| Abdel Latif Fathi | |
| Birth Date: | 1 January 1916 |
| Birth Place: | Sarouja, Syria |
| Death Place: | Syria |
| Occupation: | Actor & Playwright |
| Years Active: | 1958-1980 |
Abdel Latif Fathi (Arabic:) was a Syrian actor who was a well-known figure in Syrian cinema from the late 1950s to the early 1980s.
Born in Sarouja, Damascus, in 1916, he hailed from a prosperous Damascene family. The son of Ottoman officer Muhammad Ali and stay-at-home mom Fawzia Farwat, his early life was shaped by privilege and family ties. These roots laid the groundwork for his later achievements in the realm of Syrian cinema.[1]
He studied at the prestigious Maktab Anbar. In 1927, he joined the theater group of Abd al-Wahab Abu Saud, a leading actor in Syria at the time, and commenced his exploration of acting.
Fathi's formative years in the 1930s were profoundly shaped by his mentor Abu Saud. In 1935, he joined an Egyptian theatrical group touring Syria, specializing in musical productions, where he honed his skills in directing and musical performances. Subsequently, in 1936, Fathi co-founded the Music Hall Group with poet Abd al-Ghani Sheikh. Over the years, Fathi's artistic endeavors continued to flourish as he contributed to various theatrical groups, such as the Amin Atallah Group and the Ali al-Ariss Group, further solidifying his expertise in both directing and musical composition.
In 1946, Fathi established his own theater troupe, the Abd al-Latif Fathi Group, which featured prominent actors and actresses of the time, including Ahmad Ayyub and Saad al-Din Baqdunes. The group initially drew inspiration from Egyptian theater, performing one-act plays in the Egyptian dialect. However, in 1948, Fathi made a significant shift, discarding the Egyptian accent in favor of the traditional Damascene dialect, aligning with his belief that Syrians should speak in their native language.
This strategic move proved highly successful, catapulting Fathi and his group to fame in Syria. The Abd al-Latif Fathi Group toured extensively, performing not only in urban centers but also in rural villages where Fathi received payment in the form of gifts from the populace.
In 1956, Fathi founded "Al-Masrah al-Hurr" (The Free Theater) with a group of Syrian actors. In 1960, inspired by the National Theater in Egypt, he co-founded the National Theater in Syria. Fathi continued to evolve as an artist, transitioning from short, one-act plays to longer, more sophisticated productions aimed at a discerning audience.
In 1965, Fathi assumed the role of director at the People's Theater in Damascus, solidifying his influence in the Syrian theatrical scene.
Fathi's television career soared with the 1972 series "Sah al-Nom," co-starring with Duraid Lahham and Nehad Qalei. In December 1976, he staged William Shakespeare's King Lear, earning the Medal of Honor of the Syrian Republic, Excellence Class, from President Hafez al-Assad.
He married Inayat Al-Zirkli and was a father to four children.[2]
He passed away on March 7, 1986, at the age of 70. He received five honors during his illustrious artistic career, notably being awarded the Order of Merit, first class, by the founding leader Hafez al-Assad in 1976. President Bashar al-Assad also honored him with the Order of Merit, first class, in 2008.[3]