Amidou
Born: 1935-08-02 in Rabat, Morocco
Died: 2013-09-19
Known For: Acting
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.
Filmography
2012
- Aïcha : Vacances infernales as M. Bouamaza
2011
- Aïcha : La grande débrouille as M. Bouamaza
- Aïcha : Job à tout prix as Mr. Bouamaza
2010
- Comme les 5 doigts de la main as Lakdar
2009
- Aïcha as M. Bouamaza
2007
- Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves as le Khalif
- Ali Baba and the 40 thieves as Le Caliphe
- Argana as Hamou
2006
2004
2002
- And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen... as l'inspecteur de police
- Une histoire d'amour
2001
- Spy Game as Sheik's Doctor
2000
- Rules of Engagement as Dr. Ahmar
1999
- Hideous Kinky as Sufi Sheikh
1998
- Vivement dimanche as Self
- Ronin as Man at Exchange
1997
- Joséphine, Guardian Angel as Farid
- Soleil as Mokzar
1996
1994
- Unveiled as Det. Brahms
1992
- Hot Chocolate as Beauregard
- The Beautiful Story as Le berger
- The Big Pardon 2 as Si Ali
1990
- There Were Days... and Moons as Le motard au radar
1989
- Brothers in Arms as Le Kabyle
1987
1986
- Bitter Champagne as Slim
1985
- The Night Wears Suspenders
- Farewell Fred as Poupée
1982
- Les p’tites têtes as Prince Douzami
1981
- Escape to Victory as André
- Buddy Goes West as Girolamo / Eagle Eye
- Les Avocats du Diable as Leader of the FLN
1977
- Sorcerer as Kassem / "Martinez"
1975
- Rosebud as Kirkbane
1973
- The Punishment as Raymond
- Man in the Trunk as Abdul
1972
- 3000 Million Without an Elevator as José
1971
- Touch and Go as Ali
- Smic, Smac, Smoc as Robert 'Smoc'
1970
- The Crook as Bill
- Countdown to Vengeance as Macias
1969
- Life Love Death as François Toledo
- Soleil de Printemps
1968
- The Girl Across the Way as Womanizer
- Heartbeat as Etienne
1967
- Live for Life as photographe
- Sorrel Flower as Francis, le porte-flingue d'Albert Roza
1966
- Brigade Anti Gangs as 'Nez Cassé'
- Les grands moments as Roger Amy
1965
- To Be a Crook as Amidou
1963
- La parole est au témoin as (voice)