Tarık Akan ( Born as Tarık Tahsin Üregül in 13 December 1949, Istanbul, Turkey ) is a Turkish film actor and producer who has been active since the 1970s. Tarık Akan was born as Tarık Üregül in Istanbul in 1949. His family was constantly moving around Turkey due to his father’s occupation in the military. Before he started his acting career he worked as a lifeguard at beaches and at a boat renting place. He received a degree in mechanical engineering at Yıldız Technical University. He entered a contest of a famous magazine called Ses (“Voice”) and ended up runner up. He studied acting under the eye of famous Turkish film director Ertem Eğilmez.
He made his film debut in 1970 at the age of 21 in Vefasız. At first, most of his roles were in romantic comedies. Later in his career, he has taken on more political and dramatic roles. He has acted in a total of 110 films to date and has won numerous awards from various festivals including Cannes and Berlin. He won an Honourable Mention at the 35th Berlin International Film Festival for his role in Pehlivan.
He has also directed several productions such as documentaries and serials for television. In 2002, he published his first book “Anne Kafamda Bit Var”, a biography of his life. He has three children from his marriage with Yasemin Erkut – two sons and one daughter.
In 1991 he opened his own school in Bakırköy, Özel Taş İlköğretim Okulu.
Artwork by Engin Şahin… Thanks for his contribution
