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1-50 of 494
- Actress
Sofia Pernas was born in Fes, Morocco, and saw a lot of the world before finally settling in Los Angeles. Initially aiming for a career in journalism, Pernas' life took an unexpected turn when she was approached by a modeling scout and later an acting agent who put her career into motion. Her unique look is attributed to her Moroccan-Cuban heritage.- Jean Reno was born Juan Moreno y Herrera-Jiménez in Casablanca, Morocco, to Spanish parents (from Andalucía) who moved to North Africa to seek work. His father was a linotypist. Reno settled in France at 17. He began studying drama and has credits in French television and theater as well as films. His first two marriages both ended in divorce, and he had two children with each of them. He keeps homes in Paris and Los Angeles.
- Actor
- Stunts
- Director
When he was seven years old Michel Qissi began training in boxing. He soon met and befriended a young Jean-Claude Van Varenberg (Jean-Claude Van Damme) who was studying Shotokan Karate, and the two traded techniques in their systems. They grew up together and shared the same love of action films and dreamed of being action stars themselves one day. In 1982, Qissi and Jean-Claude went to Hollywood together to look for a career in action movies. landing their big break in 1986. After obtaining an interview with Menahem Golan of Cannon Pictures they secured a three-picture deal, the first of which was the highly successful Bloodsport. In Cyborg (1989), Qissi worked as Van Damme's personal trainer but had no part in the cast. In the picture, Kickboxer (1989), Qissi was working as a choreographer when he overheard the production crew say they needed a tall Asian-looking guy who had a background in Muay Thai. Qissi had studied Muay Thai years before in Thailand so he volunteered and got the part of Tong Po. Michel Qissi was not credited; however, he was dubbed as Tong Po and even given a make-up job to make him look Asian. His final picture with Van Damme was Lionheart (1990) (AWOL), playing a legionnaire sent to bring Van Damme back to the army. Since then, he returned to his role of Tong Po in the sequel Kickboxer 2: The Road Back (1991). Qissi also did a few of his own flicks including Terminator Woman (1993) which he directed; he also had a relative Jeanette Agaronoff as the writer for this movie. Extreme Force (2001) was a movie directed by him along side Hector Echavarria as once again looking just like Tong Po but under the moniker Kong Li.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Imposingly large, 6' 2" Abdel Qissi was born in Morocco on 20 January 1960 and he is best known for playing some of the leading bad guys to Jean-Claude Van Damme.
He grew up in Brussels, where he was trained in boxing at sports center in Ixelles, there he also met Jean-Claude Van Damme. Van Damme, Abdel and his younger brother Michel Qissi (later best known as another Van Damme bad guy - Tong Po in "Kickboxer") and traveled to Los Angeles to begin a movie career.
Abdel debuted as monstrous fighter Attila in Lionheart (1990) and from that moment he was besides Van Damme in two more films, The Quest (1996), perhaps the best known film with Damme, where Abdel played the Mongolian fighter, also opposite Roger Moore, James Remar and Janet Gunn, and The Order (2001), this time in smaller role of big Arab on market place, opposite Charlton Heston and Brian Thompson. Other films that Abdel appeared are Shadow Boxing (1993) and Silver Tears (2007).- Actress
- Writer
- Director
Nathalie Delon was born on 1 August 1941 in Oujda, French Protectorate Morocco [now Morocco]. She was an actress and writer, known for The Samurai (1967), They Call It an Accident (1982) and The French Dispatch (2021). She was married to Alain Delon and Guy Barthelemy. She died on 21 January 2021 in Paris, France.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Sofia Essaïdi was born on 6 August 1984 in Casablanca, Morocco. She is an actress, known for Aïcha (2008), Overdose (2022) and Mea culpa (2014).- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Macha Méril was born on 3 September 1940 in Rabat, French Protectorate in Morocco [now Morocco]. She is an actress and producer, known for Deep Red (1975), Belle de Jour (1967) and Vagabond (1985). She was previously married to Michel Legrand and Gian Vittorio Baldi.- Morjana Alaoui (born November 30, 1982) is a Moroccan-French actress. She appeared in Marock (2005) and Pascal Laugier's horror film Martyrs (2008).
Alaoui spent her early life in the Arfa neighborhood of Casablanca, Morocco, and studied at the Casablanca American School. At 18, Alaoui moved to Paris, France, where she studied at the American University of Paris. While attending the university, she met director Laila Marrakchi, who offered her a role in the film Marock (2005). Marock was critically acclaimed and provided Alaoui national fame. In 2007, she began filming Martyrs, for which she is also known. In 2016 Alaoui starred in psychological thriller Broken directed by Shaun Robert Smith - Actress
- Composer
- Music Department
Nadia Farès was born on 20 December 1968 in Marrakech, Morocco. She is an actress and composer, known for The Crimson Rivers (2000), Wasabi (2001) and War (2007). She has been married to Steven Chasman since July 2002. They have two children.- Actress
Nisrin Erradi was born on 6 August 1989 in Morocco. She is an actress, known for Adam (2019), Catch the Wind (2017) and Jahilya (2018).- Actor
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Michel Galabru was born on 27 October 1922 in Safi, French Protectorate of Morocco [now Morocco]. He was an actor and writer, known for Subway (1985), La Cage aux Folles (1978) and Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar (1999). He was married to Claude Etevenon and Annette Jacquot. He died on 4 January 2016 in Paris, France.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Gad was born in Morocco in April 1971. His father was a mime. He was a student at Georges Bizet school and Lycée Lyautey in Casablanca but didn't like school much. In 1988, Gad left Casablanca to go to Montreal. He stayed there for 4 years, during which he was a political science student for one year, worked on radio, wrote humorous stories and played them in night clubs.
In 1992, he came to Paris and took Le Cours Florent course where he has, among others, Isabelle Nanty as a teacher. He wrote a one-man show named 'Décalages' which told a lot about his experiences in Montreal and Paris in 1996. Three years later, he presented his second one-man show named 'La Vie Normale', again staged by Isabelle Nanty. Gad was revealed as a humorist but is also a great actor who starred in various French movies. Gad lived with French actress Anne Brochet and has a son, Noé. One of his best friends in business is Jamel Debbouze.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Aharon Ipalé was born on 27 December 1941 in Morocco. He was an actor, known for The Mummy (1999), The Mummy Returns (2001) and Fiddler on the Roof (1971). He died on 27 June 2016 in Tel Hashomer, Israel.- Zineb Triki was born in 1980 in Casablanca, Morocco. She is an actress, known for The Bureau (2015), Homeland (2011) and Vortex (2022).
- Younes Afroukh was born on 1 December 1972 in Marrakech, Morocco. He is known for John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum (2019), Inception (2010) and Traitor (2008).
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Little known by the general public, Moroccan-born Amidou can nevertheless boast an onstage and on screen career spanning almost five decades. Appearing in French films most of the time, he also worked in Morocco, in Tunisia and in American action movies like William Friedkin's 'The Sorcerer' and 'Rules of Engagement', John Frankenheimer's 'Ronin' and Tony Scott's 'Spy Game'. Good-looking and charming, Amidou can easily become frightening and threatening. He is as convincing in the role of a friendly blue collar in 'Smic Smac Smoc' as in that of a dim-witted henchman in 'Fleur d'Oseille'. To be fair, he appeared more often as a dropout or a thug than as positive figure, but this is due to the fact that he started his career in the nineteen sixties, when French cinema was not yet ready to show a North African as just another citizen. Had Amidou debuted later he would have landed more rewarding roles like those now interpreted by Roschdy Zem or Sami Bouajila. Born in 1942 in Rabat, Amidou Ben Messaoud was the son of a justice of the peace and the nephew of the owner of several movie theaters, which gave him the opportunity to see lots of films. On the other hand, the young boy discovered at school that, although he was a bad pupil, he could captivate an audience when, during French lessons, he told and mimicked fables by La Fontaine. Later on, he studied drama at the Conservatoire de Paris and was immediately hired by Jean-Louis Barrault in 1961. Noticed by Jean Genet while he was rehearsing for a bit part, he was given the role of Said instead. At the same time, Claude Lelouch gave him his first part in 'Le Propre de l'Homme' Amidou would then appear in nine other films directed by Lelouch, who also gave him his only starring role in a French movie entitled 'La Vie, l'Amour, la Mort', a pamphlet against the death penalty. Kept busy by the big screen, Amidou was less active in the theatre but played a one man show in the late 1990s ('Le Piston') and held the lead in Mehdi Charef's '1962' in 2005. He also occasionally appeared on TV. Lately Amidou has been honored twice - and quite deservedly so. He was indeed awarded two best actor prizes, one at the Cairo International Festival, for Leila Triquie's 'Poursuite' (2005) and the other at the Tangiers Film Festival for 'Ici et Là' by Rachid Boutounès (2005)- Actor
- Writer
- Director
=== Hollywood and International Acting Career===
Considered as one the finest prodigies of Full Sail University, Soufiane El Khalidy has impressed the elite of film professionals with his quick ascension in the movie industry since his 2016 MFA graduation. From Hollywood productions to major international ones, Soufiane worked as an actor in three different continents, with some of the biggest stars in the world ( Anthony Hopkins, Lambert Wilson, LL. Cool J., Connor Trinneer, Karen Fukuhara, Benoit Magimel, Iddo Goldberg, Asser Yassine, to name a few) and also many respected film directors in the cinema realm such as, D.J. Caruso, Trevor White, Dan Liu, Antonin Baudry, Angelina Maccarone, Joe Sill and so on.
On the other hand, he received several nominations in international film festivals for his artistic efforts as a short film director and screenwriter. In fact, The legendary Michael Mann's Heat sound mixer, The Independence Day Oscar nominee and Dance With The Wolves Oscar winner , Bill W. Benton, was the mentor and instructor of Soufiane El Khalidy at Full Sail University. He described the young filmmaker and actor as a brilliant and rare talent with a bright future. In addition, Peter Gordon, the Managing Director of Gulf Channel (1994 - 2009 ), described Soufiane as creative, reliable and added that the young artist would have a long career in the entertainment business.
Aaron Weldon, the second unit Director of David Fincher ( Fight Club, Social Network, House of Cards) and head of Blur Studios on season 3 of Love, Death and Robots claimed after directing Soufiane on his first commercial that Soufiane always brought a sense of excitement and discovery to the process. Collaboration was of the utmost importance, and Soufiane always looked for ways to improve the project without distracting from it's intentions. Aaron Weldon looks forward to work with Soufiane again.
In fact, Soufiane El Khalidy has recently finished filming a new Hollywood movie "Mary" with Anthony Hopkins. He also played next to Benoit Magimel on the 70 million dollars' french movie "De Gaulle". Moreover, he incarnated the character of Kerem on the Paramount Plus mini-series, "Ghosts Of Beirut", and will also appear on the upcoming German movie, "Klandestin WT", next to the French icon, Lambert Wilson. Soon, he will start filming a new Italian movie as a lead next to the Italian star, Sveva Alviti, mostly known for her portrayal of the legendary singer, Dalida, on the successful French movie of the same name, and Natalya on the new Netflix action movie, "AKA".
Moreover, He was the special agent Youssef on the highly popular Egyptian action TV series "The Eight" directed by Ahmed Medhat. This Tv series was premiered in June 2022 on the Arab World leading streaming service Shahid owned by the MBC group. On November 2021, he finished filming the new History Channel Tv Series, directed by Roel Reine, called "Colosseum", which took place during the Roman Empire. He played the young Centurion charged by the emperor to find the best gladiators around the world.
In 2020, Soufiane was filming the new installment of the German franchise "Zielfahnder 3", playing the role of the charismatic Commander of Moroccan Special Forces. He previously embodied the angel Redwan on the new science fiction film "Riley Parra: Better Angels", produced by Tello Films and based on the nominated Primetime Emmy television show of the same name. Soufiane El Khalidy worked with the famous Hollywood CGI artist, Aaron Weldon, for the commercial, "Heroic Girl", for "Al Anon" national US campaign against alcoholism, where he played the lead role of an alcoholic father.
Moreover, Soufiane played an inspiring Hip Hop artist on Brian Hooks dramady "Project Hollywood" starring Kobe Randolph and the music legends, Jay Z and Kanye West. On the other hand, Soufiane El Khalidy is also known for his physicality on action movies. In the Feature Film " Shockwave : Countdown to Disaster", he played the character of the young activist and a SWAT Officer on the Hollywood science fiction film "Stray" starring Karen Fukuhara (Suicide Squad), Takayo Fischer (Pirates of the Caribbean, Moneyball) and Christine Woods (Hello Ladies).
During his career, Soufiane El Khalidy appeared and worked in various music videos from famous L.A rockstars like Train, One Ok Rock, BRMC. He recently starred in the new music video " Tatooine/ Maintenance" by the French rapper , JXSH.
=== Soufiane El Khalidy, The Artist with Multiple Talents===
In November 2020, He signed with the French publishing house "Amalthée Editions" for the release of his first novel " Riffs Of A Moroccan Rebel " that will be released worldwide in 2022.
In 2018, He is listed by the Magazine MoodMag as one of the Top 5 movie talents born in Africa and Morocco, alongside international stars, Gad El Maleh and Said Taghmaoui. Next to the Grammy Award winner, Redone, Soufiane was ranked the 4th most popular Moroccan Artist in the world according to the Russian number #1 film Magazine, Kinopoisk. He was also called the multi-talented Moroccan in Hollywood by the national television 2m and the media outlets such as Yabiladi and 212.info.
Soufiane El Khalidy has also been present on the 8th season of "NCIS: L.A" as, Sayid Yratti. Furthermore, Soufiane is one of the major actors of the film "Gulag Magadan", produced by Celtic Films. Between 2016 and 2020, Soufiane has been involved in 60 international productions, including Hollywood movies, commercials, web series, music clips for rock legends (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Train, OK Rock) and television shows, both as an actor/ stuntman and member of the production departments. Following his recent successes, Soufiane was admitted as a member of the British's Equity Association (BAEA) . On the other hand, he has been invited to pass the Preliminary Auditions of the Actors Studio in New York in order to become a permanent member.
===Debut Years, 2015-2018===
Soufiane earned his Master Degree in Fine Arts and Film Production from the prestigious Full Sail University (Orlando, FL) in March 2016. An institution known for its alumni who have won several Oscars, Grammys, Golden Globes and other BAFTAs. Moreover, his first experimental short film, "Flags and Masks Down", and his horrific vampire and rock'n'roll scenario "JukeBox Zero", were both selected by 32 film festivals across the US and the rest of the world, including Los Angeles, New York, San Antonio, Miami, Orlando, Cleveland, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Malta and Kenya.
In 2015, his film "Flags and Masks Down" had its premiere at the Mostras Amazonas de Cine in Brazil. In September 2015, he won the "Best Short Film" category for his outstanding performance as a director at the "Los Angeles InterShort Film Awards," as mentioned by the event director Ndimbime Msongole. In July 2016, his screenwriting skills on "JukeBox Zero" earned him a semi-finalist award at the Phoenix Film Festival in Melbourne, Australia. The same scenario was also nominated by the "US Hollywood Golden Film Festival" in its 2017 edition. His latest action thriller script "Just Like You Imagined" was nominated as a semi-finalist in Los Angeles Cinefest, in August 2017. In 2018, Soufiane received a new nomination at the 19 th edition of the "Chicago Horror film Festival", in the category best screenwriter.
As a producer, Soufiane received the semi-finalist award in the category "Best Producer" for his film "Flags and Masks Down" among 4000 contestants from 105 countries around the world at the International Open Film Festival. Soufiane is not only a promising new talent as a director, producer, writer and actor, his work as a production designer and art director on the film "Bad Taste" has also been hailed by film professionals, and helped this production sponsored by "Red Bull USA" to be present in many American and international festivals.
On the other hand, Soufiane was the first Moroccan to obtain the "Full Sail Global Achievement Scholarship" for his work in the fields of marketing, cinema, castings and production sets in Florida, Ouarzazate, Casablanca and Marrakech.
===Before Hollywood: Modelling, Business and Journalism===
In 2013, the general public in France and Morocco began to notice his work as an exclusive reporter for Fashion Morocco and its partner, the international model agency, Elite Model Look Morocco, for 3 consecutive years. Furthermore, he was the voice of ads for radio stations, an actor of commercials, and an editor for national magazines (Fashion Morocco, Tjeune, Snobbish, Artisthick). In addition to his long experience on film sets, design, modeling and production design, Soufiane earned a Bachelor's degree in Business from Al Akhawayn University, Morocco. Finally, he was also assistant manager of the French company company based in Casablanca, called Agence N, and the producer, Dino Sebti, at Sigma.
===Early Life in Morocco and France===
Soufiane El Khalidy was born in Agadir, Morocco, July 22nd 1987, He is the eldest son of Malika and Larbi El Khalidy, general practitioner and ex-lieutenant in the Moroccan Army during the late 80's and early 90's. During his teens, Soufiane studied at Lycée Français d'Agadir. Fascinated by the imagery of Stanley Kubrick but also by Tom Cruise and Steve Mcqueen's stunts, he practiced many sports including taekwondo, surfing, English football and basketball. At the Age of 8, He discovered his passion for theatre thanks to his French teacher, monsieur Brick, at L'Alliance Française d'Agadir, studying most of the European greats while performing in several regional events both in French and Arabic. Soufiane is also related to the 70s Moroccan football star ,Mister Brahim Hmid aka Bomba, and the French Blues Singer, Younes El Amine- Actress
- Additional Crew
Soumaya Akaaboune was born on 16 February 1974 in Tangier, Morocco. She is an actress, known for Green Zone (2010), Playing for Keeps (2012) and Lovelace (2013).- Myriem Roussel was born on 26 December 1962 in Rabat, Morocco. She is an actress, known for Hail Mary (1985), The Devils of Monza (1987) and The Venus Trap (1988).
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Pedro Casablanc was born on 17 April 1963 in Casablanca, Morocco. He is an actor and director, known for Policías, en el corazón de la calle (2000), Sacrilegio (2023) and B (2015).- Loubna Abidar was born on 20 September 1985 in Marrakech, Morocco. She is an actress, known for Much Loved (2015), Sugar and Stars and Amin (2018).
- Monique Vermont was born on 17 April 1950 in Casablanca, Morocco. She is an actress, known for The Music Man (1962), Don't Call Me Charlie (1962) and Wagon Train (1957). She was previously married to Henry Frantz.
- Writer
- Director
- Actress
Born in Tangier in 1980, Maryam Touzani spent her childhood in her hometown before pursuing university studies in journalism in London. Passionate about writing, she returned to Morocco after her studies and worked there as a journalist, specializing in Maghreb cinema. Quickly, she felt the need to express herself through her own films.
In 2008, she wrote and directed a documentary for the first National Women's Day in Morocco, an important date for the country. Other documentaries will follow... "When they slept "(2012), her first short fiction film, will be screened and awarded at prestigious festivals around the world, winning a total of seventeen awards.
In 2015, her second short film, "Aya Goes to the Beach" continued on the same path, winning fifteen awards. Thanks to the highly acclaimed "Much Loved" (2015) by director Nabil Ayouch, selected for the Directors' Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival, she deepens her experience by collaborating closely with the director, working on the development of the script and participating in the shooting at various levels. Shortly after, she co-wrote with Nabil Ayouch her last feature film, "Razzia", presented in competition at the Toronto International Film Festival and which will represent Morocco at the Oscars. In "Razzia", where she also plays one of the main roles, she finds herself on the other side of the camera for the first time.
"Adam", the first fiction feature film by Maryam Touzani, will make its world premiere in the official selection at the Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. The film will then be selected at renowned festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival, The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival, Palm Springs International Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival, American Institute Film Fest, among others, and will win 23 awards to date. It will also be sold in over 20 countries.
In 2019 Maryam becomes a member of the Academy of Oscars. The same year, "Adam" will be the official selection of Morocco for the Oscar race in the category of best foreign film.- Writer
- Editor
- Director
Robin Campillo was born on 16 August 1962 in Mohammédia, Morocco. He is a writer and editor, known for Eastern Boys (2013), 120 BPM (2017) and The Class (2008).- Giselda Volodi was born on 28 September 1959 in Tangier, Tangier-Tetouan, Morocco. She is an actress, known for Hudson Hawk (1991), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) and Miracle at St. Anna (2008).