Nabil Mashini, an actor and former senator from Jordan, has died at the age of 79.

Mashini was born in 1939 in Jerusalem to an artistic family, and began his career in media, working as an anchor at the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation. He then became a member of the Jordanian Senate in 2003.

His acting career is perhaps what he's best known for, however, as it spanned more than 45 years, with Mashini taking on roles in several television, radio and theatre shows. His most famous roles were in Bedouin TV drama series, including Ras Ghlais, Wadha Wa Bin Ajlan and Nimer Bin Adwan, as well as the local series Haret Abu Awad, and a number of theatrical works. He also headed the Jordanian Artists Association, and was known for presenting social causes in a critical way while working in the media.

After he passed away at an Amman hospital on Saturday, March 2, tributes flowed in on social media from fellow Jordanians. Bisher Al-Khasawneh, Ambassador of Jordan to France and Unesco, wrote: "With the death of our towering Jordanian actor Nabil Mashini, Jordan and Jordanian drama lost an exceptionally talented and commanding figure, who along with a generation of his contemporary actors, contributed to transforming Jordanian drama."

With the death of our towering Jordanian actor Nabil Mashini, Jordan and Jordanian drama lost an exceptionally talented and commanding figure, who along with a generation of his contemporary actors, contributed to transforming Jordanian drama. Condolences to his family&friends pic.twitter.com/79HblQpBJK — Bisher Al-Khasawneh (@BisherKh) March 2, 2019

Nabil Mashini’s death is a great loss to all of us who laughed and felt happy,from the great performance of Abu Awad May God engulf him with his grace and forgiveness.رحيل الفنان العربي الأردني الكبير نبيل المشيني يعتبر خسارة لكل من ضحك وشعر بالسعادة من اداء ابو عواد رحمه الله https://t.co/nUw0YxIqsV — Dr. Saeb Erakat الدكتور صائب عريقات (@ErakatSaeb) March 2, 2019