About Tuncel Kurtiz
Lived 1936 – 2013 (aged 77). Tuncel Kurtiz was a Turkish film producer, film director, playwright, screenwriter, stage actor and film actor.
Tuncel Tayanç Kurtiz (1 February 1936 – 27 September 2013) was a Turkish theatre, movie and TV series actor, playwright, and film director. From 1964 until his death in 2013, he acted in more than 70 movies, including many international productions.
Early years He was born in , Kocaeli, a town in Turkey. His father was a district governor (kaymakam). His mother was a teacher and of Bosniak descent. His parents' occupation was the reason the family lived in many places across the country over the years. After graduating from the Haydarpaşa High School in Istanbul, Kurtiz studied English philology at Istanbul University.
Career He soon started a career as a theatre actor actor. From 1958, Kurtiz performed on many stages in Istanbul, in state and private theatres. He was also on the stage at Gothenburg City Theatre, Stockholm Royal Theatre and Swedish Theatre in Sweden, Schaubühne Berlin, Frankfurt City Theatre and Hamburg City Theatre in Germany and at Peter Brook Shakespeare Royal Theatre in England. Kurtiz directed plays for the German-Turkish theatre project "Türkisches Ensemble" in the late 1970s.
During his university years and the military service period, he became friends with the renowned film director Yılmaz Güney. They made a number of films together. Their 1970 film Umut was prohibited from leaving Turkey, but a smuggled copy was shown at the Cannes Film Festival.
His first film role was in Şeytanın Uşakları, shot in 1964. Since then, Tuncel Kurtiz played also in many international productions like Swedish, German, Dutch, Italian, French, British, Israel and Indian films and TV series, mostly in the original language.
Death Tuncel Kurtiz died at the age of 77 on 27 September 2013 following a fall-inflicted head trauma in his residence in Etiler, Istanbul.
Filmography (Happy Family Journal) (2013) (Film Against All Odds) (2010) Black and White (2010) Pains of Autumn (2009) (2008) The Edge of Heaven by Fatih Akın (2007 - Turkey-Germany) (Esaretten Kaçış) by Carlo Mazzacurati (2002 - Italy) (The Waterfall) by (2001) by (1998) by (1997 - Turkey/Germany/Hungary) Gräfin Sophia Hatun by Ayşe Polat (1997 - Germany) by Ömer Kavur (1997) by Hiner Saleem (1997 - France) Somersault in a Coffin by Derviş Zaim (1996) by Konstantin Schmidt (1993 - Germany) by Ottokar Runze (1990 - Germany) by Anton Peschke (1990 - Germany) by Suzanne Osten (1990 - Sweden) Täcknamn Coq Rouge by (1989 - Sweden) The Mahabharata by Peter Brook (1989 - India) by Suzanne Osten (1989 - Sweden) by Hartmut Horst and (1987 - Germany) by (1986 - Sweden) by Shimon Dotan (1986 - Israel) by Otakar Votocek (1984 - Netherlands) by Mats Arehn (1983 - Sweden) (The Wall) by Yılmaz Güney (1983) by and (1981 - West Germany) On Fertile Lands by Erden Kıral (1980) Kanal by Erden Kıral (1978) (The Herd) by Zeki Ökten (1978) by Şerif Gören and Yılmaz Güney (1970) Karaoğlan Camoka'nın Intikami (Karaoğlan Camoka's Revenge) (1966) Hıçkırık (1965) by İlhan Engin (1964)
TV series Muhteşem Yüzyıl (2012–2013) Ezel (2009–2011) Asi (2007–2009) Kara Duvak (2007) Hacı (2006) "Vägen till Gyllenblå!" (1985 - Sweden) Die Abschiebung by (1985 - West Germany) Tatort - (1975 - West Germany)
Directed movie Lyckliga vi... (1980 - Turkey/Sweden)
Awards "Best Screenplay" at 1981 Antalya Film Festival for his script Gül Hasan "Best Actor" at the 36th Berlin International Film Festival for his role in the Israel film Hiuch HaGdi "Best Supporting Actor" at 1994 Antalya Film Festival for his role in Bir Aşk Uğruna "Best Actor" at 7th Sadri Alışık Awards for his role in Şellale "Best Supporting Actor" at 2007 Antalya Film Festival for his role in Yaşamın Kıyısında
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Important facts
People in Tuncel Kurtiz's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Tuncel Kurtiz's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Tuncel Kurtiz?
Turkish actor and director (1936–2013)
When was Tuncel Kurtiz born?
Tuncel Kurtiz was born on 1 February 1936 in Bilecik, Turkey.
When did Tuncel Kurtiz die?
Tuncel Kurtiz died on 27 September 2013 in Istanbul.
What was Tuncel Kurtiz's occupation?
Tuncel Kurtiz was a film producer, film director, playwright, screenwriter, stage actor and film actor.
What nationality was Tuncel Kurtiz?
Tuncel Kurtiz was Turkish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tuncel Kurtiz. https://biography.guide/tuncel-kurtiz/
MLA: "Tuncel Kurtiz." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tuncel-kurtiz/.
Chicago: "Tuncel Kurtiz." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tuncel-kurtiz/.
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