Okan Bayülgen

Okan Bayülgen — Biography

Born Kaan Okan Görgün in Istanbul's Cihangir neighborhood on 23 March 1964, Okan Bayülgen graduated from Mimar Sinan University's State Conservatory and became the youngest director on the State Theatres' staff. He entered radio at Kent FM in 1991, and from the mid-1990s became a well-known television figure through sharp-tongued late-night talk shows such as Gece Kuşu, Televizyon Çocuğu and Zaga.

After his role in the 1996 film İstanbul Kanatlarımın Altında, he was shot in the leg by a viewer offended by the film; the following year his performance in Ağır Roman won him the Sadri Alışık Best Actor award. He also appeared in films including Komser Şekspir, Hemşo, Gülüm, Sınav, Romantik and Kanal-İ-zasyon, and the series Utanmaz Adam; he founded and directed at his own Dada Theatre, and has mounted photography exhibitions.

In 2026 he continues performing in Turkey and Cyprus in the play "Devlerin Savaşı" alongside Celal Kadri Kınoğlu.