Wednesday 04/February/2026 – 09:30 AM
Today, February 4, is the anniversary of the artist’s death Magdy WahbaOne of the most influential faces of Egyptian cinema in roles of evil and realistic drama, he passed away in 1990 following a severe heart failure in the city of Hurghada at the age of nearly 46 years.
He wished to present a work about the sacrifices of the mother…and Rushdi Abaza warned him against arrogance
Artist Magdy Wahba previously spoke about his wish to present an artistic work that highlights the role of the mother and her sacrifices, and he said in a previous interview: I hope to present a work that expresses the mother’s sacrifices towards her children. Some people do not know that my father died when I was 40 days old, and my mother devoted herself to raising me, playing the role of mother and father together, and she never made me feel that my father did not exist.
Wahba added: I consider that the success in my artistic life is due to two basic reasons: the first is the success of God Almighty, and the second is my mother’s prayers for me. When I left my house I would always kiss my mother’s hand, and if I found her sleeping I would do the same, because I owe her a lot of credit.
The artist Magdy Wahba continued, saying that he is also indebted to the great artist Rushdi Abaza, who helped him a lot in his beginnings, adding: Not many artists do this, and he told me: Beware of arrogance because it is the beginning of the end.
Magdy Wahba was born on September 20, 1944 in Beni Suef Governorate. His talent appeared early when he joined the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts and graduated in 1967. He then obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the Department of Psychology in 1968 before embarking on his artistic career that spanned decades.
Wahba entered the world of acting through a coincidence that changed his path. Director Nour Al-Demerdash spotted him during his visit to a studio, and gave him the opportunity to appear in the series The Rest Comes, and from there his name began to shine, until he became one of the most sought-after actors to embody complex and complicated characters.
Wahba was known for his mastery of evil roles, and he presented several characters with a remarkable level of acting, including Khairy, the gang leader in the movie Hanafi Al-Abha, as well as in works such as Al-Fatwa and Sons and Killers. He also excelled in the roles of police officers, especially drug control officers, which made his presence on the screen strong and influential in the audience’s memory.
