Damascus, Syria - Syria's state run news agency says comedian Mahmoud Jabr has died of a heart attack. He was 73.

The Syrian Arab News Agency and Jabr's brother, Naji, says the comedian had been suffering heart problems for some time and was taken to hospital twice last week.

Naji Jabr tells SANA that his brother's health deteriorated Sunday morning and he passed away later that day.

Mahmoud Jabr started his career on stage in the 1960s and founded his own comedy group. He acted in many Syrian plays such as "Heroes of our Homeland" and "Out of Paradise" and appeared in several Syrian movies.

Jabr is survived by his wife, actress Haifa Wasef, a son and two daughters. He will be buried Monday in Damascus.