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Ghassan Massoud (Arabic: غسّان مسعود / ALA-LC: Ghassān Masʻūd; born September 20, 1958) is a Syrian actor and filmmaker. He is best known in the West for his role as Saladin in Ridley Scott's 2005 film Kingdom of Heaven.
Massoud is known in Syria for his appearance in many Syrian-made films, and for writing and directing the theatre play Diplomasiyyoun, and was part of the Syrian Ministry of Culture's National Theater's 2002 season. He has appeared in the Syrian television miniseries The Chant of Rain, and in Haytham Hakky's well-known work Memories of the Forthcoming Age, and on the Syrian stage was an actor in August Strindberg's Miss Julie. Most recently, he starred as the companion of Muhammad, Abu Bakr in MBC's series Omar.
Internationally, he is known for playing the role of Ayyubid sultan Saladin in Ridley Scott's 2005 film Kingdom of Heaven. He also played the "Sheikh" in the 2006 Turkish film Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak (Valley of the Wolves: Iraq), Ammand the Corsair in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.[1] and Ramesses II's Grand Vizier, Paser in Ridley Scott's 2014 Bible epic, Exodus. Massoud turned down a role in the 2005 film Syriana, claiming he feared the movie would be anti-Arab.[1] When refusing the position, Massoud also highlighted worries about the political climate of his nation and the surrounding area. After watching the finished picture, he stated he later regretted his choice.[2][3]
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Massoud was born in Fajlit, Duraykish District, Tartus Governorate, in Syria.[4]
He is married and has a son and a daughter. Massoud teaches drama at both the Damascus Music and Drama School and the Higher Institute for Dramatic Arts.
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | The Survivor | Shamoon | Arabic title: Al-mutabaqqī (المتبقي) |
| 2005 | Kingdom of Heaven | Saladin | |
| 2006 | Valley of the Wolves: Iraq | Sheikh Abdurrahman Halis Karkuki | Turkish title: Kurtlar Vadisi: Irak |
| 2006 | Dhilal al sammt | ||
| 2007 | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End | Captain Ammand | |
| 2007 | Juba | Al-Syeikh Suleiman Al-'Ābid | |
| 2008 | The Promise | Sahrawi | ِArabic title: Al-wa'd (الوعد) |
| 2009 | The Butterfly | Mevlevi Dede | Turkish title: Kelebek |
| 2014 | Exodus: Gods and Kings | Paser | |
| 2016 | Baron | Sulaymani | |
| 2017 | All the Money in the World | Arab Sheikh | |
| 2019 | Tomiris | Cyrus | Kazakh title: Томирис |
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Salah Al-deen Al-Ayyobi | Qadi al-Fadil | ِArabic title: Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn al-Ayyūb (صلاح الدين الأيوبي) |
| 2002 | Saqr Quraish | As-Sumayl ibn Hatim | ِArabic title: Saqr Quraish (صقر قريش) |
| 2003 | Al-Hajjaj | Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr | ِArabic title: al-Ḥajjāj (الحجاج) |
| 2005 | al-Zahir Baybars | As-Salih Ayyub | Arabic title: al-Ẓāhir Baybars (الظاهر بيبرس) |
| 2012 | Omar | Abu Bakr | ِArabic title: Umar (عمر) |
| 2024 | Mehmed: Sultan of Conquests | Abu Ayyub al-Ansari | |
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