Moroccan actor Mohamed El Khalfi passed away on Saturday at around 87 years old after a prolonged illness, Morocco’s news agency MAP reported.
A few weeks before his death, El Khalfi shared that his vital organs were intact but that he was suffering from leg problems caused by diabetes.
The deceased’s last public appearance was in September, during a tribute held in his honor at the Casablanca Arab Film Festival.
Mohamed El Khalfi, one of the pioneers of Moroccan theater and comedy, first stepped onto the stage alongside Tayeb Saddiki and Ahmed Taieb Laalaj.
He later founded the “Popular Theater” troupe, followed by the “United Artists” troupe, which performed several plays, including their debut production The Cultured Family, starring Touria Jabrane in the lead role.
Mohamed El Khalfi was also among the first to leave a significant mark on Morocco’s audiovisual landscape, participating in the country’s earliest sitcoms and soap operas.
Throughout his career, which spanned several decades, El Khalfi contributed to numerous television and film productions, such as “Lalla Fatima,” as well as many theatrical performances, solidifying his legacy as a key figure in Moroccan arts and culture.