Ahmed Helmy
Ahmed Muhammad Helmy Abdel Rahman Awwad is an Egyptian actor, comedian, producer, author, and television presenter. He began his career in 1993 as host of the children's program Leib Eyal on the Egyptian Satellite Channel. Helmy made his film debut in 1998 with Aboud at the Border, which introduced him to a wider audience. Over the following two decades, he became one of the most popular comedians in Egyptian cinema, known for leading roles in commercially successful films such as El Nazer, Keda Reda, and X-Large.
Early life
Helmy was born in Banha, Qalyubiyya Governorate, Egypt. He is the middle of three siblings, between his brother Khaled and sister Sally. At the age of eight, he moved with his family to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where his father was employed. After living there for ten years, he returned to Egypt and enrolled in the Academy of Arts, graduating in 1993 from the High Institute for Theatre Arts.Career
Helmy's first television appearance was as the host of Leib Eyal, which brought him to the attention of director Sherif Arafa. Arafa cast him in Aboud at the Border, where Helmy co-starred alongside Alaa Waley El Din. The film's success established Helmy as a rising comedic talent.Throughout the 2000s, Helmy starred in a series of box-office hits, including El Nazer, Omar 2000, Elsellem Wel Te'ban, and Mido Mashakel. He earned critical and popular acclaim for his roles in romantic comedies and social satires. In 2007, his film Keda Reda became one of the year's highest-grossing productions, solidifying his status as one of Egypt’s leading comedians.
Helmy has also worked as a writer and producer. He co-wrote the film 18 Days and produced the television series Asia and the film Made in Egypt. In addition, he has published a book titled 28 Harf.
Outside of acting, Helmy was a judge on the talent show Arabs Got Talent during seasons 3 through 6, joining Najwa Karam, Ali Jaber, and Nasser Al Qasabi.
Personal life
In 2002, Helmy married Egyptian actress Mona Zaki. They have three children: Lily, Salim, and Younis.Helmy is the founder of the production company Shadows Communications and the author of the book 28 Harf.
In 2014, he revealed that he had undergone surgery in the United States to remove a tumor from his back.
Helmy has collaborated with the United Nations World Food Programme to promote its "Food for Education" project, in partnership with the snack brand Chipsy.