When Abu-Zahra’s name is mentioned, the first thing that comes to my mind is his unforgettable role as Al-Maalem Sardina, one of the tycoons in the old spare parts neighbourhood in Old Cairo, in the hit television series Lan Aeish fi Gelbab Abi (I Won’t Live in My Father’s Robes, 1996). Based on Ihsan Abdel-Quddous’ novel with the screenplay of the brilliant Mustafa Moharram and directed by Ahmed Tawfik, the series featured him alongside Nour Al-Sherif and Abla Kamel as the principal couple; their combined charisma was unmatched and he brilliantly complemented it.
Abu-Zahra was born on 8 March 1934 in Al-Dakahlia, and graduated from the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts in 1958. A year later he officially joined the National Theatre as an actor and his first theatre role was in the play Awdet Al-Shabab (Return of Youth) by the great dramatist Tawfik Al-Hakim. Abu Zahra’s theatrical stardom shone after he played a significant role in Bedaya wa Nehaya (The Beginning and the End, 1959), directed by Nour Al-Demerdash, based on the great novel of Naguib Mahfouz, when the original actor Omar Al-Hariri apologised taking the role due to personal circumstances. He then starred in Al-Mahrousa, replacing the original star, Salah Sarhan, following the latter’s death. He appeared in over 100 plays.
Abu-Zahra had a remarkable voice, immediately recognisable, and he starred in a number of radio series at the beginning of his career, but will probably be better remembered by the new generations for voicing Scar in the Arabic version of Disney’s The Lion King in 1994.
On the silver screen he took part in Salah Abu-Seif’s Ana Horra (I’m Free, 1959), starring Lubna Abdel-Aziz, and was a guest star in Youssef Chahine’s Al-Ekhtiyar (The Choice, 1971). He also played the role of Youssef Al-Sersawi in Ahmed Sakr’s Al-Haqiqa Esmaha Salem (The Truth’s Name is Salem, 1994). He played a remarkable role in Daoud Abdel-Sayed’s Ard Al-Khouf (Land of Fear, 2000), starring alongside the late, renowned actor Ahmed Zaki. In 2004, he was a guest star in Hobb Al-Banat (Girls in Love), directed by Khaled Al-Hagar, starring Laila Elwi, Hanan Turk, Ashraf Abdel-Baki and Hana Shiha. He also starred in Sherif Arafa’s Al-Gezira (The Island, 2007), starring alongside Ahmed Al-Saqqa. With actress Ragaa Hussein, he starred in a short film named Wanas (Affability, 2017), directed by Ahmed Nader, about an eighty-year-old couple.
In the 1980s, Abu-Zahra starred in many historic and religious TV series such as Shoaraa Al-Muaalakat (Poets of Muaalakat, 1982), playing the role of Al-Nabigha Al-Dhubiani, Nour Al-Islam (The Light of Islam, 1983) and Zahraa Al-Andalus (Zahraa of Andalusia, 1983). He also starred in the TV series Muhammed Rasoul Allah III (Muhammed, the Messenger of God III, 1982). Other TV credits include Amira fi Abdeen (Amira in Abdeen, 2002) with Samira Ahmed, directed by Ahmed Sakr, and Ahlam Adeya (Ordinary Dreams, 2005) with Youssra, directed by Samir Seif, and Awan Al-Ward (Season of Flowers, 2000), also by Seif.
Also in 1997, he starred with Farouk Al-Fishawi and Maali Zayed in the series Al-Hawi (The Trickster), directed by Yehia Al-Alamy, and Gomhoriyet Zefta (Republic of Zefta), starring Mamdouh Abdel-Aleem and Sabrine. But 2021 was the last year in which he worked, starring in three TV series: Hagma Mortadda (Counterattack), starring Ahmed Ezz, Hind Sabri and Hisham Selim, directed by Ahmed Alaa Al-Deeb; Mawdouei Aaeli (A Family Matter), with Maged Al-Kedwani and Rana Raeis, directed by Ahmed Al-Guindi; and, as a guest star, Settat Beit Al-Maadi (Maadi Housewives), with Kenda Alloush, Ingy Al-Mokaddem and Tara Emad.
Abu-Zahra was survived by his wife, his son and two daughters.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 14 May, 2026 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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