Moin Akhtar was a man of many voices and talents. In the annals of Pakistani comedy, there was no one like him and it’s unlikely that there will be again.
Whether it was his stand-up act, hosting a show or the litany of impersonations he did, Moin carved himself a place in the hearts of Pakistanis for generations to come.
Moin started his career from TV a show in 1966 and it wasn’t long before he became the dynamic and versatile performer that millions know and miss today.
Starring in roles including Rozy, Dollar Man, 47, Half Plate, Family-93, Eid Train, Bandar Road Se Kemari, and Fifty/Fifty, Moin single handedly brought a brand of comedy to Pakistani audiences that had not been seen before.
Later with Anwar Maqsood as his scribe, the writer-comedian duo developed a professional chemistry along the same lines as John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
It was a true marriage of two geniuses and with Bushra Ansari joining ranks, their decades long friendship gave rise to a golden age of Pakistani comedy.
Moin performed on various TV shows with Anwar Maqsood, including Loose Talk, Studio Dhai and others
Fluent in several of the regions languages, Moin’s versatility had no bounds. His performance in the drama “Rozy,” an Urdu adaptation of the Dustin Hoffman classic, “Tootsie”, is one of the seminal characters in Pakistani television history.
In a talk-show namely Loose Talk, which began in 2005 he appeared as a different character in each and every of more than 400 episodes.
But there was more to Moin than his ability to lampoon politicians or his uncanny impersonations of public figures. Above all, those who knew him always spoke of his incredible generosity and grace as a human being.
Despite his fame, Moin never lost the sense of where he came from and where he belonged. He appreciated the small things in life and never missed an opportunity to help those he could.
His loss a year ago left a void in the heart of the country that is unlikely to be filled. But he’s left behind a body of work that is as timeless as the spirit which he embodied.
He performed not only in Pakistan but played in several stage shows like Bakra Qiston Pe and Buddha Ghar Pe Hai with Umer Sharif in India too.
He was awarded honorary citizenship of Dallas in 1996 for his achievements. He is also listed among Amazing Pakistanis of all time.
He died on 22 April 2011 at about 6:15pm in Karachi after suffering from a heart attack.
The world famous wax museum Madame Tussauds has expressed its wish to include a statue of Moin Akhtar in their London museum.
A true national treasure, Moin left us far too soon, but he left us with a gift that keeps on giving — Laughter.
