The extraordinary Saudi actor, Mohammad Hamza, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87, after a bitter battle with illness that began in 2017.
He was known for his pioneering role as an actor, author and producer, and his contributions to building bridges with Arab countries.
Fifty years after his acclaimed shows were aired, series produced with simple and modest resources, they are very much still in the minds and hearts of the Saudi viewers.
The hundreds of Saudi and Gulf series that followed over the past decades couldn't match the popularity of those of the dexterous artists known for his authentic Hijazi accent.
Mohammad Hamza was born in Medina and lived in Makkah with his mother. He played football at Al-Wahda and Al-Ahly. Then, he moved to Jeddah and got a job in aviation before becoming a television broadcaster.
The late artist had an innate drive and talent for acting. His artistic career began in the mid-sixties, starting with his work as a radio and television broadcaster. He then went on to write several night shows, such as “Fidelity of Love,” “Scream of Regret,” and “The Torment of Silence.
Hamza also wrote many dramas; These include the series: “Men’s Tears,” “Where is the Way?”, “Palace on Sand, "Evening of the Flight,” “Fingers of Time," and he was honored for his massive contributions in 2006 at the Cairo Radio and Television Festival.
Concerning his personal life, Hamza was married and had five children and three brothers: Wael, Louai, and Anmar, as well as two sisters. His two sons, Wael and Louai, started acting at a young age and rose to prominence.
Hamza has been dubbed "Dean of Drama," as his works were the first of performance art in Saudi Arabia, and his TV series that touched on social life became iconic.
