Youssef Wahbi

⭐ Youssef Wahbi ⭐

(July 17, 1898 – October 17, 1982)

Egyptian actor, writer, producer, theater, and film director. He is considered one of the pioneers of cinema and theater in Egypt and the Arab world.

📌 Personal Information

Full Name: Youssef Abdullah Hodeib Wahbi Qutb

Title: The Dean of Arab Theater

Date of Birth: July 17, 1898

Place of Birth: Fayoum, Egypt 🇪🇬

Date of Death: October 17, 1982 (Age 84)

Place of Death: Al Mokawloon Hospital, Nasr City, Cairo

Cause of Death: Heart Attack ❤️

Nationality: Egyptian

Languages: Arabic (Egyptian dialect)

Years Active: 1923 – 1980

Father: Abdullah Wahbi

🎭 Artistic Career

📍 Early Life

📌 Fell in love with acting after watching the Lebanese actor Salim Al-Qardahi’s troupe in Sohag. He began performing monologues and plays at Al-Ahly Club and his school.

📌 Traveled to Italy after World War I to study acting under the Italian actor Kiantoni. He returned to Egypt in 1921 after his father’s death, inheriting 10,000 gold pounds.

📌 Joined Hassan Fayek and Aziz Eid’s troupes, but later decided to establish his own theater group due to financial struggles in the industry.

🎭 Ramses Theater and Success

📌 Established Ramses Theater Troupe in 1923, opening the Ramses Theater on March 10, 1923.

📌 The troupe staged over 300 plays, including translated and adapted works of Shakespeare, Molière, and Ibsen, as well as Arabic plays.

📌 Notable members of the troupe:

Amina Rizk

Hussein Riad

Fatma Roushdi

Zeinab Sedky

Aziz Eid

📌 Several of their plays were adapted into films, such as:

Confession Chair

Rasputin

The Green Table

📌 Youssef Wahbi was the first to introduce background music before curtain rise in Arab theater.

🎬 The "Prophet Muhammad" Film Controversy (1928)

📌 In 1928, an Iranian magazine reported that Youssef Wahbi had agreed to play the role of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in an international film produced by a French company, sparking massive outrage.

📌 Al-Azhar’s Grand Sheikh intervened, and King Fuad threatened to revoke his Egyptian citizenship, forcing him to decline the role and publicly apologize.

🎥 Notable Films

📌 Debut Film: Zainab (1930)

📌 Some of his most famous films:

Ambassador of Hell (1945) – played the role of Satan 😈

The White Angel

Love and Revenge

Bayoumi Effendi

Children of the Poor

📌 Directed and acted in over 185 plays and 60 films, focusing on raising social awareness and fighting corruption.

💍 Personal Life

📌 Married three times, with no children.

📌 Most famous marriage:

Elena Londa (Italian actress) – divorced in 1925 due to her extreme jealousy.

📌 In his memoir "I Lived a Thousand Years", he described his romantic adventures, stating:

"I wasn't a saint, but I was a victim of temptations." 😅

🏆 Awards & Honors

🏅 Order of Arts and Sciences (First Class) from President Gamal Abdel Nasser.

🏅 State Appreciation Award in Arts (1975).

🏅 Order of Merit (First Class) from King Fuad.

🏅 Honored as Dean of Arab Theater for his contributions.

⚰️ Death

📌 Passed away on October 17, 1982, at Al Mokawloon Hospital in Cairo due to a heart attack.

📌 Remains a legendary figure in Egyptian and Arab theater and cinema.

🎭 Famous Quotes

🗨️ "The world is nothing but a grand theater."

🗨️ "Art is a message, not just entertainment."

🔥 His Artistic Legacy

📌 Played a vital role in the development of Egyptian theater, establishing professionalism and discipline in the industry.

📌 His films and plays continue to serve as a reference for future generations of artists.

🎬 Youssef Wahbi... An Eternal Legend of Theater and Cinema!