Emirati actor dies after long illness

Ramona Ruiz

• Last Updated: June 21. 2008 8:03PM UAE / June 21. 2008 4:03PM GMT

Mohammed al Janahi, the renowned Emirati stage and movie actor, died on Friday after a lengthy battle with a disease, according to WAM, the government news agency.

His body was flown to Abu Dhabi today from Singapore, where he was receiving treatment for the illness.

His funeral will take place tomorrow in Abu Dhabi.

Janahi worked with Tom Hanks in Charlie Wilson's War as the assistant leadman in the art department. The film, released in 2007, was based on a true story about Charlie Wilson, the Texas congressman played by Hanks, in his efforts to help the Mujahideen (Afghan freedom fighters) defeat the Soviet Union. In his travels, he formed unlikely alliances with Pakistanis, Israelis, Egyptians, arms dealers, lawmakers and a belly dancer, according to Hollywood.com.

Janahi played the role of of Moubarak in the film Sands of Eden. The movie, which starred Randy Quaid, Christian Brendel and Rose-Marie LaVaullee, told the story of an Englishman who grew up in Arabia with his archaeologist father and returned after 25 years to uncover the mystery of his father's death. It was released in 1998.

rruiz@thenational.ae