Rushdy Abaza檢視原始碼討論檢視歷史

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Rushdy Abaza (Egyptian Arabic: رشدي سعيد بغدادي أباظة; 3 August 1926 – 27 July 1980) was an Egyptian film and television actor. A member of the prominent Abaza aristocratic family, he appeared in over 100 films from 1948 until his death. Known for his tall, athletic physique, charisma, and versatility, he was often dubbed the "Don Juan" of Egyptian cinema. He excelled in diverse genres, including romantic comedies, political dramas, and thrillers.

Born Rushdy Said Bughdady Abaza

3 August 1926

Mansoura or Sharqia, Egypt

Died 27 July 1980 (aged 53)

Cairo, Egypt

Occupation Actor

Years active 1948–1980

Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)

Spouses Taheyya Kariokka (m. 1951; div. 1955)

Barbara (m. 1955; div. 1959)

Samia Gamal (m. 1960; div. 1978)

Sabah (m. 1967; div. 1967)

Nabila Abaza

Children 1 (daughter, Qismat)

Relatives Fikri Abaza (half-brother, actor)

Awards Order of Sciences and Arts

Early life and family

Rushdy Abaza was born on 3 August 1926 to an Egyptian father, Said Abaza, a police officer belonging to the wealthy and influential Abaza family of Circassian heritage, and an Italian mother, Teresa Luigi. He attended Collège Saint Marc in Alexandria.

From his father's side, he had three half-sisters (Ragaa, Mounira, Zeinab) and a half-brother, Fikri, who also became an actor. From his mother's side, he had a half-brother named Hamed. His aristocratic family initially opposed his acting ambitions, and he was reportedly cut off from the family after pursuing a career in cinema.

Career

Early work and struggles

Abaza began his acting career in 1948 when he was discovered by director Kamal Barakat while playing billiards at the Riviera Casino in Cairo. Barakat offered him the lead role in The Young Millionaire (also known as The Small Millionaire), for which he was paid 150 L.E. Although the film was not a major success, it launched his career.

His first three films—The Man with Two Faces (1949), Amina (1949), and Woman of Fire (1950)—were disappointments. In 1950, he traveled to Italy for six months hoping to appear in Italian films but was unsuccessful there. Upon returning to Egypt in the mid-1950s, he found that his peers had surpassed him and was forced to take on more humble roles, including a supporting part in Foreman Hassan (1952) directed by Salah Abu-Seif.

Breakthrough and rise to stardom

His real breakthrough came with Conspiracy (1953) directed by Kamal El-Sheikh, where he played a young man who comes between a wife and her husband. Although a stereotypical role, Abaza gave a distinctive performance that caught attention.

Between 1954 and 1958, he appeared in 24 films, many of which became classics of Egyptian cinema, including They Made Me a Criminal (1954), Life or Death (1954), Rendezvous (1956), Tamr Henna (1957), Sleepless (1957), Sultan (1958), and Djamelah (1958). During this period, he primarily played secondary and supporting roles, but the variety of characters—from villain to light-hearted young man—showcased his range.

His collaboration with director Ezzeddine Zulfikar proved pivotal. After working together on I am Departing (1955), Zulfikar gradually cast Abaza in larger roles, including his first leading roles in Port Said (1957), Way of Hope (1957), and A Woman on the Road (1958).

The defining moment of Abaza's career came with The Second Man (1959), produced, directed, and co-written by Zulfikar. Abaza starred as Esmat Kazem, a charismatic criminal running a smuggling operation between Egypt and Lebanon. The role redefined the gangster archetype in Egyptian cinema, presenting a suave, handsome, intelligent villain whom audiences could not help but admire. The film firmly established Abaza as a major star.

Later career and international work

In the 1960s and 1970s, Abaza continued to star in numerous films across genres. He demonstrated his comedic abilities in films directed by Fateen Abdel-Wahab, including The Thirteenth Wife (1962), What a Shrew (1963), and The Nile Bride (1964).

Abaza also appeared in international productions. He had an uncredited role as a robed man in Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1956) and appeared in Valley of the Kings (1954). He was approached to play Sherif Ali in Lawrence of Arabia (the role that went to Omar Sharif) but turned it down, reportedly considering an audition an insult and asking the casting directors to watch his performance in A Man in Our House instead.

His later notable films include A Man in Our House (1961), My Dear Daughter (1971) opposite Najat Al Saghira, I Want a Solution (1975) opposite Faten Hamama, and Where's My Mind (1974). His final film role was in The Strong People (1980), which he did not complete before his death; the film was released posthumously.

Personal life

Abaza was married five times, earning him a reputation as the "Don Juan" of Egyptian cinema.

Taheyya Kariokka (married 1951–1955): Egyptian actress and dancer, 18 years his senior. The marriage ended in divorce due to Abaza's infidelities, though Kariokka remained fond of him, keeping a framed photo of Abaza in her living room for years afterward.

Barbara (married 1955–1959): An American woman who took on a managerial role in his career. She bore his only child, a daughter named Qismat. The marriage ended after four years.

Samia Gamal (married 1960–1978): Famous Egyptian belly dancer and actress. This was Abaza's longest and most stable marriage, lasting 18 years. Gamal took a decade-long hiatus from acting to run their household and care for Abaza and his daughter. Abaza divorced her in a drunken rage in 1978.

Sabah (married 1967; lasted three days): Lebanese singer and actress. Their brief, tumultuous marriage ended quickly due to Abaza's jealousy and drunken outbursts.

Nabila Abaza (married after 1978): A cousin from the Abaza family and a doctor who cared for him during his illness. Abaza divorced her shortly before his death, reportedly saying, "I've lived my whole life free and I want to die free."

Abaza spoke five languages fluently. Throughout his life, he struggled with excessive drinking, which worsened after the death of his lover, actress Camelia (Lilian Victor Cohen), in a plane crash in the early 1950s.

Death

Abaza collapsed on a film set and was diagnosed with brain cancer. He died on 27 July 1980 in Cairo at the age of 53. His funeral was attended by more than 100,000 people.

Legacy

Abaza is remembered as one of the most charismatic actors in the history of Arab cinema. His name has become part of the Egyptian lexicon, commonly used to reference a "tough guy" or a charming, lovable rogue. He received the Order of Sciences and Arts for his contributions to Egyptian culture.

Egyptian actress and singer Youssra, who starred alongside Abaza in two films, recalled that shortly before his death he left the hospital to see her one last time, knowing he was not going to make it.

Selected filmography

Year Title Role Notes

1948 The Young Millionaire (Al-Millionaira al-Saghira) Pilot Film debut

1952 Foreman Hassan (Al-Osta Hassan)

1953 Conspiracy (Mouamara) Breakthrough role

1954 Valley of the Kings Robed Man Uncredited Hollywood film

1956 The Ten Commandments Uncredited; credited as Rushti Abaza

1957 Tamr Henna (Tamr Henna) Hassan

1957 Port Said First leading role

1958 A Woman on the Road (Emraa fel-Tareeq) Saber

1958 Jamila the Algerian (Jamila) Bigeard Directed by Youssef Chahine

1959 The Second Man (El Rajul el Thani) Esmat Kazem Career-defining role

1961 A Man in Our House (Fi Baytina Raggol) Abd El-Hamid

1962 The 13th Wife (Al Zouga Talattashar) Morad Salem Comedy

1963 Bride of the Nile (Aroos al-Nil) Sami Fouad

1964 The Road (Al-Tareeq) Saber Adapted from Naguib Mahfouz novel

1971 My Dear Daughter (Ebnati al-Aziza) Sherif

1975 I Want a Solution (Oreedo Hallan) Medhat Seif El-Nasr Opposite Faten Hamama

1980 The Strong People (Azkeyaa Lakken Aghbeyaa) Hamdi Posthumous release (incomplete)