Amidou
Known for: Acting
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
Series
Vivement dimanche
Self
1998
Series
Joséphine, Guardian Angel
Farid
1997
Film
Sorcerer
Kassem / 'Martinez'
1977
Film
Ronin
Man at Exchange
1998
Film
Spy Game
Sheik's Doctor
2001
Film
Escape to Victory
André
1981
Film
Rules of Engagement
Dr. Ahmar
2000
Series
Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves
le Khalif
2007
Film
Buddy Goes West
Girolamo / Eagle Eye
1981
Film
And Now... Ladies and Gentlemen...
l'inspecteur de police
2002
Film
Rosebud
Kirkbane
1975
Film
Ali Baba and the 40 thieves
Le Caliphe
2007
Film
The Crook
Bill
1970
Film
Hideous Kinky
Sufi Sheikh
1999
Film
The Big Pardon 2
Si Ali
1992
Film
Live for Life
photographe
1967
Film
The Punishment
Raymond
1973
Film
Comme les 5 doigts de la main
Lakdar
2010
Film
The Girl Across the Way
Womanizer
1968
Film
Bitter Champagne
Slim
1986
Film
Hot Chocolate
Beauregard
1992
Film
Heartbeat
Etienne
1968
Film
Life Love Death
François Toledo
1969
Film
There Were Days... and Moons
Le motard au radar
1990
Film
Smic, Smac, Smoc
Robert 'Smoc'
1971
Film
Countdown to Vengeance
Macias
1970
Film
Touch and Go
Ali
1971
Film
Soleil
Mokzar
1997
Film
Les grands moments
Roger Amy
1966
Film
3000 Million Without an Elevator
José
1972
Film
Aïcha : La grande débrouille
M. Bouamaza
2011
Film
Brigade Anti Gangs
'Nez Cassé'
1966
Film
Les Avocats du Diable
Leader of the FLN
1981
Film
Man in the Trunk
Abdul
1973
Film
The Night Wears Suspenders
1985
Film
Lalla Hobby
1996
Film
To Be a Crook
Amidou
1965
Une histoire d'amour
2002
Film
Aïcha : Job à tout prix
Mr. Bouamaza
2011
Film
Brothers in Arms
Le Kabyle
1989
Film
Sorrel Flower
Francis, le porte-flingue d'Albert Roza
1967
Film
The Beautiful Story
Le berger
1992
Film
The Right of Man
1961
Film
Les p’tites têtes
Prince Douzami
1982
Film
La parole est au témoin
(voice)
1963
Thé a la menthe
1962
Film
Aïcha
M. Bouamaza
2009
Film
The Passenger
1987
Film
Aïcha : Vacances infernales
M. Bouamaza
2012
Film
Farewell Fred
Poupée
1985
Film
Bird of The Orient
1986
Film
Unveiled
Det. Brahms
1994
Film
Here and There
2004
Film
Heaven's Doors
2006
Film
Flore et Blancheflore
L'aubergiste
1961
Film
Soleil de Printemps
1969
Film
Argana
Hamou
2007