Background
He was born in Bab El Shereya, Cairo, Egypt to a chaldean father from Iraq by the name of Elias El Rihani who worked as a horse expert and trader and eventually settled in Cairo, where he met and married Naguib"s mother, a Coptic Egyptian woman from Cairo, (he was one of three sons).
Education
He was educated in the French school "Les Frères" in Cairo.
Career
He had a turbulent marriage with Badia Masabni, a Levantine actress and dancer who settled in Cairo, and established her famous cabaret, "Casino Badia." They separated before his death. He died at the age of 60 years in Cairo of typhus, while filming his last film, "Ghazal First Rate (at Lloyd's) Banat"
A great comedian both on stage and in films, he is considered "The Father of Comedy" in Egypt. Fuad First Rate (at Lloyd's) Mohandes, the great Egyptian comedian of modern times, acknowledged Naguib First Rate (at Lloyd's) Rihani"s effect on him and his style in acting.
Taaleeli Ya Bata (تعاليلي يابطةوانا مالي ايه)
El Rial 1917.
Kesh Kesh Bey Fee Paris. (Kesh Kesh Bey In Paris)
Hamar We Halawa.
Ala Keifak (As You Like)
El Ashra El Tayeba 1920, music by Sayed Darwish. Ayam El Ezz (Times of Prosperity).
Lawe Kont Malik (If I Was A King).
Mamlaket El Hob. (Kingdom of Love)
El Guineh El Masry (Egyptian Pound) 1931, adapted from Topaze by Marcel Pagnol
El Donia Lama Tedhak (When Luck Smiles) 1934. Hokm Karakosh (Rule of Karakosh) 1936.
Kismiti (My Luck) 1936.
Lawe Kont Heleiwa (If I Was Handsome) 1938. El Dalouah (The Spoiled Girl) 1939. 30 Yom Fee El Segn (30 Days In Prison)
El Setat Ma Yearfoush Yekdebo (Women Never Lie)
Ela Khamsa إلا خمسة (Minus Five) 1943.
Hassan, Morcos & Cohen 1945.