Anecdotes

He and actress Angelina Jolie are goodwill ambassadors for the U.N, High Commissioner for Refugees.

He refuses to be accompanied by bodyguards.

Was sentenced to three months in prison and paying a fine worth 1,000 Egyptian Pounds for insulting Islam in his movies and plays. Imam has a month to appeal the decision. (février 2012)

Good friends with Sa'eed Saleh and Younes Shalaby.

His father was an employee at a factory.

Received death threats over his portrayal of radical Islamists.

He majored in agricultural engineering.

Caused controversy when he declared his support of Gamal Mubarak to succeed his father Hosni Mubarak as the country's future president.

In his play "Al-Zaeem" or the leader, he criticizes the relationship between rulers and their people.

His brother-in-law is the late actor Mustafa Metwalli.

Acted with late actor Samir Waley El Din in one of his plays, "Shahid ma Shafesh Haga," in the 1970s, and later in 1991 until 1998 with his son, the late comedian Alaa Waley El Din.

An Egyptian court sentenced him to three months in prison and a $170 fine for insulting Islam in roles he has played. He has the right to appeal. He was granted a retrial since he was originally tried in absentia. (avril 2012)