Amidou
Born
August 2, 1935
Died
September 19, 2013 (78 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Rabat, Morocco
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.
Aïcha : Vacances infernales
M. Bouamaza
2012
Aïcha : La grande débrouille
M. Bouamaza
2011
Aïcha : Job à tout prix
Mr. Bouamaza
2011
Comme les 5 doigts de la main
Lakdar
2010
Aïcha
M. Bouamaza
2009
Ali Baba and the 40 thieves
Le Caliphe
2007
Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves
le Khalif · (2 episodes)
2007
Argana
Hamou
2007
Heaven's Doors
2006
Here and There
2004
And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen...
l'inspecteur de police
2002
Une histoire d'amour
2002
Spy Game
Sheik's Doctor
2001
Rules of Engagement
Dr. Ahmar
2000
Hideous Kinky
Sufi Sheikh
1999
Ronin
Man at Exchange
1998
Vivement dimanche
Self · (1 episode)
1998
Joséphine, Guardian Angel
Farid · (1 episode)
1997
Soleil
Mokzar
1997
Lalla Hobby
1996
Unveiled
Det. Brahms
1994
The Big Pardon 2
Si Ali
1992
The Beautiful Story
Le berger
1992
Hot Chocolate
Beauregard
1992
There Were Days... and Moons
Le motard au radar
1990
Brothers in Arms
Le Kabyle
1989
Bitter Champagne
Slim
1986
The Night Wears Suspenders
1985
Farewell Fred
Poupée
1985
Les p’tites têtes
Prince Douzami
1982
Escape to Victory
André
1981
Les Avocats du Diable
Leader of the FLN
1981
Buddy Goes West
Girolamo / Eagle Eye
1981
Sorcerer
Kassem / "Martinez"
1977
Rosebud
Kirkbane
1975
Man in the Trunk
Abdul
1973
The Punishment
Raymond
1973
3000 Million Without an Elevator
José
1972
Touch and Go
Ali
1971
Smic, Smac, Smoc
Robert 'Smoc'
1971
The Crook
Bill
1970
Countdown to Vengeance
Macias
1970
Life Love Death
François Toledo
1969
Soleil de Printemps
1969
Heartbeat
Etienne
1968
The Girl Across the Way
Womanizer
1968
Sorrel Flower
Francis, le porte-flingue d'Albert Roza
1967
Live for Life
photographe
1967
Les grands moments
Roger Amy
1966
Brigade Anti Gangs
'Nez Cassé'
1966
To Be a Crook
Amidou
1965
La parole est au témoin
(voice)
1963
Thé a la menthe
1962
The Right of Man
1961