At dawn today, Tuesday, June 16, 2026, the able artist and director Osama El-Sayed Youssef passed away from the Syrian artistic scene at the age of 65, after a career that spanned more than four decades in theater and drama.
The Syndicate mourned the late artists, recalling his creative presence and continuous giving, which left a clear imprint on the Syrian artistic memory.
The Syndicate's statement said that it mourns the deceased with great sadness and sorrow, describing him as "a capable, kind, and moral fellow artist", and extends its warmest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues in the artistic community, wishing them patience and solace and mercy and forgiveness for the deceased.
The Syndicate explained that the dates of the funeral, burial and condolence councils will be announced later, after completing the family and legal arrangements, stressing that it will provide the public and the artistic community with details as soon as they become available.
Who is Osama Elsayed Youssef?
Youssef was born in Idlib province, before making his academic career at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Damascus, graduating in the class of 1982, and since his beginnings, he combined acting and artistic management, to later manage the Aleppo National Theater between 2003 and 2016, and lead the organization of a number of prominent Syrian festivals, including the International Youth Festival for Theater Troupes in Idlib and Aleppo, the Festival of Love in Tartous, the Latakia Festival, in addition to several editions of the Damascus International Festival.
In television dramas, the late presenter presented works that established his presence among the audience, moving between the historical, the Levantine environment and the social drama.
His most prominent participations include: Al-Nadam, Talaa Al-Fadla, Rafa Ain, Khan Al-Harir, Biography of Al-Jalali, Salah Al-Din Al-Ayoubi, Brocar, Bab Al-Hara 13, and Taj (2024). He has also continued his activity in his later years through recent works such as The City Kitchen, September Breezes, and Going Out to the Well (2025–2026).
With the departure of Osama El-Sayed Youssef, the artistic community is losing one of its quiet pillars that worked silently and contributed so much to theater and drama, leaving a professional legacy that tells the story of an entire generation of Syrian artists.
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