Mahmoud El-Meliguy

Mahmoud El-Meliguy

(December 22, 1910 – June 6, 1983)

Nickname: The Villain of the Screen | The Anthony Quinn of the East

Nationality: Egyptian

Religion: Muslim

Years Active: 1927 – 1983

Personal Information

Full Name: Mahmoud Hussein El-Meliguy

Born: December 22, 1910 – Al-Maghrablin district, Cairo, Khedivate of Egypt

Died: June 6, 1983 (aged 72) – Cairo, Egypt

Spouses:

Alwiya Gamil (1939–1983)

Fawzia Al-Ansary (1963–1963)

Language: Arabic

Sibling: Hussein El-Meliguy

Artistic Career

Profession:

Actor

Screenwriter

Television actor

Writer

Body of Work:

Participated in over 750 artistic works

Appeared in 318 films

21 of his films were selected among the “Top 100 Egyptian Films” (1996 poll)

Life Highlights:

Early Career:

Began acting with Fatma Rushdi’s troupe, earning 4 Egyptian pounds per month.

First leading role in Modern-Style Marriage, but the film flopped.

Later joined Ramses Theatre as a prompter with a salary of 9 pounds.

Career Shift:

First villain role in Qais and Laila (1939), marking the start of his "villain" persona.

Formed a famous duo with Farid Shawqi, appearing together in over 400 films.

Major turning point came with director Youssef Chahine, who cast him as “Mohamed Abu Sweilem” in The Land (1970).

Notable Works:

The Land

The Choice

The Sparrow

Return of the Prodigal Son

Alexandria… Why?

An Egyptian Story

Ayyoub (passed away during filming)

Death:

He died suddenly on set while filming Ayyoub in 1983, moments before shooting a scene with Omar Sharif, due to a severe heart attack.

Theatre Contributions:

Performed in over 20 plays, including:

Ali Bek Al-Kabir (as Abu El-Dahab)

Julius Caesar

The Birth

It Happened One Day

Quotes About Him:

Youssef Chahine:

“Mahmoud El-Meliguy acted with spontaneity… I personally was intimidated by his eyes on camera.”