One of Egypt’s most celebrated comedians and actors, Samir Ghanem, has died aged 84 from Covid-19 complications.

Since the 1960s, he has been famous across the Arab world for his many performances in theatre productions, television series and films.

Ghanem was admitted to hospital in late April in the capital, Cairo, and died on Thursday.

His wife Dalal Abdel Aziz, an actress, is still in hospital being treated for Covid-19, according to local media reports.

The comedian has left two daughters, Donia Samir Ghanem and Amy Samir Ghanem, who are also popular actresses.

Egypt’s Culture Minister Ines Abdel Dayem is quoted as saying that the whole Arab world had lost a comic icon who had won over “the hearts of the public over the decades” with his many works filled with “comedy and joy”.