Cairo: Egyptian celebrated actor, Khaled Saleh, credited with well-crafted roles in a short acting career, died Thursday at a hospital in the southern town of Aswan, his family said. He was 50.
Saleh died after undergoing open heart surgery in Aswan and will be buried in Cairo on Friday.
Launching a career at the age of 36, Saleh, who studied law, drew attention with a small part in the 2000 comedy “Divorce Lawyer”.
Afterwards, he appeared in a series of smashing films that established him as a box-office star. He played an abusive policeman in internationally famous filmmaker Youssef Chahin’s “Is It Chaos?” produced in 2007.
Saleh portrayed a corrupt politician in “The Yaquibian Building”, a film based on a basetseller of the same name.
He depicted an estranged husband in “The Best of Time”, a manipulative casino manager in “Mr Omar Harb”, a frustrated university professor in “Black February” and a freak in “The Thief and the Fool”.
His fame further soared when he played the lead roles in several TV operas that generated good reviews including “Happiness Trader”, “The Pharaoh” and “Love Sultan”.
His captivating portrayal of gritty roles has earned him the title of genius from local entertainment critics.
Saleh’s last work is “Al Jazeera 2”, an Egyptian film co-starring Ahmad Al Saqqa. The film is due to be released for public screening in the Muslim festival of Eid Al Adha, which starts on October 4.
