Fikret Hakan

Biography

Fikret Hakan (born Bumin Gaffar Çitanak; 23 April 1934 – 11 July 2017) was a prolific Turkish film actor and a recipient of the honorary State Artist, a title awarded by the Turkish government.

Hakan was born as Bumin Gaffar Çitanak in 1934 to Gaffar and Fatma Belkıs. His mother was a head nurse while his father was a literature teacher. He moved along with his parents as a teenager from Balikesir to Istanbul, and enrolled in Galatasaray High School.[3]

Hakan began his artistic career in 1950 as an actor for the Ses Theatre and a contributor to literary magazines.

Making his debut in Evli mi bekar mi, a short comedy directed by Muhsin Ertugrul in 1951, and his feature film debut in 1953 in Köprüalti Çocuklari (Kids Under the Bridge), he has made over 170 appearances in film to date, although his career was at its most productive throughout the 1950s and 1960s through to 1976.

He starred in films such as Revenge of the Snakes (Yılanların öcü) in 1962. Hakan appeared as Colonel Ahmed Elçi along with Tony Curtis and Charles Bronson in the 1970-mpvie You Can't Win 'Em All directed by Peter Collinson.[4]

Hakan made four marriages. His spouses were Lale Sarı, Semiramis Pekkan, Neşecan Paşmak and Hümeyra. He had an extramarital daughter Elif Hakan.[5] Lately, he had a life partner Tijen Kılıç.[6] He died on 11 July 2017 at a hospital in Istanbul after being diagnosed with lung cancer.[7] He was interred at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery following a memorial ceremony held at Istanbul University's Faculty of Science,[6] and the religious funeral in Afet Yolal Mosque in Levent.