depicted prominent Egyptian author, Taha Hussein, in “Al Ayam” (Days) series. Zaki’s last movie was a depiction of Egyptian singer, Abdel Halim Hafez, in a biography film titled “Halim”, which was released in 2005.

Zaki portrayed historical figures brilliantly, and it drove most of the audience to feel that their souls were instilled in Zaki’s soul. Furthermore, many of his colleagues, and the actors who followed him, admitted that they were inspired by his genuine performances and that they consider him one of the greatest actors in the history of Egyptian cinema.

Zaki’s power as an actor also lies in the fact that he was one of the first darker-skinned actors to grace Egyptian screens, challenging an unspoken color barrier that had previously existed. He paved the way for other non-conventional actors to realize that they too have a place on the cinema screen.