Ghassan Massoud ( ar, غسّان مسعود / ; born September 20, 1958) is a

Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

n actor and

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

maker. He is best known in the West for his role as Saladin in

Ridley Scott Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is a British film director and producer. Directing, among others, science fiction films, his work is known for its atmospheric and highly concentrated visual style. Scott has received many accolades th ...

's 2005 film '' Kingdom of Heaven''.

Career

Massoud is known in Syria for his appearance in many Syrian-made films, and writing and directing the theatre play '' Diplomasiyyoun'', and was part of the Syrian Ministry of Culture’s National Theater’s 2002 season. He has appeared in the Syrian television miniseries '' The Chant of Rain'', and in Haytham Hakky's well known work '' Memories of the Forthcoming Age'', and on the Syrian stage was an actor in

August Strindberg Johan August Strindberg (, ; 22 January 184914 May 1912) was a Swedish playwright, novelist, poet, essayist An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with t ...

's ''

Miss Julie ''Miss Julie'' ( sv, Fröken Julie) is a naturalistic play written in 1888 by August Strindberg. It is set on Midsummer's Eve and the following morning, which is Midsummer and the Feast Day of St. John the Baptist. The setting is an estate of ...

''. Most recently, he starred as the companion of

Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monot ...

Abu Bakr Abu Bakr Abdallah ibn Uthman Abi Quhafa (; – 23 August 634) was the senior companion and was, through his daughter Aisha, a father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد; 570 – 8 June 632 ...

in MBC's series ''

Omar ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb ( ar, عمر بن الخطاب, also spelled Omar, ) was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () as the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate o ...

''. Internationally, he is known for playing the role of Ayyubid sultan Saladin in

's 2005 film '' Kingdom of Heaven''. He also played the "

Sheikh Sheikh (pronounced or ; ar, شيخ ' , mostly pronounced , plural ' )—also transliterated sheekh, sheyikh, shaykh, shayk, shekh, shaik and Shaikh, shak—is an honorific title in the Arabic language. It commonly designates a chief of a ...

" in the 2006 Turkish film ''Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak'' ('' Valley of the Wolves: Iraq''), Ammand the Corsair in '' Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End''. and Ramesses II's Grand Vizier, Paser in

's 2014 Bible epic, '' Exodus''. Massoud turned down a role in the 2005 film ''

Syriana ''Syriana'' is a 2005 American political thriller film written and directed by Stephen Gaghan, loosely based on Robert Baer's 2003 memoir '' See No Evil''. The film stars an ensemble cast consisting of George Clooney, Matt Damon, Jeffrey Wright, ...

'', claiming he feared the movie would be anti-Arab. Massoud also cited concerns regarding the political situation in his country and the wider region in declining the role. He later said he regretted his decision after seeing the completed film.

Personal life

Massoud was born in

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

, originally from

Fajlit Fajlit ( ar, فجليت) is a Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūr� ...

Duraykish District Duraykish District ( ar-at, منطقة دريكيش, manṭiqat Dreikiche) is a district of the Tartus Governorate in northwestern Syria. Administrative centre An administrative center is a seat of regional administration or local government, ...

Tartus Governorate Tartus Governorate, also transliterated as Tartous Governorate, ( ar, مُحافظة طرطوس / ALA-LC: ''Muḥāfaẓat Ṭarṭūs'') is one of the 14 governorates of Syria. It is situated in western Syria, bordering Latakia Governorate to the ...

. He is married and has a son and a daughter. Massoud teaches

Drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

at both the Damascus Music and Drama School and Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts.

Filmography

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Massoud, Ghassan 1958 births Living people People from Damascus Syrian male film actors Syrian Alawites Syrian male television actors Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts (Damascus) faculty

Career

Personal life

Filmography

See also

References

External links