Legendary Turkish actor Tarık Akan dies at 66

Istanbul, Sep 16 (DHA) - One of the most notable names of the “Yeşilçam” era of modern Turkish cinema, actor Tarık Akan died on Friday in a private hospital where he was receiving cancer treatment. He was 66.

Akan’s death was announced by the Nazım Hikmet Culture and Arts Foundation in a statement.

Nominated for Best Actor in 1982 at the Cannes Film Festival for “The Road” Akan took roles in 111 films and garnered huge fame with the “Hababam Sınıfı” movie series in the 1970s.

Akan was also known for his political leftward stance and served in prison for two and a half months during the 1980 coup in Turkey for a political speech delivered in Germany.

Akan earned a silver bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1985 with “Pansiyon.” Between 1973 and 2002, Akan was nominated for 12 awards.

He was recently diagnosed with lung cancer.