Roushdi Abaza

Born to an Egyptian father from the influential Abaza dynasty and an Italian mother, Roushdi Abaza possessed a commanding physical presence, debonair charm, and deep dramatic range, speaking five languages fluently. Discovered by director Henri Barakat, his breakthrough came in 1958 in Ezz El-Dine Zulficar's Emraa fil Tareeq.

For three decades, he dominated the Arab box office, delivering iconic performances in Salah Abu Seif's The Second Wife (Al-Zawja al-Thaniya), Sunset and Sunrise (Ghoroub wa Shorouq), and A Man in Our House. His magnetism and chivalrous persona made him an eternal cultural icon of Arab cinema.