Amidou
Biography
From Wikipedia Hamidou Benmessaoud (Arabic: حميدو بنمسعود; 2 August 1935 – 19 September 2013), best known as Amidou, was a Moroccan-French film, television and stage actor. Born in Rabat, at 17 Amidou moved to Paris to attend the CNSAD. In 1968 he made his debut on stage, in Jean Genet's Les paravents. Amidou is probably best known for his association with director Claude Lelouch, with whom he has shot eleven films, including the Lelouch's film debut Le propre de l'homme (1960). He made his debut in a Maroccan film in 1969, starring in Soleil de printemps directed by Latif Lahlou. His career includes roles in Spaghetti Westerns like Buddy Goes West and several American productions, including William Friedkin's Sorcerer, John Frankenheimer's Ronin and John Huston's Escape to Victory. In 1969 Amidou was awarded best actor at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival for his role in Life Love Death by Claude Lelouch, later he won best actor awards at the Cairo Film Festival (for Pursuit by Leila Triquie) and at the Tangier Film Festival (for Rachid Boutounes' Here and There). In 2005, he received at the hands of Martin Scorsese a Lifetime Career Award at the International Film Festival of Marrakech. He was also the first Moroccan actor to have won an acting award at the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art. Amidou died on 19 September 2013 in Paris, France. He was 78.
Personal Details
Also Known As
Movies (47)
Aïcha : Vacances infernales
as M. Bouamaza
2012
Aïcha : La grande débrouille
as M. Bouamaza
2011
Aïcha : Job à tout prix
as Mr. Bouamaza
2011
Comme les 5 doigts de la main
as Lakdar
2010
Aïcha
as M. Bouamaza
2009
Ali Baba and the 40 thieves
as Le Caliphe
2007
Argana
as Hamou
2007
Heaven's Doors
2006
Here and There
2004
And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen...
as l'inspecteur de police
2002
Une histoire d'amour
2002
Spy Game
as Sheik's Doctor
2001
Rules of Engagement
as Dr. Ahmar
2000
Hideous Kinky
as Sufi Sheikh
1999
Ronin
as Man at Exchange
1998
Soleil
as Mokzar
1997
Lalla Hobby
1996
Unveiled
as Det. Brahms
1994
The Big Pardon 2
as Si Ali
1992
The Beautiful Story
as Le berger
1992
Hot Chocolate
as Beauregard
1992
There Were Days... and Moons
as Le motard au radar
1990
Brothers in Arms
as Le Kabyle
1989
The Passenger
1987
Bitter Champagne
as Slim
1986
The Night Wears Suspenders
1985
Farewell Fred
as Poupée
1985
Les p’tites têtes
as Prince Douzami
1982
Escape to Victory
as André
1981
Les Avocats du Diable
as Leader of the FLN
1981
Buddy Goes West
as Girolamo / Eagle Eye
1981
Sorcerer
as Kassem / "Martinez"
1977
Rosebud
as Kirkbane
1975
Man in the Trunk
as Abdul
1973
The Punishment
as Raymond
1973
3000 Million Without an Elevator
as José
1972
Touch and Go
as Ali
1971
Smic, Smac, Smoc
as Robert 'Smoc'
1971
The Crook
as Bill
1970
Countdown to Vengeance
as Macias
1970
Life Love Death
as François Toledo
1969
Soleil de Printemps
1969
Heartbeat
as Etienne
1968
The Girl Across the Way
as Womanizer
1968
Sorrel Flower
as Francis, le porte-flingue d'Albert Roza
1967
Live for Life
as photographe
1967
Les grands moments
as Roger Amy
1966
