Advanced search

Little known by the general public, Moroccan-born Amidou can nevertheless boast an onstage and on screen career spanning almost five decades. Appearing in French films most of the time, he also worked in Morocco, in Tunisia and in American action movies like William Friedkin's 'The Sorcerer' and 'Rules of Engagement', John Frankenheimer's 'Ronin' and Tony Scott's 'Spy Game'. Good-looking and charming, Amidou can easily become frightening and threatening. He is as convincing in the role of a friendly blue collar in 'Smic Smac Smoc' as in that of a dim-witted henchman in 'Fleur d'Oseille'. To be fair, he appeared more often as a dropout or a thug than as positive figure, but this is due to the fact that he started his career in the nineteen sixties, when French cinema was not yet ready to show a North African as just another citizen. Had Amidou debuted later he would have landed more rewarding roles like those now interpreted by Roschdy Zem or Sami Bouajila. Born in 1942 in Rabat, Amidou Ben Messaoud was the son of a justice of the peace and the nephew of the owner of several movie theaters, which gave him the opportunity to see lots of films. On the other hand, the young boy discovered at school that, although he was a bad pupil, he could captivate an audience when, during French lessons, he told and mimicked fables by La Fontaine. Later on, he studied drama at the Conservatoire de Paris and was immediately hired by Jean-Louis Barrault in 1961. Noticed by Jean Genet while he was rehearsing for a bit part, he was given the role of Said instead. At the same time, Claude Lelouch gave him his first part in 'Le Propre de l'Homme' Amidou would then appear in nine other films directed by Lelouch, who also gave him his only starring role in a French movie entitled 'La Vie, l'Amour, la Mort', a pamphlet against the death penalty. Kept busy by the big screen, Amidou was less active in the theatre but played a one man show in the late 1990s ('Le Piston') and held the lead in Mehdi Charef's '1962' in 2005. He also occasionally appeared on TV. Lately Amidou has been honored twice - and quite deservedly so. He was indeed awarded two best actor prizes, one at the Cairo International Festival, for Leila Triquie's 'Poursuite' (2005) and the other at the Tangiers Film Festival for 'Ici et Là' by Rachid Boutounès (2005)

Hiroshi Yamauchi was born on 7 November 1927 in Kyoto, Kyoto, Empire of Japan [now Japan]. He was a producer, known for Star Fox (1993), Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem (2002) and EarthBound Beginnings (1988). He was married to Michiko Inaba. He died on 19 September 2013 in Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan.

David Glyn-Jones was born on 11 October 1922 in Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales, UK. He was an actor, known for The Outer Limits (1995), The Commish (1991) and Cadence (1990). He died on 19 September 2013 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Tom McLaughlin was born on 19 August 1957 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was a director, known for Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), Silver Surfer (1998) and Batman Beyond (1999). He was married to Brenda. He died on 19 September 2013 in California, USA.

Dario De Grassi was born on 12 April 1939 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He was an actor, known for Le inchieste del commissario Maigret (1964), Qui squadra mobile (1973) and Argoman the Fantastic Superman (1967). He died on 19 September 2013 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.

William Pedwell was born on 4 August 1962. He was an actor, known for Wonderfalls (2004). He died on 19 September 2013.

Bartosz Kurowski was born in 1963 in Poland. He was a writer, known for Drzazgi (2008), Killing Love (2014) and Uklad warszawski (2011). He died on 19 September 2013 in Tarnowskie Góry, Slaskie, Poland.

Emad Abdel Hadi was born on 22 July 1949 in Iraq. Emad Abdel was a director, known for The smell of coffee (1986), Vacation Days (1985) and Madinat Al-Qawa'id (City of Basis) (1999). Emad Abdel died on 19 September 2013 in the United States.

Pierre Kurland was born on 9 November 1957. Pierre is known for 11:14 (2003), Monster (2003) and Getaway (2013). Pierre died on 19 September 2013 in Van Nuys, California, USA.