Qabbani’s death ‘a great loss’ to local, Arab art scene

AMMAN — Renowned Jordanian actor Mohammad Qabbani died on Sunday at the age of 68 leaving, according to his colleagues, a “large vacuum” in the country’s cultural scene.

Born in 1947 in Jerusalem, Qabbani died at the King Hussein Cancer Centre after a battle with lung cancer.

The father of five studied law at Mohammed V University in Rabat and began his career in 1972. He was one of the founders of the Jordanian theatre actors association, which has developed into the Jordanian Artists Association (JAA).

In remarks to The Jordan Times, JAA President Sari Asaad described Qabbani, who was laid to rest in Amman’s Sahab cemetery, as a “disciplined and established” Jordanian actor with a prolific legacy locally, regionally and internationally.

“He contributed with his qualitative additions to Jordanian and Arab drama,” Asaad said, speaking from the Qabbani family condolence house.

Qabbani, a theatre and screen actor, had a message to deliver, he added. 

“None of his works were purely domestic but had profound themes at the heart of Arab and human suffering.”

“Qabbani was a poet too. The themes of his finest poems tackle the suffering of Jordanian actors,” Asaad said.

In a statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the Ministry of Culture said the late actor was among the pioneers of Jordan’s artistic movement, contributing to its growth.

His death is a loss to the Arab and local art scene, the ministry added, noting that he leaves behind a legacy of creativity.