Biography
Salaah Mansour (1923 – 1979) was an Egyptian actor born in Shebeen al-Kanaater, Kalyoubeyya, in the Nile Delta region of Egypt.
He started his career at the theater school and helped establish the Ministry of Education School theater in 1938. After graduating in 1940, Mansour worked as an editor at Rose al-Youssef magazine. He later joined the High Institute of Dramatic Arts, studying under the renowned Zaky Tolaymaat, and graduated in 1947.
In 1954, he co-founded “Al-Masrah Al-Horr” (The Free Theatre) with colleagues Abdul Mon’em Madbouly, Sa’d Ardash, and Muhammad Reda.
Mansour performed in numerous stage productions, including “Malek Al-Shahhateen” (The King of Beggars), “Al-Nass Elly Taht” (Downstairs People), “Bora’y Ba’d Al-Tahseenaat” (Bora’y After Modifications), “Zokaak Al-Medakk” (Medakk Alley), “Rumulos Al-‘Azeem” (Rumulos the Great), and “Zeyaarat Al-Sayyeda Al-‘Agouz” (Visit of the Old Lady).
He began his film career in 1946 alongside Baheega Haafez in “Al-Zahra” (The Flower). He also appeared in “Habeeb Al-Rowh” (1949) with Anwar Wagdy and Youssef Wahby. In 1950, Mansour acted in Henry Barakaat’s “Shaate’ Al-Gharaam” (Beach of Love) with Layla Mouraad and Hussein Sedky. Some of his notable films include “Bedaaya wa Nehaaya” (Dead Among the Livings), “Ma’ Al-Thekrayaat” (With Memories), “Haareb Men Al-Ayyaam” (Fugitive of Time), “Kandeel Om-Haashem” (The Lamp of Om-Haashem), “Al-Bostagy” (The Postman), and “Shay’ Fee Sadry” (Something in My Heart).
Although often cast in supporting roles, Mansour received numerous awards for his performances.
He is regarded as one of Egyptian cinema’s most famous villains and earned the title “’Omdet Al-Cinema Al-Masreyya” (The Mayor of Egyptian Cinema) following his memorable role as a mayor in the film “Al-Zawga Al-Thaaneya” (The Second Wife), starring Souaad Hosny, Shoukry Sarhaan, and Sanaa Gameel. His iconic line “El-Leila Ya ’Omda” (Tonight, O Mayor) remains unforgettable.
Salaah Mansour won several awards throughout his career, including Best Radio Actor (1954), Best Actor for his roles in the films “Lan A’taref” (I Will Not Confess, 1963) and “Al-Zawga Al-Thaaneya” (1968). In 1978, he was honored with the Egyptian Order of Merit.
He served as a consultant in the Department of Theatre Education at the Ministry of Education until his passing.
