Mahmoud Qabil

Actor

Egypt

December 8, 1946

Biography

Mahmoud Kabeel is an Egyptian actor born in Alexandria in 1946. Kabeel joined the military in 1964 and served as an officer until 1973. He fought in both the Six Day Way in 1967 and the War of Attrition in 1970. After leaving the military, he made his first acting appearance in Youssef Chahine's 1972 film "El Asfour" (The Sparrow) and continued to act in films in the next few years. In 1980, he moved to the United States where he started a citrus farming business with his brother. He returned to Egypt after fourteen years in the U.S., after which he began working as a counselor for young people. He returned to acting with "Darb Gaza" and "Lahm Rakhis" (Cheap Meat) about young girls traded off to rich Gulf suitors. His performance in the latter was well received. In 2003, Kabeel launched a TV series on girls' education and inheritance in Upper Egypt. That same year he was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, and has continued with UNICEF on various fundraising and awareness campaigns. Kabeel is well known for his television roles on "Ayna Qalbi" (Where is My Heart) and "Hawanem Garden City" (Ladies of Garden City). Like many Alexandrians, Kabeel speaks a number of languages, including English, Arabic, French, Hebrew and Italian fluently.