He began his professional acting career in the early 1960s, joining a television troupe and performing in stage plays such as Ana wa Howa wa Heya and Al Nassabin. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Imam gained widespread popularity through iconic stage roles in Madrassat Al Mashaghbeen, Shahid Ma Shafsh Haga, and Al Wad Sayed Al Shaghal.

Imam has appeared in over 100 films and numerous television series and plays, often blending comedy with social and political themes. Notable film roles include The Terrorist (1994), Al Zaeem (1993), and The Yacoubian Building (2006), the latter of which became one of the most prominent films in modern Egyptian cinema.

In 2000, he was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), recognizing his influence and humanitarian efforts.