Ahmed Benaissa, an Algerian actor with more than 120 film credits to his name, has died. He was 78.
According to the Algerian Ministry of Culture, the legendary actor died on Friday after a long illness. His death occurred mere hours before the debut of his most recent picture, Sons of Ramses, at the Cannes Film Festival during a special screening for Critics’ Week.
“With great sadness and sorrow, the Minister of Culture and Arts, Dr. Sourieh Mologi, received the news of the death of the deceased actor and theater director Ahmed bin Issa, at the age of 78 years, due to health ailment,” the Ministry of Culture shared in a statement on Facebook.
“With this, the Algerian artistic arena loses one of its notable figures, and from the void of art improvises again a knight of its knights, who leaves behind a theatrical and cinematic artistic legacy,” Dr. Mologi added. “He is the owner of many theatrical works that left their mark in the world of the father of arts, and a rich cinematic credit.”
After hearing of Benaissa’s death, Clément Cogitore, the French writer and director behind Sons of Ramses, released a statement paying tribute to him.
“I am deeply saddened at the sudden passing of Ahmed Benaissa,” Cogitore said, according to Variety. “The film would not exist without him and words can’t express our sorrow at premiering the film in Cannes today.”
Benaissa will be honoured at Friday’s showing, according to MK2 Films. In a statement, the firm said, “All of our heartfelt thoughts go out to his family and loved ones.”
Benaissa plays the father of Ramses (Karim Leklou) in the Goutte d’Or film Sons of Ramses “a gifted clairvoyant in La Goutte d’Or, a cosmopolitan Parisian neighbourhood When a group of brave kids starts tormenting the locals, it throws off the balance of his booming business and the entire neighbourhood. Until Ramses has a true vision one day “according to MK2 Films’ narrative summary.
Since his cinematic debut in 1971’s Étoile aux dents ou Poulou le magnifique, Benaissa has amassed a lengthy resume.
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