Biographie
Hassan Asiri was born on February 24th, 1967, in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia. He is the middle son of his parents who came from Assir in the southern region of the Kingdom. He is a married father of three daughters. Hassan Assiri is a renowned Saudi actor and producer, and one of the most influential figures in the Arab world's production industry. He is widely recognized in the Gulf region and is considered one of the most influential producers in the Middle East's production industry. As of the beginning of 2023, he has produced over 322 television shows. He is best known for his versatile performances in both comedic and dramatic roles, where he skilfully embodies and expresses social issues that resonate with people's lives. His numerous works and series have garnered significant success in the history of Saudi and Arab drama. His work is marked by boldness and an unwavering commitment to achieving noble social goals. As a result, he was honoured with the title of Ambassador of Goodwill for World Peace in America. As a child, Hassan Assiri attended "Al-Abnaa" ("children" in English) school in the Military City of Tabuk, where he experienced the strict conditions and controls of military schools. Despite living far from the "Scientific Institute," he was determined to complete his middle and secondary education there. It was during this time that his acting talent began to shine, as he became involved in the school theatre in Tabuk, where he would participate in weekly two-hour sessions. This experience marked the beginning of his relationship with theatre and the arts. After attending Military College for three years, Hassan Asiri left in 1988 and subsequently enrolled at King Abdul Aziz University to study psychology for another three years. During his studies, he received support from Dr Abdul Rahman Al-Arabi Al-Harithee and Abd Al-Wahab Al-Baghdadi, who was the dean at the time. However, Hassan did not complete his university studies and instead pursued a career in acting, initially in Jordan. Assiri's interest in acting began during his high school studies at the Scientific Institute in Tabuk. He gained his first experimental experience in acting during this time. Later, in 1988, after leaving the Military College, he participated in the Jordanian series "Kall al-Hakeem" and began his career there in collaboration with Syrian director Ghassan Jabri. Assiri's second professional experience came from his involvement in "Baadh al-Nass," ("Some People" in English) the first comedy production based on bilateral cooperation, featuring Dr Majid El Obaid and directed by Hani Ismail. Assiri continued his work in this vein, and in the subsequent Ramadan season, he was involved in "Tash". Establishment of Al-Sadaf Company In 1988, Hassan Assiri founded Sadaf for Audio and Visual Production Co. Ltd, which he developed over the years into the world's largest Arabic content maker. He worked tirelessly to expand the company's reach and reputation, making it a major player in the industry. At the end of 2006, MBC Group recognized Sadaf's potential and decided to invest in the company, along Assiri, marking a new phase for Sadaf's growth and success. Hassan Assiri was renowned for his contributions to Saudi and Arab drama, earning him the nickname "The Godfather of Saudi Drama" by journalists. Throughout his artistic career, he produced over 322 different works, and "SMP" came to the top of the production pyramid in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. These works were created with great effort and included the best administrative and artistic talent from Saudi Arabia and the Arab world, utilizing significant financial and creative resources. The producer Hassan Assiri annually participates in major Gulf, Arab, and international film festivals such as Dubai International Film Festival and Cannes Film Festival in France, where he meets with the world's leading television producers. He has participated in over 75 film, television, Gulf, Arab, and international theatre events to date. According to Hassan Assiri, Jordan was both his first and most beautiful station, where he made a variety of works that included rural and Bedouin themes, as well as contemporary drama. After the Gulf War, he moved to Egypt and continued his career as a producer while pursuing acting. Hassan Assiri considers Cairo as the main gate through which he gained production experience before returning to Saudi Arabia to assume the role of Director General of Production at ART Group, overseeing operations in both Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region. The series "King Farouk" ("King Farook" in English) is considered one of Hassan Assiri's most significant productions, as it depicted a crucial period in Egypt's history. It has been honoured with awards. Another noteworthy work that created a significant social impact is the multi-season series "Aswar" (Walls). In this series, Assiri daringly delved into the reality of women, which led to extensive media coverage. This, in turn, attracted the attention of organizers of the international "Emmy" festival, where 15 minutes of "Aswar" were showcased in the presence of 600 international producers, actors, and directors. Assiri also presented the series " Beini wa Beinak" ("Between You and I" in English), consisting of four seasons, where he meticulously addressed pressing societal issues and challenges. The series was shot in numerous countries around the world and aired on prominent Arab and Gulf channels, evoking a range of mixed reactions from supporters and critics alike. Additionally, he created the series "Kalam Alnas" ("People's Talk" in English), comprising three seasons that explored various topics of wide relevance to viewers, wrapped in a light and captivating comedic format. Furthermore, there are the comedies "Share Chat" and "Saree'a Saree'a," both belonging to the same genre. Among the notable contemporary works is the series "Sondos," which premiered in 2022 and maintained the top spot on the "Shahid" platform for four consecutive months. Its dramatic significance lies in being the first Saudi family-oriented production, delving into the relationship between a father and his children, capturing pivotal transformations in their personal growth and development. The series "Aswar" ("Walls" in English) garnered attention for its focus on women's issues. Assiri found himself in constant clash with society, particularly when he produced this important social work that documented the lives of women at homes. Through those walls, Assiri shed light on the concerns and struggles of women in a drama, unconventional context for that era. This led to a wave of criticism and organized campaigns directed against him. However, as time passed and Saudi society underwent vital transformations, it became evident that Assiri's daring and unprecedented exploration was a genuine reflection of what lay behind those walls. Later, he received gratitude and support from the community following the kingdom's opening up and the end of the awakening phase. This positioned Assiri in the eyes of many as someone who bravely addressed and advocated for women's issues during a time when few dared to tackle such sensitive and complex matters. MBC Group decided to produce the series of "Al-Mirath" as the first Saudi soap opera, marking a significant milestone. This monumental project was entrusted to the producer Hassan Assiri, and it belongs to the category of long-running series, with each season comprising 250 episodes. The importance of the "Al-Mirath" series lies in its transformation into a platform that nurtures new talents and contributes to the establishment of a local ecosystem for regional and international experiences. It has also played a role in training Saudi youth in various entertainment industry fields, including writing, acting, directing, and cinematography, thereby supplying the Saudi market with local expertise. "Al-Mirath" project has successfully showcased a wide array of actors and actresses throughout its three seasons, thanks to the collaboration with Peter Smith, the former managing director of MBC Studios (between September 2018 and February 2023), leveraging his expertise gained during his tenure as the CEO of NBC Universal International. The success of "Al-Mirath" experience and its high viewership rates led Assiri, in collaboration with MBC Group and "Shahid," to expand the endeavour to Egypt. His company, "Al-Sadaf," launched the soap opera "Downtown" as the first Egyptian soap opera, which is now aired on MBC Masr. This series has also become a platform and a factory for cultivating talents and stars who have contributed to consecutive successes in Egypt and Morocco through other productions such as "Jorooh" (Wounds), "Tazawwuj Ma Qalha Liya" (Married Without Telling Me), and "Casa Street." Assiri does not actively engage with social media, despite having several verified official accounts, the most important of which is his TikTok account. He does not share his personal life or daily activities. However, his creative team regularly posts scenes and clips from his various TV works. For example, a comedy clip turned into a hashtag, "Hassan Assiri Ghamthee," which garnered 589 million views. After falling victim to a prank on the show "Ramez Magnon Rasmi" in 2020, viewers were surprised by his continuous participation in 2021 as one of the main team members of the show "Ramez Aqloh Tar." His pivotal role was to lure celebrities by tricking them into thinking they were participating in the opening of amusement parks in the Kingdom, only to find themselves as Ramez's victims. Assiri was recruited by the program's management due to his extensive network in the media and entertainment industry.
