Cassim, voiced by John Rhys-Davies, is Aladdin's father, and the legendary King of Thieves.
Physical appearance[]
Cassim is an enormous man who appears to be in his late 40’s or possibly early 50's. He looks like an older Aladdin, but he has beard, another hairstyle and costume.
History[]
Aladdin and the King of Thieves[]
Cassim left his wife and newborn son in Agrabah almost twenty-two years ago to explore the world and pursue a better life for his family, not wanting to be looked down upon. Some time later, he fell in with the Forty Thieves, eventually becoming their leader (the "King of Thieves"), and incorporated a new law: never hurt the innocent.
At first, Cassim is seen in the film disguised as the King of Thieves, carrying out a plot to raid Aladdin and Jasmine's wedding. As soon as the ceremony starts, he gives the word for the other thirty-nine to distract the guards while he searches for the Oracle. The plan works, to an extent- Cassim is encountered by Aladdin, and the two of them fight, both unmindful of the fact that they’re father and son. He manages to get away, swearing to meet Aladdin again.
Later, Aladdin catches up to his father after learning he is "trapped in the world of the Forty Thieves", when Cassim utters the secret words to open the hideout of the Thieves ("Open Sesame"). He’s encountered by Sa'luk, a rival of his, about the failure of the raid in Agrabah, and Sa'luk is about to crucify him when Aladdin butts in. Aladdin reveals that he is his son, and this is proved when the dagger slips out of his cloak. Cassim tells them this is true. Nevertheless, since he found the location of their hideout, he must die- or face the challenge in a battle for his life against Sa'luk, which Aladdin narrowly succeeds at.
After the challenge, Cassim shows Aladdin a secret chamber, and Aladdin offers an invitation to his wedding, which Cassim is hesitant about in the first place, but upon hearing Iago that he’ll lead Cassim to where the Oracle is if he takes part of Aladdin's wedding, he accepts it. Cassim easily bonds with Genie, the Sultan and Jasmine (after a change of clothes and dealing with some of Genie's antics) but he becomes too obsessed with the pull of the treasure to enjoy the time with his son too much as well. Nonetheless, as he attempts to take the Oracle, Cassim promises Iago he’ll go straight to attend the wedding after it, but they are caught by Razoul and the Palace Guards, who have been tipped off by Sa'luk. He is sentenced to life in prison along with 31 thieves that have been captured during Razoul's raid of the hideout. But later on that night, Aladdin, disguised as himself in his King of Thieves clothes, helps him get away.
Once out of Agrabah, Cassim and Iago go back to the Thieves’s lair. Upon arriving, they find that Sa'luk manipulated the remaining thieves into believing that Cassim sold them out and follow Sa'luk as their new leader now, despite the fact the imprisoned 31 thieves know that it was Sa'luk who sold them out, not Cassim. Being held hostage with Iago, he’s forced to use the Oracle to lead them to the Vanishing Isle, while he secretly tells Iago to get away to warn Aladdin. As the Thieves reached the Isle by ship, Cassim is rescued by Aladdin, who knocks Sa'luk unconscious, and they venture into the Vanishing Isle to obtain the hand of Midas. They succeed, but Sa'luk quickly follows, taking Aladdin hostage, threatening Cassim that he’ll crucify Aladdin unless he hands over the Hand of Midas. Cassim, realizing that Sa'luk has been a stingy thief, concurs and tosses the hand to Sa'luk who catches it by the hand instead of the handle, turning him into a golden statue and falls into the chamber filled with water.
Then Cassim and Aladdin get out of the Isle. He throws the Hand of Midas into the sea realizing that he has not lost his ultimate treasure: his son, and apologizes for taking so long to realize it. Cassim attends Aladdin and Jasmine's wedding later, watching from the shadows, as he is still a wanted man for his past crimes. He accepts Iago, who feels he no longer has a place with Aladdin and the others as they prepare for a new life of responsibility, as a traveling companion, and goes off to venture the world. As the film ends, Cassim is seen with Iago waving farewell to his son and daughter-in-law before the two of them ride off to the night at last.
Other Appearances[]
A Whole New World: A Twisted Tale[]
In this darker retelling of the first film, Cassim is mentioned by name in Aladdin's backstory of his parents which follows what is known in Aladdin and the King of Thieves, however instead of giving Aladdin a dagger, he instead gives him Abu in this continuity.
Aladdin (2019 film)[]
When Jasmine asks Aladdin about his parents, he makes it clear that his mother is dead, but after being asked about his father, Aladdin responds that he lost both of his parents long ago, making it ambiguous as to whether or not Aladdin's father is alive in the continuity of the remake.
Trivia[]
- Sean Connery was intended to voice Cassim, but he declined.
- He originally first appeared in the Aladdin comics, but he was called Hamid due to his name not being established yet.
- In the original tale of Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp, Aladdin's father was a tailor named Mustapha. He died when Aladdin was 10 years old, leaving Aladdin to be raised by his mother.
- Cassim is similar to Pterano from The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire.
- Both are family of protagonists. (Cassim: Aladdin, Pterano: Petrie)
- Both have henchmen, but less sinister and redeemed themselves.