Veteran Actor Gamil Barsoum Passes Away at 70

Veteran Egyptian actor Gamil Barsoum passed away on Monday after a struggle with illness. He was 70.

Barsoum's burying was held at 03:00 PM at the Church of Saint George the Martyr in Damanhour governorate, and the memorial service occurred at 07:00 PM.

His family is holding a second memorial service next Wednesday at the Saint Mary Church in Zamalek district.

He made his last public appearance at the 72nd edition of the Egyptian Catholic Center Cinema Festival, one of the oldest film festivals in Egypt, the Arab world and the Middle East, during which he was feted with the Father Youssef Mazloum Award.

“I was afraid I would die before I was honored,” Barsoum said about his recognition.

The late actor, born in Beheira Governorate, studied at the Higher Institute of Agriculture and then transferred his studies to the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts.

Egyptian director Samir El-Asfoury encouraged him to act at the El Taliaa Theater after seeing him present a stage play and presented him in the 1981 play "El Nas fi Teba" (People in Thebes).

He also played a prominent role in the play “Hamlet” with Mohamed Sobhi. 

Barsoum attributes his delayed stardom to his preoccupation with the theatre, especially El Taliaa Theater. 

During his long career, Barsoum starred in more than 80 films, TV series, and theatrical plays. 

He is best known for his roles in TV series such as “Mohamed, the Messenger of God”, “Awan Al-Ward”, "El Tawoos", "Khatem Al Nemr", "Valentino", "Hekayti", "Kalabsh", "Ahel Cairo", "Dahsha", and "Qut Al-Qulob".

On the film side, he is known for his roles in films “Welad el 'Am”, "El Feel El Azraq", “El Kenz”, and “El Gezira”.