Today (Feb.15) marks the 121st anniversary of the death of the renowned actor Zaki Rostom. He was a prominent figure not only in Egypt but also in the Arab world, thanks to his extraordinary performances.
Rostom was known for his strong charisma and impeccable acting skills. He was mostly typecasted as a villain, but he was fondly remembered for his outstanding portrayal of a brutal landlord in Youssef Chahine’s “Struggle in the Valley”, among others.
Although the actor passed away on this day in 1977, his legacy lives on in the hearts of millions of people.
On his death anniversary today, let's take a closer look at the legend:
Rostom was born into a prestigious family in the 1900s. His passion for acting began when he was a student, and he pursued it by joining the Egyptian National Theater group in 1924 and the Ramses theater group in 1925.
According to Elcinema.com, Rostom, who was fluent in English, was offered a leading role in a global movie by Colombia Productions.
As he grew older, Rostom began to lose his hearing, and in 1968, he went completely deaf, which forced him to retire from acting.
Despite being mostly cast as a villain, Rostom played other roles with great competence, such as the patrician Pasha, compassionate father, employee, lawyer, and cruel husband.
He is known for his seminal works, such as Faten Hamama’s “Nahr El Hob“, Omar El Sherif’s “Sera'a Fel Wady” and “Raseef Nemra 5“, among others.
In the mid-1940s, he was selected by the Paris Match French magazine as one of the ten best international actors.
In his final years, Rostom attempted to break the villain or strongman mold by playing more human and benevolent roles, such as the kind-hearted father in “Ana We Banaaty,” or Me and My Daughters.
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