Tuncel Kurtiz

Tuncel Kurtiz — Biography

Tuncel Kurtiz, whose birth name was Tuncel Tayanç, was born on 1 February 1936 in Bilecik and died on 27 September 2013 in Istanbul. He began performing on stage in the early 1960s before moving into film, and from 1964 onward he appeared in more than seventy movies while also working as a director, screenwriter and producer. He collaborated with director Yılmaz Güney on films such as Umut, Duvar and Hudutların Kanunu, and became especially well known for his role in Sürü. His career extended beyond Turkey, including roles in several German and French productions. In the 1990s he remained active in cinema with films like Tabutta Rövaşata and İstanbul Kanatlarımın Altında, and in the 2000s he reached wide television audiences through popular series such as Ezel and Muhteşem Yüzyıl. His contribution to Turkish cinema was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival.