Halit Kıvanç

Halit Ahmet Kıvanç (18 February 1925 – 25 October 2022) was a Turkish television and radio presenter, humorist, sports journalist and writer. He was best known as a sports commentator.

Early years Kıvanç was born in the Fatih district of Istanbul to trader Ahmet and his wife Leman, the youngest of five siblings. His precise birthday is not known, as at that time Turkey was still using the Rumi calendar and would not transition to the Gregorian calendar for another few months. However, official documents give his birthday as February 18, 1925.

Kıvanç completed his secondary education at Pertevniyal High School in Aksaray, Istanbul. At the last grade just before the graduation, he lost his father. His brother Kemal did not allow him to earn money for the family, instead he wished that Halit go to the university. Halit then studied law at Istanbul University. Following his graduation, he attended military service for duty.

In 1950, Halit Kıvanç entered civil service to become a judge. Following a brief period of apprenticeship, he was appointed judge in Kozluk, a small town in southeastern Turkey that became shortly before a district of then Siirt Province. He served at this post in a region of deprivation only for couple of months. Kıvanç resigned and returned to Istanbul to pursue a career as a journalist that offered him much more income.

Career Already during his university years, Halit Kıvanç was interested in journalism. His articles were published in the Law Faculty's periodical Guguk ("Cuckoo" for English). His vested interest in football, led him to write in the sports weekly Şut ("Shoot"). Later, his writings on humor got him ahead. His professional journalism career began as he was discovered by Yusuf Ziya Ortaç, the publisher of that time's notable illustrated satire and humor magazine Akbaba ("Vulture"), after his first joke was printed.

Kıvanç also wrote sports reports primarily in the newspapers Milliyet, Tercüman, Hürriyet and Güneş among others.

In addition to all his engagements, Kıvanç was a popular on-stage presenter asked for musical events and contests. He hosted a talk show named "Halit Kıvanç'la Ustalar" (literally: "Masters with Halit Kıvanç") Sundays on the Turkish television channel NTV.

Personal life and death Kıvanç married in 1955 Bülbin, a pharmacist by profession. The couple had a son Ümit Kıvanç (born 1956), who was a columnist of the daily Radikal. Two days later, he was buried at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.