Lesser-known Facts about Omar El-Hariri on His Birth Anniv.

Today marks the birth anniversary of Omar El-Hariri, best known for playing Prince Philip in Salaa El-deen.

Born in Cairo, in 1926, Hariri graduated from the High Institute of Theater, where he met renowned actors Farid Shawqi, Shokry Sarhan and Faten Hamama.

He made his artistic debut in the well-known film “Salama fy Kher" and then rose to fame with the play “El Gheerah”.

Throughout his long-standing career, he featured in many international and domestic films like The Holy Matrimony and The River of Love (1960, both by Ezz-Eldin Zulfikar), based on Lev Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, and Sokkar Hanem (1960, Al-Sayed Bedeir), The Olive Branch (1962, Al-Sayed Bedeir), The Sour Grapes (1965, Farouk Agrama) and Saboteurs (1967, Kamal El-Sheikh).

Moreover, he appeared in a range of successful series, including “Enahom Yaqtelon El Hemeer”, (They are Killing Donkeys) and “Masraa’ Cleopatra” (Cleopatra’s Death).

In 1950, he acted in his first major cinema role in “Avokato Madeha” (Madehat, the Lawyer).

Hariri also worked in the National Theater and Youssef Wahby’s theatre.

Starring alongside Egypt’s iconic actress Lubna Abdel Aziz and remarkable singer Abdel-Halim Hafiz in 'Wesada El Khalia' film, he played the role of Salah, who is Halim’s doctor.

In the 1950s, Hariri's breakthrough in 'Wesda El Khalia' shifted cinema at the time, influencing filmmakers to move toward taking the risk of hiring younger actors. Before his appearance, many roles were held by older actors who were often visibly beyond the age to convincingly play younger characters

The late actor also received many awards and accolades at Cairo Cinema Fair and Alexandria Cinema Fair.

He breathed his last in a hospital in Cairo in October 2011. He is survived by his daughter, Mirit.