Bashir El Deek Dies at 80

Renowned Egyptian author and scriptwriter/director Bashir El Deek died on Tuesday after a struggle with the illness. He was 80.

Details regarding the consolation marquee and the funeral have not been revealed yet.

On November 17, the filmmaker has been transferred to the ICU after suffering a health scare.

"He woke up at dawn and couldn't breathe. We called the ambulance, they did inhalation and tried to save him. The doctor asked to transfer him immediately to the hospital. There, he underwent tests that proved he was suffering from severe pneumonia. He has been in intensive care since last Sunday. Pray for him," El Deek's wife said in a statement at the time.

El Deek was discharged from the hospital the following week and continued to receive treatment at home.

Born on July 27, 1944, El Deek earned his Bachelor’s Degree in commerce from Cairo University in June 1966. He published a slew of short stories in magazines in Egypt and the Arab World before launching his filmmaker career.

El Deek made his debut as a screenwriter in the film “Ma’aa Sabaq Al Assrar” which was directed by Ashraf Fahmy and starred Mahmoud Yassin, Nour El-Sherif, and Mervat Amin.

Bashir has directed “Al Toufan” (“The Deluge”), a star-studded film featuring the likes of Mahmoud A’bd Al A’ziz, Farouq Al Fishawy, Mahmoud Al Guindy and Amina Rezk.

He has also directed “Sikkat Saffar” (“Traveller’s Way”) which starred Nour El Shereef, Noura, Hassan Moustafa, A’bd Al Salam Mohamed, Ahmad Badeer, and others.

Beginning in 1984 and continuing till today, the filmmaker has provided screenplays for several television series.

El Deek has also worked on animations whereby he wrote the screenplay for “Al Faris wa Al Amira” (“The Knight and The Princess”) and directed the feature following the death of the original director Mohamed Hassib.