Today, Nov. 26 marks the 33rd death anniversary of late renowned Egypt’s actor Tawfiq Al Dakn.
Al Dakn is more than a comic villain genius. Born on May 3, 1923, Tawfiq Mohamed Amin Aldkn left behind an iconic body of work and is regarded as one of the finest actors in Egypt’s cinema history.
Throughout his career, Al Dakn featured in 233 films, 33 of those were in the 1950s, 78 in the 1960s, 92 in the 1970s, and finally 30 films in the 1980s.
He was known for playing the comedic villain character who was involved in trespassing, child abduction, and threatening teenage girls in their homes with a weapon.
Literally, Al Dakn was endowed with a unique style of performing these freak roles that distinguished him from those who made such roles their specialty to the extent that he became the founder of an acting technique emulated by others, according to critics.
He made his debut in (The Beginnings of Islam), in which he played Omar Bin El Khataab’s sister’s Quran teacher.
After a while, he started getting recognized and bigger roles came his way.
Al Dakn, who had also received critical acclaim for his supporting role in Ibn Hamido (1957), later became known for playing significant villain roles in Egypt’s films.
Moreover, the talented actor became sure-footed and by the beginning of the 1960s, the biggest name in villain roles. This was manifested in a number of films such as The Son of the Devil, and The Devils in Vacation.
The legendary actor is well-known for his seminal films, such as “Derb El Mahabeel” (The Path of the Idiots), “Adham El Sharkawy”, “El Naser Salah El Din” (The Victorious Saladin), “Fe Baitona Ragol” (There’s a Man in Our House), “El Shaimaa”, “Sera’a Fe El Mina’i” (Conflict at the Sea Port), “El Qahera 30” (Cairo 30), “Leil w Kodban” (Night and Rods), “Kharag w Lem Yaa’od” (He Went Out and Never Came Back), “Ibn Hamedo” (The Son of Hamedo) and “El Fatwa”.
He also starred in a number of successful plays including “Sekat El Salama” (Safety Rail), “El Farafeer”, “El Mahrousa” (The Protected), and “Entaha El Dars Ya Ghaby” (The Lesson Has Ended You Idiot).
In his last movies, the iconic actor tried to break the villain or strongman mould by playing human and benevolent roles, perhaps the most prominent of which in ‘Ahlam Alfata ElTaier’, ‘Kharag w Lem Yaa’od’, and The Farmer.
The remarkable actor was honored by many political and social leaders including Gamal Abd-El-Naser and Anwar Al-Sadaat.
Al Dakn died in November 1988 at the young age of 65.
