Today Marks 74th Birth Anniversary of Ahmed Ratib

Today (Dec. 14) marks the 74th birth anniversary of Ahmed Ratib, who is best known for playing "Papers" in the film Satan Island.

Ratib was a remarkable comedy talent and remained the star of the hit TV series "Mal w Banoon" for many years, which ran across two seasons during the 90s era. He worked in many films and TV dramas, notably the film 'Bakiza W Zaghlol', The Terrorism and the Kebab (1992), and Satan Island.

The legendary actor was born on January 23, 1949, in the Sayeda Zaynab neighborhood of Cairo to a middle-class family. While in school, Ratib developed an interest in theater and made his public acting debut at a school concert. After finishing high school, he joined the Faculty of Engineering at Cairo University in 1964.

During his university period, Ratib enrolled in the university’s theatre in 1968, where he acted in dozens of dramatic, classical, and romantic plays on stage. Later, he left the college without completing his architecture degree and started studying acting at the Art and Theater High Institute.

It has been stated that Ratib's father wanted his son to study engineering and become a well-known engineer, but he chose acting since it was not easy to become an engineer in those days.

Ratib rose to fame when he initially acted in television dramas before he shifted to the silver screen. His breakthrough came in 1980 with the play "Sok Ala Banatk" (Lock Up Your Daughters), starring legendary comedian Fouad El-Mohandis, remarkable actress Shwikar, and Sherihan.

Thereafter, Ratib went on to act in more than 1500 artistic works, 200 films, 1,000 stage performances, and several television shows and series.

Ratib is well-known for some of his tremendous works, such as 'El-Zaeem' (The Leader), 'Bekhit w Adila', 'Mafish Fayda', Nemspond, At First in Love, The Storm, and Intelligence Game. Moreover, he is known for joint collaborations and associations with legendary Egyptian stars like Adel Emam, Yousra, and Farid Shawky.

The talented star passed away in 2016, leaving behind an impressive legacy.