Kal Abol Naga, also known as Khaled Abol Naga, is a multi-award-winning actor, producer, and director from Egypt, with a presence in the USA and Europe. He is a well-established actor in the Middle East and one of the top talents of his generation, with a diverse range of work spanning film, television, theatre, radio, and television hosting.
As an actor, Naga has won numerous Best Actor Awards from Egypt, the Middle East, European, and international film festivals since 2001. His critically acclaimed portrayal of a terminally ill older man, Hussein, in "Villa 69" earned him a historic sweep of all major Best Actor Awards in his home country Egypt in 2014. He also won the Silver Pyramid Award at the Cairo International Film Festival for his lead role in the Palestinian Oscar submission "Eyes of a Thief".
Naga's English-speaking work gained momentum after he moved to California in 2017, where he appeared in main roles in TV shows such as "Tyrant" and "The Last Post", as well as a guest star appearance in the History Channel's "Vikings".
In 2016, Naga was honored for being the most submitted actor from the MENA region in film submissions to the Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film. He has been tagged as Egypt's "Brad Pitt" and "Omar Sharif" for his career similarities, and as Egypt's "International Treasure" for his multiple talents and advocacy for freedom and justice in his home country.
Naga's career in the Middle East began in TV networks as a TV and radio host in prime-time shows as early as 2000. He is famous for his unexpected yet smart choices of scripts and roles, creating a diverse filmography with wide acclaim from critics and audiences throughout the Arab and international film societies.
As a producer, Naga has co-produced several films, including "Heliopolis" and "Microphone", which have premiered at numerous festivals. He founded "iTeam Cairo" agency to help indie filmmakers.
Naga is also known for his social and human rights advocacy, and has been an outspoken icon promoting social justice, freedom, and democratic change in the Arab world. He played a pivotal role in supporting the Egyptian Revolution in 2011 and was appointed as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in Egypt from 2007 to 2015.
Naga's American debut was in the 2006 film "Civic Duty", and he has since appeared in numerous films in his native Egypt. His early career began with his first major public appearance as a TV late-night show host in 1999, followed by his studies in Tele-communication Engineering and his passion for acting and singing at the Theatre Department of The American University in Cairo.
Throughout his career, Naga has had an exchange of hobbies and professions, including playing water polo, spacecraft research, fashion modeling, and photography. He left his hosting job at Nile Variety Channel in 2000 to join MBC TV Network in 2001.
