Ismail Yasin

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Ismail Yasin

Ismail Yasin (Arabic:إسماعيل ياسين) (September 15, 1915-May 24, 1972) was an Egyptian actor specializing in comedy. He is famous for a series of films with his name. He is also credited as Ismail Yasseen.

Ismail Yassin had a difficult childhood in Suez where he was born. His mother died at an early age and his father was jailed thus forcing him to leave school before completing his primary education. He worked as a parking valet to support himself.

He started his career as a monologue singer and headed for Cairo to join Badi'a Masabny's troupe. His break into the movie industry came when Fouad El-Gazaery gave him his first role in the movie "Khalf El-Habayeb" in 1939. He later joined Ali El-Kassar's troupe and started to gain widespread recognition eventually becoming one of most popular stars in the Arab world. A record 15 movies used his name in their titles to capitalize on his fame.

He was not particularly attractive but he had great control of his facial expressions and often made fun of his 'large mouth' in his films. His trademark gimmick was to act terrified bringing his wobbling knees together, stretching his shaking arms infront of him, stammering silently, and suddenly snapping out of his panic with a loud inhalation of air.

In the 1960s his health began to deteriorate and he moved to Lebanon where he participated in a number of films. He later returned to Egypt where he became heavily indebted. He died of a heart attack in 1972.

[edit] Filmography

Khalf El Habayeb, 1939.
Ali Baba We El Arbeen Haramy (Alibaba and the Forty Thieves), 1942.
Afreeta Hanem, 1949.
Fatma, Mareeka & Rachel, 1949.
El Millionaire (The Millionair), 1950.
Hamati Konbella Zria (My Mother-in-Law is a Nuclear Bomb), 1951.
El Hamawat El Fatenat (Charming Mother-in-Laws), 1953.
El Setat Ma Yearafoush Yekdebo (Women Never Lie), 1954.
Afreetet Ismail Yassin (Ismail Yassin's Ghost), 1954.
Ismail Yassin Fee El Gueish (Ismail Yassin In The Army), 1955.
Ismail Yassin Fee El Police (Ismail Yassin In The Police), 1955.
Ismail Yassin Fee Mathaf El Shameh(Ismail Yassin In The Museum), 1955.
Ismail Yassin Fee El Ostool (Ismail Yassin In The Navy), 1957.
Ibn Hameedo, 1957.
Ismail Yassin Fee Mostashfa El Maganeen (Ismail Yassin in the Lunatics' Hospital), 1957.
Hamati Malak (My Mother-in-Law is an Angel), 1959.
Ismail Yassin Fee El Tayaran (Ismail Yassin In The Airforce), 1959.
El Ataba El Khadra, 1959.
Ismail Yassin Fee Police Serri (Ismail Yassin Secret Police), 1959.
Ismail Yassin Fee El Segn (Ismail Yassin In Prison), 1960.
Halak El Sayedat (Ladies Hairdresser), 1960.
El Fanous El Sehry (Magic Lamp), 1960.
El Maganeen Fee Naeem (Lunatics are in Heaven), 1963.
El Raghba We El Dayah (Loss & Desire), 1972.