Youssef Wahbi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Youssef Wahbi
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| يوسف وهبي | |
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| Born |
Youssef Abdullah Wahby Qotb
14 July 1902 Fayoum, Egypt
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| Died | 17 October 1982 (aged 80) |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
| Occupation | Actor • director • producer |
| Years active | 1932–1978 |
Youssef Wahbi (born Youssef Abdullah Wahby Qotb) was a very famous Egyptian actor and director. He was born on July 14, 1902, and passed away on October 17, 1982. Youssef Wahbi was a huge star in Egyptian movies and plays during the 1930s and 1940s. He is remembered as one of the greatest Egyptian stage actors ever. He even helped judge films at the famous Cannes Film Festival in 1946.
Youssef Wahbi came from a wealthy family in Egypt. His father was an important government official. But Youssef chose to follow his dream of acting. He traveled to Rome in the 1920s to study theatre. He acted in about 50 Egyptian films, from his first movie Sons of Aristocrats in 1932 to Alexandria... Why? in 1978.
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Early Life
Youssef Wahbi was born in the Fayoum region of Egypt. He was named after a famous canal nearby, called Bahr Yussef. His father worked as an inspector for the Ministry of Water Resources.
His Amazing Career
Youssef Wahbi started his acting career during the "golden age" of Egyptian cinema in 1932. He was not just an actor; he also directed many films and plays. He was very good at languages, speaking English, French, and Italian, besides his native Arabic. This allowed him to translate many plays into different languages.
He was known for playing many different and unusual characters in his movies and plays. For example, he once played the Devil! He was a very respected and loved artist in Egyptian cinema. Many companies from France and England even tried to re-release his old movies because they were so popular.
A Special Role That Didn't Happen
In 1926, a Turkish filmmaker wanted Youssef Wahbi to play the role of the Prophet Muhammed in a European film. The Turkish government and some religious leaders in Turkey approved the idea. However, a very important Islamic university in Cairo, Al-Azhar University, said that Islam does not allow showing the Prophet or his close friends. Because of this, the King of Egypt, King Fouad, warned Youssef Wahbi that he would be sent out of Egypt if he took the role. So, the film was never made.
Later Life and Passing
Youssef Wahbi passed away in Cairo, Egypt, in 1982. He was 80 years old. He had been sick with arthritis and had a broken hip. He was survived by his wife. Even though he came from a very rich family, he spent his whole life focused on the film industry and his passion for acting and directing.
Selected Films
Youssef Wahbi starred in and directed many movies. Here are some of his most well-known films:
| Year | Film | Role | International English Name(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Awlad el zawat | Actor | a.k.a. the Spoiled Children or Sons of Aristocrats |
| 1935 | Al Defaa | Actor and director | a.k.a. The defense |
| 1937 | El Magid el khalid | Actor | a.k.a. Eternal Glory |
| 1938 | Saet el tanfiz | Actor | a.k.a. The Hour of Fate |
| 1940 | Leila momtera | Actor | a.k.a. Stormy night |
| 1941 | Leila, bint el rif | actor | a.k.a. Leila, the schoolgirl |
| Areess min Istambul | Actor | a.k.a. A Suitor from Istanbul | |
| 1944 | Gharam wa intiqam | Actor and director | a.k.a. Love and Revenge |
| Berlanti | Actor, writer and director | a.k.a. Berlanti | |
| 1945 | Safeer Gohannam | Actor and director | a.k.a. The Ambassador of Hell |
| 1946 | Malak Elrahma | Actor and director | a.k.a. The Angel of Mercy |
| 1949 | Ghazal Al Banat | Actor (as himself) | a.k.a. The Flirtation of Girls |
| 1955 | Hayat ou maut | Actor | a.k.a. Life or Death |
| Bahr El-Gharam | Actor | a.k.a. Sea of Love | |
| 1960 | Mal Wa Nissa | Actor | a.k.a. Money and Women |
| 1960 | Isha't Hub | Actor | a.k.a. A Rumor of Love |
| 1979 | Iskanderija... lih? | Actor | a.k.a. Alexandria... Why? |
