Egyptian chemist, founder of Egyptian Chemical Society, Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in Egypt, Egyptian National Research Center; editor of Al Hilal magazine,
Father of Haitham Ahmed Zaki..
He is known for portaying prominent characters in Egyptian history like Taha Hussien, Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar Sadat.
His ex-wife Hala Fouad died of cancer in 1991.
He originally studied mechanical engineering before becoming an actor.
Egyptian President Mubarak granted Ahmed Zaki the Merit of Arts award for his work in over 50 movies in 2001.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2004, after which he was treated at a Paris hospital before he returned to Cairo to continue chemotherapy.
He broke the color barrier in Egyptian films by being the first Black actor to play leading roles usually reserved for light-skinned actors.
At Zakis request, his funeral was filmed, the footage to be used in his final movie, a biography of famous Egyptian singer Abdul Halim Hafez, who died in 1977. The ailing actor insisted on leaving his hospital bed to shoot more scenes. His 21-year-old son Haitham plans to film the remaining scenes, playing Hafez in his youth.
(January 2005) Announced that he is ready to act after recovering from lung cancer.
On February 2004, he was diagnosed with lung cancer after undergoing tests in France. French doctors have concluded that his condition is not terminal, and can be easily treated.
