Syrian actor known for role in Arab ‘Sesame Street’ dies at 70
Al Asha gained popularity in Gulf countries for Arabic adaptation of ‘Sesame Street’
Veteran Syrian actor Tawfiq Al Asha died in Damascus yesterday, aged 70. He was known in the Arab Gulf for his role in the comedy show Maraya, and as Malsoun the Bird in the Arab adaptation of Sesame Street, called Iftah Ya Simsim.
An educational show that remained imprinted in the memories of generations of Arabs, it was the first joint production in the Arab World, carried by the GCC one year after its creation.
Al Asha was born into a prominent Damascene family in 1948. He started acting at the age of 13, two years after Syrian Television was created.
After a low-profile career on the Syrian stage, he was contracted to join a pan-Arab cast for Iftah Ya Simsim in 1979, produced by the Joint Programme Association of the Gulf.
The show, which was an immense success throughout the Arab world, came in response to low preschool attendance in the Arab region. The Arabic rights for Sesame Street were purchased from its American producers for $1.6 million (Dh5.88 million). It aired in 22 Arab countries.
Malsoun and another character, Nouman, were additions to the Arabic series, not found in the American one. All studio scenes were shot in Kuwait while outside ones were filmed throughout the Arab world. Season I of Iftah Ya Simsim, which had a total of 95 episodes, started in 1979, and due to its success, was followed by a second season in 1982, with 82 episodes.
Overnight star
The show transformed Al Asha into an overnight star in Syria and throughout the Arab world; he got a prominent and permanent role in the Syrian ■ comedy series Maraya, staring alongside Yasser Al Azmeh. When GCC producers started working on the third season of Iftah Ya Simsim, he declined to join, giving the character of ‘Malsoun’ to Kuwaiti comedian Tarek Al Ali.
The third season was not as successful as the first two, interrupted by the 1990 invasion of Kuwait, which forced the censorship of many scenes due to the presence of Iraqi actors. A fourth season was produced by the Abu Dhabi Educational Council and the Arab Bureau of Education, in 2015. Al Asha declined to join as he was suffering from what his family described as “chronic health problems.” His last television appearance was in the 2005 season of Maraya.