Veteran Syrian Actor Omar Hajjo Passes Away Leaving Rich Artistic Legacy

DAMASCUS- By the passing away of veteran Syrian actor Omar Hajjo, the Syrian artistic movement loses one of its pillars whose distinguished works have enriched the Syrian drama, theater and cinema over several decades.

Hajjo died of a heart attack yesterday morning at the age of 84 at the house of his son, director Al-Laith Hajjo. The funeral of the late actor was attended by many Syrian stars that came to bid farewell to their fellow artist.

Head of the Syria Artists’ Syndicate Zuheir Ramadan told SANA that Hajjo was an important artistic and educational figure and one of the founders of the Syrian artistic movement having a big role in establishing the Syrian theater and the artists’ syndicate and in implementing humanitarian, social and artistic activities.

“The demise of Hajjo is a big loss to the Syrian art, but his immortal works will continue, said Ramadan.

Abbas al-Nouri, another prominent Syria actor, stressed that “by the death of Omar Hajjo we miss a great artistic legacy. The late artist worked hard to develop the Syrian art and he was an example to be followed by others in terms of his love and loyalty to his homeland, colleagues and art.”

“He himself was an artistic school and a witness to a long rich eventful era,” Al-Nouri added.

On his part, veteran actor Salim Sabri said “Hajjo was one of the founders of the Syrian art and he was known of his commitment to work, his distinguished performance and his great ability to play different characters.”

Artist Mohammad Kheir al-Jarrah asserted the important position Hajjo was occupying in the Syrian art.

 “All who were close to him know how creative and how noble he was,” Al-Jarrah said, pointing out that he had the honor to work with Hajjo in theater and drama and that the late actor had played a big role in his being famous actor in Syria.  

Omar Hajjo was born in Aleppo in 1931. He was one of the Syrian pioneer artists and one of the founders of the Artists’ Syndicate in Syria. He started his artistic career with theatrical works in Aleppo then established his own theatrical band known as “The Popular Arts Band” after the tripartite aggression on Egypt in 1956.  The band presented several serious plays. He was the first to introduce the pantomime theater to the Arab world through presenting his play “Victory to Peoples” in Cairo in 1959 and in the presence of members of the Asian-African Congress.

 Hajjo also contributed to the foundation of the Syrian National Theater and the Syrian TV in the 1960s of last century. Years later, Hajjo had his first show “Maraya” (Mirros) presented at the Soviet Cultural Center in Damascus in 1969. This show was followed by many works that achieved great success in Syria and the Arab world and in which prominent Syrian stars like Dureid Lahham, Nuhad Qal’i, Rafic Sbei’i, Ziad Maolawi and others took part.

Hajjo also took part in outstanding plays presented by Actor Dureid Lahham and renowned Syrian writer Mohammad al-Maghout. His other important theatrical achievement was the establishment of the Mobile Theater in cooperation with prominent late playwright Sa’dalla Wannous and Director Ala’uddin Koukash.

In addition Hajjo also starred in many important Syria TV series which are unforgettable by the Syrians.

Hamda Mustafa