Veteran Turkish actor Fikret Hakan passes away at 83

By Zafer Arslan and Musa Alcan

ANKARA (AA) - Fikret Hakan, a renowned Turkish stage and screen actor, has died aged 83 in Istanbul.

The actor’s management said on Tuesday the veteran performer had passed away in hospital where he had been receiving treatment for lung cancer.

Born in the northwestern region of Balikesir in 1934, Bumin Gaffar Citanak -- Hakan's birth name -- was also a journalist and broadcaster.

He began his career in 1950 as an actor for the Ses (Voice) Theatre.

After three years, Hakan had his first screen role in the 1953 film Koprualti Cocuklari (Kids Under The Bridge).

Performing in hundreds of soap operas and starring in close to 200 motion pictures, he also directed four films, three of which written by himself, some of which were award-winners.

He starred in films including 1962’s Yilanlarin Ocu (Revenge of the Snakes ), Kesanli Ali Destani (The Ballad of Ali of Keshan) in 1964 and 1966’s Olum Tarlasi (The Death Field).

Hakan also wrote books such as Tellak Ali (Masseur Ali) in 1953, Hamal’in Usaklari (The Butlers of Hamal) in 1997, and collections of poetry, including Ince Muzikli Otobusler (The Busses with Light Music) and Imbikci Duvar (The Imbibing Wall).