Ghassan Massoud

Ghassan Massoud (Arabic: غسّان مسعود / ALA-LC: Ghassān Masʻūd; born September 20, 1958) is a Syrian actor and filmmaker. He is best known in the West for his role as Saladin in Ridley Scott's 2005 film Kingdom of Heaven.

Ghassan Massoud
غسّان مسعود
Massoud in 2003
Born (1958-09-20) 20 September 1958
Tartous, Syria
NationalitySyrian
OccupationActor
Years active1987–present
Children2

Career

Massoud is known in Syria for his appearance in many Syrian-made films, and writing and directing the theatre play Diplomasiyyoun, and was part of the Syrian Ministry of Culture's National Theater’s 2002 season. He has appeared in the Syrian television miniseries The Chant of Rain, and in Haytham Hakky's well known work Memories of the Forthcoming Age, and on the Syrian stage was an actor in August Strindberg's Miss Julie. Most recently, he starred as the companion of Muhammad, Abu Bakr in MBC's series Omar.

Internationally, he is known for playing the role of Ayyubid sultan Saladin in Ridley Scott's 2005 film Kingdom of Heaven. He also played the "Sheikh" in the 2006 Turkish film Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak (Valley of the Wolves: Iraq), Ammand the Corsair in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.[1] and Ramesses II's Grand Vizier, Paser in Ridley Scott's 2014 Bible epic, Exodus. Massoud turned down a role in the 2005 film Syriana, claiming he feared the movie would be anti-Arab.[1] When refusing the position, Massoud also highlighted worries about the political climate of his nation and the surrounding area. After watching the finished picture, he stated he later regretted his choice.[2][3]

Personal life

Massoud was born in Damascus,[4] originally from Fajlit, Duraykish District, Tartus Governorate.

He is married and has a son and a daughter. Massoud teaches drama at both the Damascus Music and Drama School and Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts.

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Note
1995 The Survivor Shamoon Arabic title: Al-mutabaqqī (المتبقي)
2005 Kingdom of Heaven Saladin
2006 Valley of the Wolves: Iraq Sheikh Abdurrahman Halis Karkuki Turkish title: Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak
2006 Dhilal al sammt
2007 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Captain Ammand
2007 Juba Al-Syeikh Suleiman Al-'Ābid
2008 The Promise Sahrawi ِArabic title: Al-wa'd (الوعد)
2009 The Butterfly Mevlevi Dede Turkish title: Kelebek
2014 Exodus: Gods and Kings Paser
2016 Baron Sulaymani
2017 All the Money in the World Arab Sheikh
2019 Tomiris Cyrus Kazakh title: Томирис
Television
Year Title Role Note
2001 Salah Al-deen Al-Ayyobi Qadi al-Fadil ِArabic title: Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn al-Ayyūb (صلاح الدين الأيوبي)
2002 Saqr Quraish As-Sumayl ibn Hatim ِArabic title: Saqr Quraish (صقر قريش)
2003 Al-Hajjaj Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr ِArabic title: al-Ḥajjāj (الحجاج)
2005 al-Zahir Baybars As-Salih Ayyub Arabic title: al-Ẓāhir Baybars (الظاهر بيبرس)
2012 Omar Abu Bakr ِArabic title: Umar (عمر)

See also

References
  1. H.A.R. (24 March 2007). "Ghassan Massoud in Pirates of The Caribbean : At World's End". WALEG. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 24 May 2007.
  2. Fisk, Robert (27 May 2006). "Modern Syria through Saladin's eyes". Independent. Independent News and Media Limited. Archived from the original on 10 July 2006. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  3. Fisk, Robert (31 May 2006). "Iraq, Syria through the eyes of Saladin". Gulf Times. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  4. "الممثل السوري غسان مسعود يحتفل بعيد ميلاده اليوم". elbalad.news (in Arabic). 20 September 2019.
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