Stephan Rosti
Acting • Born 1891-11-16 – Died 1964-05-22
Biography
Stéphane de Rosti was born in Alexandria. His father, Stéphane Rosti senior, an Austrian Baron, who married an Italian, bought her palace in Shoubra and decided to live there. As the mother was about to give birth to her child, the father returned to Vienna in obedience to his Aristocratic family. When Stéphane Rosti was born, she gave him his father’s name. He lived with his mother in Shoubra, and went to al-Khedeweyya school. When he got his school certificate, he decided to try to meet his father. At the same time, he got in touch with an Austrian ballet dancer in “Teatro Abbas” with whom he travelled to Vienna. He managed to meet his father there but eventually fell from favor because of his relation with the dancer, in addition to his Artistic tendencies. It was in Europe that Stéphane met the director Muhammad Kareem, was studying cinema in Germany at the time, who helped him to return to Egypt. In 1917, Rosti met Aziz Eid who was about to form his own theatrical troupe. Later, Rosti together with Nagueeb al-Rehaany presented the operetta “Al-‘ashara al-tayyeba i.e. Ten of hearts (1920)”. It was his activity in Ramsis troupe that made his colleague ‘Azeeza Ameer decide to let him complete what was considered the first Egyptian feature film “Nedaa Allaah i.e. The call of God (1927)”, eventually changed to “Laila” in 1927. The Turkish director Wedaad ‘Orfy was supposed to direct the film but he clashed with Azeeza Ameer. In addition to “Laila”, Rosti directed five films and was co-writer of six others. However, his reputation rests heavily on his acting career. Even though he was famous for playing the villain, he used to interpret such roles with a unique sense of humor that made the audience sometimes actually like and sympathize with his character. He succeeded in combining the villain and comedian, to become a comic villain. He used to take part in the writing of his character and add some words that usually became a feature of his character. It is a measure of his success that some of his lines are still remembered until this very day. Would always be remembered also for his unique accent and tone of voice especially when playing a foreigner. In 1936, Stéphane Rosti married an Italian lady called Marina, they stayed together until he died on 12 May 1964, while shooting the last scenes of “Hekaayaat noss al-leil i.e. Midnight tales”.
Filmography
91 credits
Baladay wakhifa
Movie • 1950
The Country Girl
Movie • 1954
Alhaqibat alsawda
Movie • 1964
حنفى
Sheikh Hassan
Movie • 1954
George
Seraa El Gababera
Movie • 1962
Danny
Singer of the Valley
Movie • 1947
Tough Road
Movie • 1950
Soliman
Women Can’t Lie
Movie • 1954
Good News
Movie • 1952
Abbas Effendi عباس أفندي
Ahlahom
Movie • 1945
Afrita Hanem: The Genie Lady
Movie • 1949
Ishta
Have Mercy
Movie • 1953
abn albalad
Movie • 1942
Hakam Qaraqush
Movie • 1953
كركور الدولة
The workshop
Movie • 1940
على عبدالرحمن
The Straight Road
Movie • 1943
إبراهيم
Believing in God
Movie • 1952
Abbas Ibrahim
The Laughing Crime
Movie • 1963
Dr. Mamdouh الدكتور ممدوح
Salamah
Movie • 1945
الشاعر عمر بن ابي ربيعة
Victims of Love
Movie • 1944
شهاب الجزار
Lailet El Henna
Movie • 1951
Son of the Rich
Movie • 1953
Simeon Lesha
Ismail Yassine in Prison
Movie • 1960
Faraj Sharaf
Sageen Abu Za'abal
Movie • 1957
Soul lover
Movie • 1955
Life when it smiles
Movie • 1953
The Sea Is Smiling
Movie • 1928
Driver
Halal Aleik
Movie • 1952
Farid
Night Train
Movie • 1953
His Excellency Kish Kish Bey
Movie • 1931
Translator Abu Al-Dabal
Abu halmos
Movie • 1947
زكى أفندي
God Is on Our Side
Movie • 1955
Battle of life
Movie • 1950
Gawdat Bey
In a rainy night
Movie • 1939
رئيس العصابة
The Flirtation of Girls
Movie • 1949
مدير الكباريه
Mr. Omar
Movie • 1941
المحامي
Salama Is Fine
Movie • 1937
رستم باشا
Laila
Movie • 1927
Raouf Bey
Tell No One
Movie • 1952
Ghazal Bashraf
Ladies Barber
Movie • 1960
Rashed
Love and Tears
Movie • 1955
Khawaga
Hassan and Marika
Movie • 1959
Yenni
El Maganeen Fi Naeem
Movie • 1963
dentist
Araess fil mazad
Movie • 1955
شرف
Katia tarik
Movie • 1959
أبو العز
Sayedat el kasr
Movie • 1958
Shafik
Kol El Regala Keda
Movie • 1964
جودت بيه ضلمه
Akher Shakawa
Movie • 1964
The Call of God
Movie • 1926
Raouf Bey
The Victory of Youth
Movie • 1941
طه طه
Agaza Fi Gohanam
Movie • 1949
Al-Torgoman
Movie • 1961
Rostom Bey
Habibi El Asmar
Movie • 1958
Hob Min Narr
Movie • 1958
القائد الإنجليزى
Maalesh Ya Zahar
Movie • 1950
محسن أفندي
El Nashal
Movie • 1963
Raqsat Al Wadah
Movie • 1954
Samara
Movie • 1956
Hassan, Morcos and Cohen
Movie • 1954
كوهين
My Heart is My Guide
Movie • 1947
الحنش زعيم العصابة
Kefaya ya Ein
Movie • 1956
لا تذكريني
Movie • 1961
اسماعيل
Anbar
Movie • 1948
Sousa Beh
April Fool
Movie • 1954
رستم
Shore of Love
Movie • 1950
أنا طبعي كده
Movie • 1938
د.رأفت
The Impostor
Movie • 1961
Monsieur Jacques
I Love you Hassan
Movie • 1958
رجب أبو حسن
Love and Youth
Movie • 1948
Midnight story
Movie • 1964
Shaker Bey
Abul Eyoun Garia
Movie • 1958
Dr. Robin von Stubb
Poor Millionaire
Movie • 1959
Hotel Manager
The King of Petrol
Movie • 1962
Abdul Muttal Bey
El Mazaher
Movie • 1945
Nabil Bey
Zuleikha loves Ashour
Movie • 1939
Ashab El Saadah
Movie • 1946
Antar Effendi
Movie • 1935
Wives killing association
Movie • 1962
خواجة مانولي
Eid Night
Movie • 1949
نبيه- عصابة
The Millionaire
Movie • 1950
Hymn of Hope
Movie • 1937
مراد
The Last Lie
Movie • 1950
Confused Hearts
Movie • 1956
Tamarind
Movie • 1957
رستم
No return
Movie • 1961
خيال إمراة
Movie • 1948
ابن عنتر
Movie • 1947
Tears of joy
Movie • 1950
أهل الهوى
Movie • 1955
اكرم ابو شامة(الثري اللبناني)
Zanuba
Movie • 1956
جنش
The Adventures of Antar and Abla
Movie • 1948