
About
Bassam Kousa
Overview
A prominent film and television actor in the Arab world, Bassam Kousa is known for his unconventional roles and his willingness to push the boundaries.
Born in Aleppo, Syria on November 7, 1963, Kousa broke into the public consciousness with a string of prominent roles in Syrian TV shows such as ‘Ayyam Shamiyah’.
One of his most popular roles was on ‘Bab Al Hara’, one of the most-watched TV shows in the Arab region. Although he only appeared in the first season of the show, his character, Idaghshiri, became instantly identifiable to an audience stretching from Gaza to the Arabian Gulf.
Kousa has also acted in a number of feature films, including Usama Muhammad’s ‘The Box of Life’, which was screened at the 2002 Cannes Festival winning the Un Certain Regard award.
In 2010, Kousa won the prestigious Adonia award, Syria’s version of the Emmys, for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in ‘Wara’a al Shams’. In the show, Kousa plays a man struggling with autism, a controversial role that has raised eyebrows in a traditionally conservative region.
A passionate supporter of the Arab film industry, Kousa has called for a shift in perceptions in the Arab world, with a number of people still considering acting as an ‘immoral’ profession. He has said that in order to change perceptions, cultural establishments in the public and private sectors should cooperate to raise awareness on art as a form of entertainment and enlightenment.
During a recent visit to Amman, he was honoured by the Royal Film Commission, who screened three of his films.
Known for
Acting |
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2025 | The Hero | Actor | يوسف | N/A N/A |
2025 | Kanoon | Actor | عبد القادر عبد القادر | N/A N/A |
2024 | Steelyard banknote | Actor | نعمان الزير | N/A N/A |
2024 | Taj | Actor | رياض بك الجوهر | 69 Fair |
2023 | The Stranger | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2023 | كانون | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2020 | سوق الحرير | Actor | عمران الحرايري | 70 Good |
2020 | سر | Actor | 70 Good |
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2019 | Golden Chains | Actor | مهيوب | 69 Fair |
2017 | Solitaire | Actor | Riad | 58 Average |
2014 | Alhaqa'eb | Actor | Khalil - خليل | 69 Fair |
2014 | وجوه وراء الوجوه | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2012 | Tahoun Al-Shar | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2010 | Behind the Sun | Actor | بدر | N/A N/A |
2010 | الصندوق الأسود | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2009 | The Age of Shame | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2009 | Summer Cloud | Actor | ديب الهادي | N/A N/A |
2008 | Neighborhood Live On Air | Actor | أبو وديع | N/A N/A |
2008 | الحوت | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2007 | كوم الحجر | Actor | 69 Fair |
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2006 | The Wait | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2006 | People of Love | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2006 | The Penguin | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2005 | Behind Bars | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2004 | Nights of Al Saliheya | Actor | المخرز | 69 Fair |
2004 | Big Dreams | Actor | أبو عمر | 69 Fair |
2003 | قانون ولكن | Actor | ناظم | N/A N/A |
2002 | Sons of Oppression | Actor | عصام | N/A N/A |
2002 | Sacrifices | Actor | 58 Average |
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2000 | Al Khawali | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2000 | Biography of Al Jalali family - سيرة آل الجلالي | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2000 | They Asked Me | Actor | N/A N/A |
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1999 | The Four Seasons | Actor | نجيب | 70 Good |
1998 | The Straner's Dust | Actor | N/A N/A |
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1998 | Sarab | Actor | N/A N/A |
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1997 | Breeze of the Soul | Actor | N/A N/A |
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1995 | That Which Remains | Actor | يورام | 58 Average |
1995 | Rising Rain | Actor | N/A N/A |
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1993 | The Extras | Actor | Salem | 58 Average |
1993 | Something Is Burning | Actor | Ramzy | N/A N/A |
1992 | درب التبان | Actor | N/A N/A |
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1992 | Ayam Shamiya | Actor | حمدي القاق | 69 Fair |
1988 | Nights of The Jackal | Actor | 58 Average |
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1983 | The Half-Metre Incident | Actor | 58 Average |
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Directing |
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1999 | Good Party | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
Writing |
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1999 | Good Party | Writing | Story | N/A N/A |