Famous Egyptian comedian Samir Ghanem dies aged 84 while battling COVID-19

Famous Egyptian comedian Samir Ghanem died aged 84 on Thursday after having contracted the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Egyptian media reported.

With a career spanning decades, Ghanem was renowned throughout the Middle East as an actor, singer and entertainer.

He and his wife, actress Dalal Abdel Aziz , tested positive for COVID-19 in April along with daughter Donia Samir Ghanem.

Donia’s husband, TV presenter Ramy Radwan, who had recovered from the virus back in December, announced that his in-laws were critically ill with COVID-19 and were admitted to a Cairo hospital late last month.

Media outlets broke the news on Thursday evening about Ghanem’s death from COVID-19, however his son-in-law actor Hassan al-Radad said on Twitter his death was not as a result of COVID-19.

No updates were available about his wife, Dalal’s medical condition.

Egypt’s Al-Ahram newspaper reported in April that Donia’s sister, Amy Samir Ghanem and her husband al-Radad had also been infected with the virus.