Makram Jamil Khoury (Arabic: مكرم يعقوب خوري, Hebrew: מכרם חורי) is an Israeli-Arab actor, born 30 May 1945 in Jerusalem. He was the youngest artist and the first Arab to win the Israel Prize, the highest civic honor in Israel.

Makram Khoury
Makram Khoury in the movie Petah Tikva By Tom Shoval.
Born
Makram Jamil Khoury

(1945-05-30) 30 May 1945 (age 79)
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1970–present
Spouse
(m. 1976)

Biography

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Makram J. Khoury was born into a Palestinian-Christian family, in the al-Sheikh Jarrah section of Jerusalem to his father, who was a judge, and his mother, a teacher. The Khoury family fled to Lebanon during 1948 Arab-Israeli War. A year later, they returned to what had become the new State of Israel. The family took up residence in the port city of Acre, near Haifa. Educated there and in the nearby village of Kufr Yasif, Khoury finished high school in 1963. He then entered the Hebrew University of Jerusalem but later dropped out and pursued a career as an actor.

His eldest daughter, Clara Khoury, is also an actress in Israel. She appeared in three films that garnered international attention: Rana’s Wedding (2002), The Syrian Bride (she played the daughter of the character played by Makram) (2004) and Lipstikka (2011). His son Jameel Khoury is also an actor, and appeared in Ridley Scott's film Body of Lies (2008).

Acting career

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Khoury trained in Israel. In 1970-1973 he studied at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, England. He later became involved with the Cameri Theater in Tel Aviv and the Haifa Municipal Theater, continuing as a member of the latter for twenty years.

Khoury returned to Haifa following a year-long tour playing Tierno Bokar in Peter Brook's 11 and 12.[1]

Filmography

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Film

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Theater

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 11 and 12 Tierno Bokar
2015 The Merchant of Venice Shylock Performed in the Royal Shakespeare Company

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 The West Wing Chairman Nizar Farad 6 episodes
2008 House of Saddam Tariq Aziz
2014 Zaguri Imperia Superintendent Hazan
2015 Homeland Samir Khalil 2 episodes
2020 Messiah Mullah Omar 3 episodes

Awards and recognition

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Strolling Players review". strollingplayers.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2011.
  2. ^ "Israel Prize Official Site - Recipients in 1987 (in Hebrew)". Retrieved 3 July 2009.
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