Born on 7 January 1949, the older actor Fayez Halawa’s nephew, he earned an engineering degree in 1969, later joining the High Institute of Theatrical Arts. He graduated in 1973, going on to earn a directing diploma from the institute, a set design diploma from the Leonardo Da Vinci Italian International School and a PhD in philosophy of art from the National University of Theatre and Film in Bucharest.

Though he did not play the lead, Halawa appeared in countless television series, films and plays. Among his memorable roles was that of an Israeli citizen in the second and third season of the Ramadan TV espionage hit Raafat Al-Haggan (1990-1992), starring Mahmoud Abdel-Aziz. He also appeared in the espionage TV show Al-Thaalab (The Fox), starring Nour Al-Sherif, in 1993.

More recently he was seen in such shows as director Mohamed Yassin’s Moga Harra (Heat Wave, 2013), a posthumous adaptation of the late screenwriter Osama Anwar Okasha’s novel Monkhafad Al-Hend Al-Mawsemi, playing the role of Nessim alongside Eyad Nassar, Rania Youssef, Dorra and others.

Also in 2013, he played the Upper Egyptian Massoud Abul-Saad in Selsal Al-Damm (Chain of Blood), directed by Mustafa Al-Shal, starring Abla Kamel and Riyad Al-Khouli, among others, and appeared in Bedoun Dhekr Asmaa (Without Mentioning Names, 2013), the widely celebrated collaboration between screenwriter Wahid Hamed and director Tamer Mohsen starring Ruby.

At least one of Halawa’s early roles was alongside comedy superstar Adel Imam in the television show Demou Fi Eyoun Wakiha (Tears in Bold Eyes, 1980), and he was to work with Imam again in a series of television shows directed by Imam’s son Rami and written by Youssef Maati: Al-Araf (The Oracle, 2013), also starring Hussein Fahmi, Saheb Al-Saada (His Excellency, 2014), and Afareit Adli Allam (Demons of Adli Allam, 2017).

He took part in the TV hit Ahl Cairo (People of Cairo, 2010), written by Belal Fadl and directed by Mohamed Ali, alongside such stars as Khaled Al-Sawi, Kenda Aloush, Rania Youssef, Walid Fawaz and the late Zaki Fateen Abdel-Wahab.

Halawa played the role of Khalil in both seasons of Saherat Al-Janoub (The Witch of the South, 2015), directed by Akram Farid. He also appeared in the Upper Egypt-set TV series Younis Weld Fadda (Younis, Fadda’s Son, 2016), written by Abdel-Rehim Kamal, directed by Ahmed Shafik and starring Amr Saad. But perhaps his appearance in the Ramadan comedy Nelly wi Sherihan (Nelly and Sherihan, 2016), directed by Ahmed Al-Gendi and starring Donia and Emy Samir Ghanem, is even more memorable.

Last Ramadan he took part in Al-Ekhtiyar 2 (The Choice 2), written by Hani Sarhan, directed by Peter Mimi and featuring Karim Abdel-Aziz, Ahmed Mekki, Ingy Al-Mokadem, Asmaa Abul-Yazid, Boushra and Eyad Nassar.

Halawa’s film career included credits in films such as Ahmed Notre Dame (2021), directed by Mahmoud Karim and starring Ramez Galal, Ghada Adel, Khaled Al-Sawi and Bayoumi Fouad, and Al-Baad La Yazhab Lel Maazoun Maratein (Some People Don’t Revisit the Marriage Officiant, 2021), directed by Ahmed Al-Gendi, starring Karim Abdel-Aziz, Dina Al-Sherbini, Maged Al-Kedwani and Bayoumi Fouad.

He appeared in Othman Abu-Laban’s Tawaam Rouhi (My Soulmate, 2020), starring Hassan Al-Raddad, Amina Khalil and Aisha Bin Ahmed, and in the comedy Ocean 14 (2016), directed by Shadi Al-Ramli, starring Omar Mustafa Metwalli, Hamdi Al-Merghani and Mustafa Khater. In 2014 he worked with the young trio Shiko, Hisham Maged and Ahmed Fahmi in Al-Harb Al-Alamiya Al-Talta (World War III), directed by Ahmed Al-Gendi and featuring, as well as Bayoumi Fouad, Inaam Salousa.

On stage he appeared in numerous plays including Kobri Al-Namous (The Mosquito Bridge, 1997), written Saadeddin Wahba, directed by Saad Ardash and featuring the legendary stage lady Samiha Ayoub.

Halawa taught theatre at Helwan University and other Egyptian arts institutions.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 31 March, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.