Adel Emam

Adel Mohammed Emam Mohammed Bukhariny (Arabic: عادل محمد إمام محمد بخاريني; born 17 May 1940) is an Egyptian film, television, and stage actor. Over a career spanning more than 150 films, plays, and television series in comedic, social, and political genres, he became known as one of the leading figures of the second generation of Egyptian and Arab comedy performers. Although primarily known for comedy, he also took on more dramatic material, and in his early secondary roles combined comedy with romance, notably in films such as My Wife, the Director General, My Wife's Dignity, My Wife's Goblin and Virgo, all films starring Salah Zulfikar. Emam began acting in the 1960s and became one of the best-known performers in Egyptian cinema. He holds a bachelor's degree in Agriculture from Cairo University, and has appeared in more than 103 films and 10 stage plays. He is married to Hala El-Shalaqani; their children include director Ramy Emam and actor Mohamed Emam. Through roles that addressed social and political issues, Emam gained wide popularity across the Arab world during the 1980s and 1990s and is frequently described in Egyptian media as one of the country's leading cultural figures. Emam has received a number of lifetime achievement awards and honors from Egyptian and international film festivals. In January 2000, the United Nations appointed him a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR.