Akan, one of the sought-after actors of romantic films in Yeşilçam, changed his acting style by taking part in productions with social and political content in the later years of his career. In his 45-year artistic life, which started in 1971 and continued until his death in 2016, he made many films, ranging from "Hababam Class" to "Mine", "Sürü" and "Road".
Tarık Akan, whose real name is Tahsin Tarık Üregül, was born in Istanbul with the date of birth stated as 13 October 1949 in some sources and 13 December 1949 in some sources.
Akan, who spent part of his childhood and education years in Erzurum and Kayseri due to the duty of his father Yaşar Üregül, who was an officer, later settled in Bakırköy district of Istanbul with his family.
Akan, who studied at Yıldız Technical University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, later left this department and entered Istanbul University, School of Journalism.
Akan, who worked in different jobs during his student years, worked as a lifeguard and soda seller at Ataköy Beach, rented boats and dealt with peddling.
He stepped into cinema with the competition of "Ses" magazine.
Akan's transition to cinema took place in 1970 with the "Cinema Artist Competition" organized by "Ses" magazine. Akan, who participated in the competition with the guidance of his close friend Zeki İrfanoğlu, gained recognition by being selected as the winner of the competition.
Describing those days in a television program, Akan said that when he first became known, he knocked on the doors of producers in Yeşilçam, many producers turned their noses up at him, and one producer said, "You are too tall. That's why you cannot be an artist." He quoted him as saying.
However, the negative responses he received did not keep Akan away from the cinema. Continuing her negotiations for an acting career, the artist soon became one of the most sought-after actors in romantic films and took part in many productions in the 1970s.
The artist, who stepped into the cinema for the first time with director Mehmet Dinler's 1971 film "Solan Bir Yaprak Gibi", started to use the name "Tarık Akan" with this production. In the same year, he shared the leading role with Filiz Akın in the movie "Emine". He quickly became famous with his tall height, green eyes and sympathetic appearance.
Akan, who took part in romantic comedy and drama films, especially in the 1970s, quickly reached a wide audience. The artist, who took part in productions such as "Canım Kardeşim", "Sev Kardeşim", "Mavi Boncuk", "Ah Nerede" and "Gece Kuşu Zehra", also gained a place in memories with the character of "Damat Ferit" in the movie "Hababam Class" directed by Ertem Eğilmez.
Between 1970 and 1975, Akan took part in approximately 12 films a year with an intense work tempo. The artist, who was known as the "postcard boy" during this period, became one of the most popular male actors of Yeşilçam.
From romantic young identity to social films
The most important change in Tarık Akan's career occurred in the second half of the 1970s. The artist, who turned to a different line in his acting, began to take part not only in commercial films but also in productions dealing with social issues.
During this period, Akan, who starred in films such as "River", "Mine", "Sürü", "Kanal" and "Road", was among the prominent actors of social realist cinema. In particular, the 1982 production "Yol", directed by Şerif Gören and Yılmaz Güney and whose script was written by Güney, became one of the important productions of the actor's career. The film was among the productions that won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1982.
The change in Akan's acting career marked a period in which his view of cinema also changed. The artist, who was previously known for romantic characters, portrayed different characters in films about the working class, social problems and political atmosphere in the following years.
He crowned his acting career with awards
Tarık Akan was deemed worthy of many awards throughout his acting career. The artist, who won the "Best Actor" award at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival with his performance in the movie "Suçlu", also starred in the movies "Maden" in 1978, "Adak" and "Sürü" in 1980, "Pehlivan" in 1984, "Third Eye" in 1989, "Karatma Geceleri" in 1990 and "Gülüm" in 2003. He also received awards for his roles, becoming the only male actor to win the Golden Orange award 7 times.
The artist received an honorable mention at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1985, the "Best Actor" at the Adana Golden Boll Film Festival in 1992, the "Lifetime Honor Award" at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival in 1996, the "Honor Award" from the Cinema Writers Association in 2006, and the "Cinema Labor Award" from the Contemporary Cinema Actors Association in 2007.
He wrote about his prison days in the book "Mom, I Have Lice in My Head"
The master artist was arrested on his return to Türkiye in early 1981, following the military coup of September 12, 1980, because of a speech he gave in Germany. Akan, who was tried with a request for 12 years in prison, was acquitted after spending 2.5 months in solitary confinement.
Akan, who is also interested in writing and producing as well as acting, wrote about his prison days and the coup process in his book "Anne Kafamda Bit Var" published in 2002.
Akan also voiced the documentary "Antika Talanı", which he made with director Yusuf Kurçenli in 1997. The artist, who also made a documentary called "The Secret of the Stones" for television channels, tried to draw attention to the ancient history in Türkiye.
The artist also directed the documentaries "Atatürk's Flame Flowers" and "The Sculptor of Light" about Nazım Hikmet, as well as the productions "Footprints of the Romans in Anatolia", "Aphrodisias" and "Sarcophagi of Perge" on behalf of the Nazım Hikmet Culture and Art Foundation.
In addition to his artistic life, Tarık Akan also stood out with his work in the field of education. In 1991, he became one of the partners of the primary school called Taş Mektep in Bakırköy. Akan, who continued his educational activities as one of the important areas of his life, also assumed the presidency of the Nesin Foundation in the following years.
He has packed unforgettable films into his 45-year career.
Akan continued his work in cinema until the last years of his life. "Vizontele Tuuba", "Gülüm", "Abdülhamid Falling" and "Deli Deli Olma" were among the artist's later productions.
Among the films and TV series in which Tarık Akan has appeared in his 45-year career intertwined with art are:
"Beyoğlu Beauty", "Leyla and Mecnun", "The Most Beautiful of Loves", "My Soft-Speaking", "My Lying Half", "Baby Face", "Esir Hayat", "My Homeland", "You Are Crazy", "The Hababam Class Failed", "House Game", "The Playful Thief", "Firefly", "When Destiny Binds", "Love Is Not a Word", "Father's Sons", "Word of Honor", "Any Woman", "My Friend", "Lost Girls", "Stamp", "A Fistful of Heaven", "Blood", "Shattered", "Adam and Eve", "Ringed Slave", "Back Side of Beyoğlu", "Wheel", "Scandal", "Identity", "Double Games", "A Little Cloud", "Death of Giants", "A Misogynist", "The Passenger", "Dissolutions", "Everything Unsaid About Love", "My Coach" and "Ahh Istanbul".
The master actor, who had three children named Barış Zeki, Yaşar Özgür and Özlem, passed away at the age of 66 in the hospital where he was treated for lung cancer on September 16, 2016.
