Amidou

Hamidou Benmessaoud, widely recognized as Amidou, was a prominent Moroccan-French actor celebrated for his contributions to film, television, and theater. Born on August 2, 1935, in Rabat, he left for Paris at the age of 17 to pursue his passion at the Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique (CNSAD). His theatrical journey began in 1968 with a performance in Jean Genet's *Les paravents*.

Amidou's cinematic legacy is closely linked to renowned director Claude Lelouch, with whom he collaborated on eleven films, starting with Lelouch's debut, *Le propre de l'homme* in 1960. His film career expanded significantly after starring in the Moroccan film *Soleil de printemps* in 1969, directed by Latif Lahlou. He also appeared in notable Spaghetti Westerns, including *Buddy Goes West*, and participated in acclaimed American films such as William Friedkin's *Sorcerer*, John Frankenheimer's *Ronin*, and John Huston's *Escape to Victory*.

His acting prowess earned him several prestigious accolades, including Best Actor at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival for *Life Love Death* (1969) and additional awards at the Cairo Film Festival and Tangier Film Festival. In 2005, Amidou was honored with a Lifetime Career Award at the International Film Festival of Marrakech, presented by Martin Scorsese. He was the first Moroccan actor to receive an acting award from the National Conservatory of Dramatic Art. Amidou passed away on September 19, 2013, in Paris, at the age of 78.