Ercan Kesal

Ercan Kesal — Biography

Ercan Kesal was born on 12 September 1959 in Avanos, Nevşehir. After graduating from Ege University's medical school in 1984, he practised medicine at Keskin State Hospital and at clinics in and around Balâ; he later earned a master's degree in applied psychology and a doctorate in social anthropology. As a student he published his first poems and writings in the İzmir-based magazine Dönem.

Kesal began acting in 2002 with a role in Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Uzak, and went on to appear in films such as Üç Maymun, Vavien, Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da, Küf, Hükümet Kadın, Yozgat Blues, Sen Aydınlatırsın Geceyi and Bulantı. He co-wrote the screenplay of Bir Zamanlar Anadolu'da with Ebru and Nuri Bilge Ceylan, which was nominated for best screenplay at the 2011 Asia Pacific Screen Awards. He later wrote, directed and starred in Nasipse Adayız, adapted from his own book.

On television he appeared in Kayıp Şehir and İçerde, and became widely known as İdris Koçovalı in Çukur. Alongside acting he has published books including Peri Gazozu, Evvel Zaman, Cin Aynası and Aslında... . He is married to actress Nazan Kesal.