Duraid Lahham (; in Roman transliteration, sometimes spelled "Durayd Lahham") is a leading Syrian comedian and director born 1934 in

Damascus Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

to a Syrian father and a Lebanese mother. He is famous for acting the role of "Ghawwar El Toshe" in a number of movies and series. His co-star throughout his career was Nihad Qali who played the role of "Husni Al Borazani".

Work

From 1960 to 1976, Lahham and Qali performed as "Duraid and Nihad," and became highly successful and famous among various Arab audiences. By 1976, Nihad had to retire due to an illness. From then on, Lahham wrote, acted, and directed his own work. Lahham's work was greatly influenced by political events in the Arab World and this was reflected in the plays he wrote and directed. His films also carry political overtones and have been described as "deal ngwith the artificiality and impracticality of borders between Arab states and with the abuse of human rights in the Arab world."

UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador

Lahham was appointed

UNICEF UNICEF ( ), originally the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, officially United Nations Children's Fund since 1953, is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing Humanitarianism, humanitarian and Development a ...

Goodwill Ambassador to the Middle East and North Africa region in 1999. In 2004, he visited districts of Southern Lebanon which had been liberated from Israeli occupation. At a press conference, he gave a speech criticizing

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...

and Ariel Sharon, comparing them to

Hitler Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his suicide in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the lea ...

. This caused

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...

to protest Lahham's "undiplomatic language" to UNICEF, which resulted in UNICEF relieving him of his duties.

Recognition

Lahham received several medals in recognition of his contributions: * In 1976,

Hafez al-Assad Hafez al-Assad (6 October 193010 June 2000) was a Syrian politician and military officer who was the president of Syria from 1971 until Death and state funeral of Hafez al-Assad, his death in 2000. He was previously the Prime Minister of Syria ...

, Syrian President at the time, awarded Lahham with the Order of Civil Merit, Excellence Class. * In 1979,

Tunisia Tunisia, officially the Republic of Tunisia, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Tunisia also shares m ...

n President

Habib Bourguiba Habib Bourguiba (3 August 19036 April 2000) was a Tunisian politician and statesman who served as the Head of Government of Tunisia, prime minister of the Kingdom of Tunisia from 1956 to 1957, and then as the first president of Tunisia from 1 ...

awarded him with a medal in recognition of his work. * In 1991, Libyan President Muammar al-Gaddafi awarded him a medal. * In 2000, Lahham received The Order of Merit of the Lebanese Republic, awarded to him by Lebanese President Émile Lahoud.

Filmography

Cinema

* Khayat Al-Sayyidate * Allaz Al-Zareef *'' Al-Hudood (1984)'' * Al-Taqreer * Ghriam Fee Istanbul *Fendooq Al-Ahlam *Imber Atwareaya Ghawwar *Al-melyouneara *'aqed Al-lu' lu' *Sah Al-Noum *Kafroun *Al-Muziafoun *Mesek wa 'ember (Meratee Melyouneara) *Samak Bala Hasak *Al-Sa'aleek *Imra'ah Taskoun Wahdaha *Laqa' Fee Tahmer *Al-Wardah Al-Hamra' *Al-Tha'lab *La'eb Al-Kura *Zogatee Min Al-Habiz *Al-Nasabeen Al-Thalatha *'indama Ta'gheeb Al-Zowagat *Ana' 'antar *Wahid + Wahid *Al-Sadeeqan *Al-Shereadan *Ghawwar Jemis bounid *Muqalib Fee Al-Mekseek *Ramal Min Dheheb *Al-Rajel Al-Munasib *Al-Aba'a Al-Sighar *Celina (musical) *''Damascus Aleppo'' (2019)

Television

* Ahlam Abu Al hana * Aaelati wa ana * Al Kherbeh * Hammam El-Hana * Sah Elnoum * Melh ou Sukar * Wayn El Ghalat * Al Doughri * Aoudat Ghawar * Maa'leb Ghawwar

References

External links

Duraid Lahham's Official Web SiteDuraid Lahham's series of articles in Forward Magazine
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lahham, Duraid 1934 births Living people People from Damascus Syrian film directors Syrian male film actors Entertainers from Damascus United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees goodwill ambassadors Syrian male television actors Recipients of the Order of Merit (Lebanon)