Osman Ragheb, a multilingual Egyptian actor and dialogue coach, was born on May 11, 1926, in Nablus, Palestine, to a father of Egyptian and Turkish descent, and a mother of Austrian and Hungarian heritage. He is proficient in four languages: Arabic, French, English, and German.
Ragheb's early education took place at an English school in Alexandria, Egypt, where he developed a passion for drama. He later pursued chemistry at a university in London, concurrently participating in stage productions. After obtaining his diploma, he enrolled at RADA, dedicating himself to becoming a professional actor.
However, as a foreigner, Ragheb faced significant challenges in securing acting work in Britain. Around 1960, he relocated to Munich, Germany, where many American films were produced. Initially, he struggled to adapt to the local accent, having grown up speaking with an Austrian Vienna accent due to his mother's heritage. Eventually, he secured work, primarily in German television productions.
Ragheb's linguistic expertise also made him a sought-after dialogue coach for international productions. He worked on notable films such as Cabaret (1972),The Odessa File (1974),and Schindler's List (1993). Additionally, he often appeared in minor roles in films where he served as the dialogue coach.