Mahmoud Abdel Aziz's 76th Birthday

Lights, camera…action! Today’s Doodle celebrates what would have been the 76th birthday of Mahmoud Abdel Aziz, an acclaimed Egyptian actor who mastered vastly different roles—spanning romance, drama, action and comedy. Throughout his decades of success, Mahmoud Abdel Aziz landed parts in over 100 motion pictures.

Mahmoud was born on this day in 1946 in Alexandria, Egypt. He stayed in his hometown to attend the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at Alexandria University in the 1960s. It was at this university’s theater that he began practicing creative dramatics. Ten years later, his acting career skyrocketed when he starred in a soap opera called Al-Dawama (The Whirlpool). In 1974, he got his first movie role in an Egyptian classic called Al-Hafeed (The Grandson). His compelling performances, especially in romantic dramas, landed him 25 movie roles between the 1970s and early 1980s. 

After Mahmoud cemented his heartthrob status in the film industry, he began working alongside prominent film directors who specialized in wide-ranging genres—from fantasy to realism. Working with veteran directors introduced Mahmoud to different ways of portraying complex characters, especially characters who tackled important social problems such as women’s rights, the Egyptian population crisis, widowhood and unemployment. 

After a lifetime of captivating performances, Mahmoud had a long list of awards to show for his achievements: He has won Best Actor in movies such as: Kit Kat (1991), El Coptain (The Captain, 1997), Souq Al Motaa (Pleasure Market, 2000) and Al-saher (The Magician, 2001). More recently, he also won a Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2012 Dubai International Film Festival.

Today, his beloved films continue to keep viewers at the edge of their seats. Happy birthday, Mahmoud Abdel Aziz! You are remembered as one of the greatest Egyptian actors of all time.