Syrian actor Issam Al-Sayed Yousef dies at 65

DAMASCUS, Syria — The Syrian Artists Syndicate announced the death of Issam Al-Sayed Yousef at the age of 65. The syndicate did not immediately disclose the cause of death or date of his passing. Born in the Syrian city of Idlib, Yousef graduated from the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in 1982 and built a career in theater and television. He served as director of the National Theater in Aleppo from 2003 to 2016 and presided over multiple editions of the Youth Theater Festival and the Muhabbet Festival. His notable works include the series "Al-Nadam" (2016), "Tali' Fedda" (2011) and "Khan Al-Harir." He collaborated with Syrian directors including Hatem Ali, Haysam Haqqi and Mamoun Al-Banii, appearing in productions ranging from historical roles and dramas reflecting Damascene society to contemporary social drama. His filmography also includes documentary-style works such as "Sireet Aal Al-Jilali" and "Salahuddin Al-Ayyubi," as well as the second part of "Ahlu Al-Raya" and "Broukar." More recently, Yousef appeared in the 2024 series "The Crown" and in productions released in 2025 and 2026, including "Matbakh Al-Madina," "Nasamat Ayloul" and "Al-Khuruj Ila Al-Bi'r," a series depicting the hardships of detainees in Sednaya Prison. He also featured in comedy and entertainment titles such as "Mart Ammo Ma Hadan Gharib" and "Tarra Wala Naqsh."