Ratib was born on 18 August 1926 in Cairo to a family with a culturally rich upbringing (his mother was the niece of the famous Egyptian activist Huda Shaarawi), with his love for acting becoming evident during his school years.

He won a Best Actor award in an Egyptian nationwide competition in his years as a student. 

Ratib initially pursued law at a French law school in Cairo before moving to Paris to continue his studies.

His first publically renowned appearance was in an Egyptian film Ana El-Sharq (I Am the East, 1945).

In Paris in the early 1950s, he participated in several plays at the prestigious French theatre companies.

He played a role in Hamlet in a 1960 production at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées and appeared in the 1967 play Scheherazade by Jules Supervielle at the Théâtre des Mathurins.

Ratib then ventured into a full-fledged career in cinema, taking roles in French and American films, such as Peau D'Espion (To Commit a Murder, 1967) and Un été à La Goulette (Summer in La Goulette, 1996) in French cinema.

His American film credits include Panic in Bangkok (1964), Trapeze (1956), and the iconic Lawrence of Arabia (1962), where he starred alongside Omar Sharif.

He also participated in several Tunisian and Egyptian productions.

Home again!

Ratib returned to Egypt in the mid-1970s and soon reached an absolute peak of his acting career in Egyptian cinema, one that lasted until the 1980s.

His undeniable forte was in the choice of roles, as he often portrayed complex characters, whom he approached with great depth. As such, his characters resonated with the viewers, soon placing Ratib as a household name.

Among his memorable roles at that time are those in films like Al-Sooud Ela El-Haweya (Rising to the Bottom, 1978), Hob Fel Zenzana (Love Inside a Prison Cell, 1983), Al-Baree (The Innocent, 1986), and Toyoor El-Zalam (Birds of Darkness, 1995).

Ratib worked with some of Egypt's most acclaimed directors, including Mohamed Khan and Youssef Chahine, and starred alongside prominent actors like Faten Hamama, Ahmed Zaki, and Adel Emam.

His partnership with Emam was apparent in films such as Toyoor El-Zalam (Birds of Darkness) and Shaaban Taht El Sifr (Shaaban Below Zero).

His appearance with Mohamed Sobhy in the highly popular TV series Yawmeat Wanees (Diaries, 1994–2013) has carved him a place in the viewers' hearts.  

Ratib continued to work well in his later years. His final film appearances were those in Bel Hagm El-Aely (Family-Sized, 2018), directed by Hala Khalil, and the Hungarian film Hier by director Bálint Kenyeres.

His last television role was in the television series Haret El-Yahood (Jew's Alley) in 2015.

Throughout his illustrious career, Gamil Rateb received numerous accolades.

He was honoured with the Legion of Honour by France, the country's highest civilian award.

In 2005, the Cairo International Film Festival recognized his contributions to cinema with a Life Achievement award, and in 2011, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dubai International Film Festival.

The Syndicate of Acting Professions and the Cairo Experimental Theatre Festival also honoured him in the later stages of his career.

His unique presence and contributions to Egyptian and international cinema have solidified his status as a cinematic icon whose work inspires actors and filmmakers around the world.