Ismael Kanater obit

The artist Abu Al-Qanater died in America

 

He was not on the list.

The esteemed Moroccan artist Ismail Abu Al-Qanater passed away today, Friday, in the United States of America, at the age of 69, after suffering from a health condition during the last few months, before his condition deteriorated in recent days, giving up his soul in the land of exile, where he had settled for many years.

A group of Moroccan artists and producers mourned the deceased on their social media pages, recalling his noble human qualities and calm spirit, and praising his great talent that he demonstrated in an artistic career that spanned decades, considering his passing a loss to the Moroccan artistic scene and to a creative experience that was able to carry national talent to international spaces.

The late Abu al-Qanater is one of the artistic figures who left a special mark between Morocco and America. His experience began in the theaters of Casablanca, where he received his initial training and accumulated his first experiences, before he traveled to the United States in the seventies of the last century to pursue his studies in the arts of cinema and acting, driven by an old dream to expand his artistic horizons.

The deceased worked with prominent theatrical figures, including Tayeb Saddiki, and participated in a number of well-known American series and Moroccan and foreign cinematic works. He remained present with his creativity between the stage and the camera, carrying the Moroccan experience to global horizons, and dedicating a path that combined artistic ambition with the constant search for excellence.

Ismael Kanater was born in Casablanca, Morocco. A Drama graduate from the Casablanca Conservatory of Drama and dance and a Film-Making graduate from Rhode Island School of Design. Mr. Kanater is also a stage writer/director notably at the prestigious Off Broadway theater La Mama E.T.C and most recently at the Washington Shakespeare Theatre Company the creation with the ensemble and the South African writer/director Yael Farber a new take on Salome .

Actor

Down by the Water

The Mysterious Man (as Ismail Kanater)

Pre-production

 

Autisto (2025)

Autisto

Mahmoud

2025

 

Mounia Lamkimel, Oussama Bastaoui, Fatima Zahra Bennacer, Rabie Kati, Mourad Zaoui, Meryem Zaimi, Kamal Kadimi, and Salwa Zarhane in Ala Ghafla (2025)

Ala Ghafla

5.7

TV Series

Hakam

2025

 

The Last Supper (2025)

The Last Supper

5.2

Grandfather Ezequiel

2025

 

The Slave (2022)

The Slave

Alhaj Ben Omar

2022

 

Ralph Fiennes and Jessica Chastain in The Forgiven (2021)

The Forgiven

6.1

Abdellah Taheri

2021

 

Yto (2018)

Yto

Short

HAy Britel

2018

 

Fatima Herandi Raouya, Leila Hadioui, Fatima Bouchain, Souad Hassan, Mina Touraf, and Mohamed Bousfiha in The Pilgrims (2017)

The Pilgrims

7.1

Lkhamamsi

2017

 

Tears of Satan (2016)

Tears of Satan

7.4

Le Colonel

2016

 

Ghoul (2016)

Ghoul

5.1

TV Series

2016

4 episodes

 

Tut (2015)

Tut

7.0

TV Mini Series

Priest of Sobek (as Sam Kanater)

2015

3 episodes

 

Nicole Kidman in Queen of the Desert (2015)

Queen of the Desert

5.7

Hayil Gate Keeper (as Sam Kanater)

2015

 

Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Honorable Woman (2014)

The Honorable Woman

7.9

TV Mini Series

Palestinian Authoriy Senior Education Minister (as Sam Kanater)

2014

1 episode

 

Adam Rayner, Ashraf Barhom, and Moran Atias in Tyrant (2014)

Tyrant

7.7

TV Series

Doctor (as Sam Kanater)

2014

1 episode

 

Femme écrite (2011)

Femme écrite

4.9

Naim (as Ismail Kanater)

2011

 

The End (2011)

The End

7.8

Daoud (as Ismail Kanater)

2011

 

Terminus des anges (2010)

Terminus des anges

7.0

Mr. Jabra (as Ismail Kanater)

2010

 

Courte vie (2010)

Courte vie

6.8

Short

Pre De Zhar (as Ismail Kanater)

2010

 

David & Fatima (2008)

David & Fatima

4.4

Imam (as Ismail Kanater)

2008

 

Kiefer Sutherland, Reiko Aylesworth, Carlos Bernard, Jude Ciccolella, Glenn Morshower, and Mary Lynn Rajskub in 24 (2001)

24

8.4

TV Series

General Mohmar Habib (as Sam Kanater)

2007

1 episode

 

Oded Fehr and Michael Ealy in Sleeper Cell (2005)

Sleeper Cell

7.9

TV Series

Yemeni Imam (as Ismail Kanater)

2006

1 episode

 

Beyond the Fence

7.5

Short

Old Farmer (as Ismail Kanater)

2006

 

Stay Awake

7.3

Short

Gregor (as Ismail Kanater)

2006

 

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo (2005)

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo

7.2

Video Game

Al-Kamil SarwatAdditional Morocco AO Voices (as Ismail Kanater)

2005

 

SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs (2005)

SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs

7.2

Video Game

Al-Kamil SarwatAdditional Morocco AO Voices (as Ismail Kanater)

2005

 

Nicki Aycox, Lizette Carrion, Keith D. Robinson, and Josh Henderson in Over There (2005)

Over There

7.8

TV Series

Iraqi father (as Ismail Abou-el Kanater)

2005

1 episode

 

Stephanie Vogt in Fear Within (2004)

Fear Within

8.5

Short

Cab Driver (as Ismail Kanater)

2004

 

Jennifer Garner in Alias (2001)

Alias

7.6

TV Series

Contact (as Ismail Abou-El-Kanater)

2004

1 episode

 

Out for Blood (2004)

Out for Blood

4.1

Video

Vampire Leader (as Ismail Kanater)

2004

 

Passage

8.0

Short

Driver (as Sam Kanater)

2003

 

Bruce Boxleitner, Mira Furlan, Richard Biggs, Jerry Doyle, and Andreas Katsulas in Babylon 5 (1993)

Babylon 5

8.4

TV Series

Brakiri Salesman (as Ismail Kanater)

1998

1 episode

 

Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man (1994)

Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man

7.7

TV Series

(voice, as Ismail Kanater)

1996

1 episode

 

Production Department

New

Sex Appeal (1986)

Sex Appeal

4.3

production assistant (as Ismial Kanater)

1986