Fouad Zaki El Mohandes ; known as Fouad El Mohandes (or Fuad el-Mohandess; ; September 6, 1924 – September 16, 2006) was an

Egyptian ''Egyptian'' describes something of, from, or related to Egypt. Egyptian or Egyptians may refer to: Nations and ethnic groups * Egyptians, a national group in North Africa ** Egyptian culture, a complex and stable culture with thousands of year ...

stage and screen actor, and star from the 1950s specializing mostly in comedy roles in dozens of theater, cinema, and TV hits spanning five decades.

Biography

Born in

Abbassia Abbassia ( ) is a neighbourhood that makes up five shiakhas (census blocks) in al-Wayli district in Cairo, Egypt. The Saint Mark's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral is located in Abbassia. The medical faculty of Ain Shams University and its aff ...

Cairo Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...

. he was the son of linguist Zaki Mohamed El Mohandes, the dean of the faculty of Dar al-Oloom and a member of the

Arabic language Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

Academy of Egypt. Therefore, their home was a fortress to preserve the Arabic language, which he mastered through his father, who was the one who had the first credit in developing his artistic talents. el-Mohandes was survived by a brother and two sisters, one of whom is the late Safiya el-Mohandes, who was the head of Television and Radio station for more than ten years successively, and a noted Egyptian broadcaster who was married to Mohamed Mahmoud Shaaban (known as Baba Sharo), who was also the head of the Television and Radio stations for more than 18 years successively and successfully. Fouad al-Mohandes

El-Mohandes grew up in the Al-Azab Turkish schools. He is an amateur actor when he was young. Inspired by the plays of comedian Naguib Al Rehani (Who liked el-Mohandes’s performance in the play ''Al Dunia Ala Kaf Afrit'' 'The world is on the palm of imp'' during his study at the faculty of commerce, el-Mohandes decided to pursue a career in drama.

Salah Zulfikar Salah El-Din Ahmed Mourad Zulfikar (, ; 18 January 1926 – 22 December 1993) was an Egyptian actor and film producer. He started his career as a Egyptian National Police, police officer, before becoming an actor in 1956. He is regarded as one o ...

, his close friend and neighbor from Abbassiya neighborhood helped to introduce him to his brothers Ezz El-Dine Zulfikar and

Mahmoud Zulfikar Mahmoud Zulfikar (; February 18, 1914 – May 22, 1970) was an Egyptians, Egyptian film director, Film producer, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He was a major figure in Cinema of Egypt, Egyptian film industry. He started his career as an ...

and they were a major reason in launching el-Mohandes’s cinematic career. He joined a group named ''Sa'a li Qalbak'' (''An hour to your heart'') during its early run. His important leading roles: "Sapawy" in ''Aelet Zizi'' (''Zizi's family''), "Zaki / Mr.X." in ''Akhtar ragol fi el aalam'' ('' The most dangerous man in the world''), "Bassiouni" in ''El Ard El Tayyeba'' (''The Good Earth''), "Abdul-Salam Al-Damanhouri" in ''Khali balak min giranak'' (''Watch out for your neighbours''), And much more. At the time, he also presented in radio broadcasting in the 1960s: ''Aaelet marzouk'' (''Marzouk's family''), ''Sa'aa le albek'' (''An hour for your heart''), and ''Kilmitein Wi-Bas'' (''Two Words Only''), which was broadcast daily for more than 15 years. His comedy role in ''Aa'ilat Zizi'' (''Zizi's Family''), directed by

Fatin Abdel Wahab Fatin Abdel Wahab (; 22 November 1913 – 12 May 1972) was an Egyptian film director A film director or filmmaker is a person who controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the ...

, was one of the most significant roles in his career. In addition, he and his then-wife,

Shwikar Shwikar Ibrahim ( ; 4 November 1938 – 14 August 2020) was an Egyptian actress. She started her career in Alexandria in some tragedic roles before she was discovered by the Egyptian film director A film director or filmmaker is a person ...

, were a well-known acting couple, co-starring in many film and stage comedies such as: ''Mutarada Gharamiya'' (''An Amorous Pursuit''), ''Ard El Nifaq'' ('' Land of Hypocrisy''), and ''Akhtar Ragul Fil Aalam'' (''The Most Dangerous Man In The World''). His most important leading roles in Theaters: ''Ana wa howa wa heia'' (''I, he, & she''), ''Sayedity el gamila'' (''my beautiful women''), ''El secerteair el fani'' (''The technical secretary''), ''Ana fin wenty fein'' (''Where am I, and where are you''). He also appeared in leading roles with

Adel Emam Adel Mohammed Emam (; born on 17 May 1940), is an Egyptians, Egyptian Cinema of Egypt, film, Television in Egypt, television, and Egyptian Theatre, stage actor, known for his extensive career with over 150 artistic works, including films, plays, a ...

(still a young actor and a beginner), such as the play ''Ana w Huwwa w Hiyya'' (''Me, Him, and Her'') in 1964. He starred in Mahmoud Zulfikar's ''Agazat Gharam'' ('' Love Vacation'') in 1967, and with

Saeed Saleh Saeed Saleh, also credited as ''Sa'eed Saleh Ibrahim'' () (July 31, 1940 – August 1, 2014), was an Egyptian comedian actor. Biography Saleh earned his bachelor of arts degree from Cairo University in 1960. He is most famous for his theatre ...

in a film in 1970. However, he returned to roles with Adel Emam in films like ''Khalli Balak Min Giranak'' (''Watch Out for Your Neighbours'') in the 1990s. The 1960s were el-Mohandes' golden age. He made some successful plays, such as: ''El-Sekerteir El-Fanni'' (''The Technical Secretary''), ''Sayydati El-Gameela'' (the Arabic adaptation of ''

My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical theatre, musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story, based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play ''Pygmalion (play), Pygmalion'' and on the Pygmalion (1938 film), 1938 film ...

''), and ''Hawwa' El-Sa'aa 12'' (''Eve of Midnight''). Later in his career, his interest shifted back to theater, working in plays such as: ''Innaha Haqqan Aa'ila Muhtarama'' (''It is Truly a Respected Family''), '' Hala habibty'' (''Hala my love''), and ''Rawhia etkatafet'' (''Rawhia is kidnapped''). Some of his supporting roles were in: ''Bein El Atlaal'' (''

Among the Ruins ''Among the Ruins'' (, translit. Bain el Atlal) is a 1959 Egyptian romance film directed by the Egyptian film director Ezz El-Dine Zulficar and produced by the Egyptian film producers; Salah Zulfikar and Ezz El-Dine Zulficar. The film is based ...

'') with

Faten Hamama Faten Ahmed Hamama (, ; 27 May 1931 – 17 January 2015) was an Egyptian film and television actress and film producer. She made her screen debut in 1939, when she was only seven years old. Her earliest roles were minor, but her activity an ...

, ''Uyoon Sahranah'' (''

Wakeful Eyes Wakeful Eyes (Egyptian Arabic: ''عيون'' ''سهرانة'', translit: ''Uyoon Sahranah'', aliases: Sleepless Night) is a 1956 Egyptian romantic drama directed by Ezz El-Dine Zulficar. It stars Salah Zulfikar and Shadia. The film is Salah Zulfikar ...

'') with

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, ''Amirat El Arab'' (''Princess of the Arabs''), ''El Sahera El Sagheera'' (''The Little Witch'') with

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, Roshdy Abaza &

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, ''Nahr El Hob'' (''

River of Love "River of Love" is a song written by Billy Burnette, Shawn Camp (singer), Shawn Camp and Dennis Morgan (songwriter), Dennis Morgan, and recorded by American country music artist George Strait. It was released in November 2008 as the third single ...

'') with

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& Faten Hamama, ''Maww’ed fil Bourj'' (''

A Date at the Tower A Date at the Tower (, Transliteration, translit. Maw’ed fi Elborg, Pseudonym, aliases: Rendezvous in the Tower or Appointment in the Tower) is a 1962 Cinema of Egypt, Egyptian film written and directed by Ezz El-Dine Zulficar. It stars Salah Zu ...

'') with

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, ''Almaz Wi Abdo El-Hamuli'' (''Almaz and Abdu El-Hamuli'') with

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, ''El Shumoo' El Sawda'' (''Black Candles'') with

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& Nagat El-Sagheera, and ''El beyh el bauab'' (''The Master... Janitor'') with Ahmed Zaki &

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Safia El Emari Safia El Emari (), (born Safia Mustafa Mohamed Omari, October 20, 1949, in El-Mahalla El-Kubra) is an Egyptian actress. Biography She was appointed as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations in 1997, she resigned in 2006 in protest of the ...

Personal life

El Mohandes married twice. With his first wife, Effat Sorour, he fathered two sons: Ahmed, a civil Engineer whose daughter Habiba studied in Cairo's DSB school, and now lives in Canada, and Mohamed, a businessman whose son Omar is studying in AUC.

Fouad & Shwikar

The duo "Fouad and

" was one of the most famous comedic duos in Arab cinema and theater. they met for the first time during the performance of the play ''El secerteair el fani'' (''The technical secretary''). Shwikar said that he asked her for marriage during the performance of the play ''Ana wa howa wa heia'' (''I, he, & she''), so that el-Mohandes departed from the script for the first time in his life, saying: "Will you marry me, my sweetheart?" The marriage took place after completing the filming of the film ''Runaway from Marriage'' (''Hareb men el-zawag''), and in the last scene Shwikar wore a bride dress and headscarf, and el-Mohandes was wearing a suit and tie. So the two took advantage of this scene and after filming they went to the Ma'zoun at two in the morning to culminate their love story in marriage in November 1963. the director Hassan Al-Saifi and his wife, Zahra Al-Ola went with them. Then they divorced after 20 years of marriage. However, with the occurrence of the divorce, their artistic works continued, such as the plays: ''Rawhia etkatafet'' (''Rawhia is kidnapped'') and ''Meraty takreban'' (''My wife almost''), as well as the series: ''Dreams of the spider'' (''Ahlam el-Ankabot'') and ''A crime of only a quarter'' (''Garema Ela Rob'a''). Despite the separation, They were keen on the continuation of the friendship between them, especially that Fouad loves food from Shwikar, and the friendship lasted for 20 years until the death of el-Mohandes in 2006, and she was with him until the last day of his life. Shwikar admitted in one of her meetings that she only loved Fouad el-Mohandes, describing him as the love of her life, which she did not move away from until the last moments of his life. Fouad el-Mohandes is well known for his roles in movies in which he tried to put a comic and distinctly Arab spin on famous American movies, idols, and characters. He played his most famous role as Mr X in two movies: ''The Most Dangerous Man in the World'' and ''The Return of the Most Dangerous Man in the World''. He also depicted characters based on real-life figures, such as

John Dillinger John Herbert Dillinger (; June 22, 1903 – July 22, 1934) was an American gangster during the Great Depression. He commanded the Dillinger Gang, which was accused of robbing twenty-four banks and four police stations. Dillinger was imprison ...

(referred to as Sayed Dillinger),

Billy the Kid Henry McCarty (September 17 or November 23, 1859July 14, 1881), alias William H. Bonney, better known as Billy the Kid, was an American outlaw and gunfighter of the Old West who was linked to nine murders: four for which he was solely res ...

, and

Mussolini Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (29 July 188328 April 1945) was an Italian politician and journalist who, upon assuming office as Prime Minister, became the dictator of Fascist Italy from the March on Rome in 1922 until his overthrow in 194 ...

. Although he made nearly 70 movies, Fouad el-Mohandes loved the theater so much. He believed in the necessity of presenting a social message through his work. He presented the problem of shelters through the comedy play ''Hala Habibty'' (''Hala, my sweetheart''), which explained the abuse that children receive in the shelters. Also presented the children's problems in the play ''Sok Ala Banatak'' (''Lock Your Girls In''). el-Mohandes was presenting the play ''Enaha hakan a'lah mohtarama'' (''It is really a respectable family'') with

Amina Rizk Amina Rizk (; April 15, 1910 – August 24, 2003) was a classic Egyptian actress who appeared in around 208 artworks including more than 70 movies between 1928 and 1996. She was calm in her later years, but described as a clown when she was youn ...

and

, while he was suffering from heart clot, and doctors assured him that he had recovered from it through his work on the stage. el-Mohandes believed that art has a sublime mission, which is serving the community. And because he loved children, he was looking for a work with children. And he was lucky in that after presenting ''Fawazir Amo Fouad'', who was watched by all children in Egypt and the Arab world. About singing in his works, el-Mohandes started that in the play ''Ana fin wenty fein'' (''Where am I, and where are you'') with the song "Rayeh ageeb al deeb min diloh". After that, he presented many songs in his artistic works. He presented many songs to children because he loved singing from a young age, as he was the head of the band of nasheeds in the elementary school.

Death

During the last few years of his life, Fouad el-Mohandes had many liver problems which lead to his death on 16 September 2006, in Zamalek, Cairo, Egypt

Filmography

* ''El Ard el Tayeba'' ('' The Good Land'') (1954) * ''Bint El Geeran'' (''The Neighbor's Daughter'') (1954) *''Uyoon Sahranah'' (''

'') (1956) *''Bayn Al-Atlal'' (''

'') (1959) * ''Nahr Al-Hobb'' ('' The River of Love'') (1960) * ''Hub fi hub'' (''Love and More Love'') (1960) *''Maww’ed Mal Maadi'' (''Rendezvous with the Past'') (1961) * ''Al shoumou el sawdaa'' (''Black Candles'') (1962) * ''El Telmiza'' (''The Student'') (1962) * ''Maww’ed fil borg'' (''

'') (1962) * ''El Motamarreda'' (''The Rebel'') (1963) * ''Ana Wa Huwa Wa Hiya'' (''I, He and She'') (1964) * ''Al ariss yassel ghadan'' (''The Groom Arrives Tomorrow'') (1964) * ''Chabab wa hub wa marah'' (''Youth, Love and Joy'') (1964) * ''Sahib el galala'' (''His Majesty'') (1964) * ''Iterafat zoj'' (''A Husband's Confessions'') (1965) *''Zawga Mn Paris'' (''

A Wife from Paris ''A Wife from Paris'' (, translit. ''Zawga Mn Paris'') is a 1966 Egyptian romantic comedy film directed by Atef Salem. in arabic Cast * Salah Zulfikar as Dr. Wagih * Roushdy Abaza as Nagi * Fouad El Mohandes as Daoud * Nabila Ebeid as Samia * ...

'') (1966) * ''Guanab el safir'' (''His Excellency The Ambassador'') (1966) * ''Agazet gharam'' ('' Love Vacation'') (1967) * ''Akhtar ragol fil alam'' ('' The Most Dangerous Man in the World'') (1967) * ''Mabodet el gamahir'' (''The Audiences Beloved'') (1967) * ''Al ragol da hai ganini'' (''This Man is Driving Me Mad'') (1967) * ''Aalam modhek geddan'' (''A Very Funny World'') (1968) * ''Ard el-nefak'' ('' Land of Hypocrisy'') (1968) * ''Kilmitayn Wa Bas'' (''Just Few Words'') (1968) * ''Al-Sikirtir Al-Fanni'' (''The Technical Secretary'') (1968) * ''Merati magnouna... magnouna... magnouna'' (''My Wife is Mad, Mad, Mad'') (1968) * ''Al millionaire al mouzayyaf'' (''The Fake Millionaire'') (1968) * ''Moutarada gharamia'' (''An Amorous Pursuit'') (1968) * ''Shanabo fil massiada'' (''Shanabo in Trap'') (1968) * ''Sayedaty Al Jamila'' (''

'') (Arabic adaptation) (1969) * '' Viva Zalata'' (1976) * ''Sok Ala Banatak'' ('' Keep Your Daughters Locked In'') (1980) (script by

Lenin El-Ramly Lenin El-Ramly (; August 18, 1945 – February 7, 2020) was an independent Egyptian writer and director of films and for television and theater. His work is in the field of satire, farce, parody and the ''Theatre of the Absurd''. He was recognize ...

) * ''Ayoub'' (''Ayoub'') (1983) * ''Ammo Fuad Series'' that went on for more than 10 years in the 1990s (Ramadan TV Competition for children) * ''Oyun'' (''Eyes'') with Sanaa Gamil * ''Robabkia'' written by Farid Shawky ">Farid_Shawky.html" ;"title="written by Farid Shawky">written by Farid Shawky (2000)

External links

*
Fouad el-Mohandes
at ElCinema.com
Fouad el-Mohandes’ 92nd birthday - Google Doodle
{{DEFAULTSORT:el-Mohandes, Fouad 1924 births 2006 deaths Egyptian male television actors Egyptian male film actors Egyptian male stage actors 20th-century Egyptian comedians Male actors from Cairo