Yeşilçam's unforgettable leading man: Tarık Akan is commemorated on the 9th anniversary of his death.

The artist, whose real name is Tahsin Tarık Üregül, was born on December 13, 1949, as the son of an army officer. Due to his father's job, the master actor continued his education in different cities and then graduated from high school in Bakırköy, Istanbul.

Akan, who graduated from Yıldız Technical University's Department of Mechanical Engineering, decided that this profession wasn't for him and enrolled in Istanbul University's Institute of Journalism. During this period, he worked various jobs, including street vending, to earn a living.

THE ROAD FROM ENGINEERING TO THE SILVER SCREEN

Akan's film career began in 1970 when he won first place in the "Ses" magazine's artist competition.

The artist, who stepped onto the big screen in 1971 with director Mehmet Dinler's film "Like a Fading Leaf", began using the stage name "Tarık Akan" with this film.

Akan, who quickly rose to fame with his likeable demeanor, tall stature, and green eyes, starred in romantic comedies such as "Ah Nerede," "Mavi Boncuk," and "Sev Kardeşim" between 1970 and 1975. His portrayal of "Damat Ferit" in the 1975 film "Hababam Sınıfı," directed by Ertem Eğilmez, became synonymous with the artist.

Tarık Akan experienced a turning point in his career towards the end of the 1970s, when he moved away from theatrical films and turned towards productions with social and political content.

Having starred in the films "Maden" (Maden) in which he shared the lead role with Cüneyt Arkın and "Sürü" (Sürü) directed by Zeki Ökten in 1978, his biggest international success was "Yol" (Road), written by Yılmaz Güney and which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1982.

Following the September 12, 1980 coup, Akan was arrested upon his return to Türkiye in 1981 for a speech he gave in Germany. The successful actor, who was tried with a 12-year prison sentence and acquitted after serving two and a half months in solitary confinement, shared his testimonies about this challenging period and the coup period with readers in his book, "Mother, I Have Lice in My Head," published in 2002.

HE HAD A CAREER ILLUSTRATED WITH SUCCESS AND AWARDS

Tarık Akan, who has been deemed worthy of countless awards throughout his career, broke the record by winning the "Best Actor" award at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival 7 times for his performances in films such as "The Guilty," "The Mine," "The Wrestler," and "Blackout Nights."

The artist was deemed worthy of the "Golden Orange Lifetime Achievement Award" in 1996.

Akan, who was also very interested in education as well as acting and was one of the founding partners of Taş Mektep, took over the management of the Nesin Foundation after the death of Aziz Nesin.

The master artist, who was undergoing treatment for lung cancer, passed away on September 16, 2016, at the age of 66. He left behind an unforgettable legacy with nearly 120 films.