Who is Şemsi İnkaya? Şemsi İnkaya, one of the most established and versatile character actors in the history of Turkish theatre, cinema and television, is a doyen artist who has portrayed completely opposite roles with great credibility throughout her career of more than half a century. Having a huge acting range, from the cheerful comedy films of Yeşilçam to the dark figures in the TV series “Üvey Baba”, which is etched in the memory of the audience, İnkaya is one of the rare names who witnessed the evolution of Turkey’s visual arts.
Answers to questions that constantly come up in search engines, such as who is Şemsi İnkaya, where is she from and in which TV series did she star, are included in this comprehensive biography we have prepared for the readers of televisiongazetesi.com. Full Name: Şemsi İnkaya Date of Birth: April 13, 1939 Place of Birth: Istanbul Profession: Theater, Cinema and TV Series Actor Active Years: 1970 – Present Education: Commerce High School and Istanbul University Student Union (I.U.T.B.) Youth Theater Where Is He Originally From: Istanbul Family and Childhood Years Born in Istanbul on April 13, 1939, on the eve of the Second World War, Şemsi İnkaya was born in the early period of the Republic.
It has directly witnessed its cultural construction. Growing up in a multicultural metropolis laid an important groundwork in shaping his artistic identity. The master artist, who always lived his private life in a respectful manner and away from the cameras, married and separated from the late Ayten Erman, one of the valuable names of Turkish theatre. He has a son named Ozan from this marriage. Representing a deep-rooted family tradition, İnkaya maintains its respected position in the art world despite its advanced age.
Career Beginning and Development His acting adventure started in university lecture halls, which are considered the laboratories of theater education in Turkey. Stepping onto the stage with an amateur spirit at the Istanbul University Student Union (I.U.T.B.) Youth Theatre, İnkaya’s first play is “Pabuçcu Ahmet”. His talent has reached a professional level through the training of Avni Dilligil and Ulvi Uraz, monumental names in Turkish theater history.
The artist, who learned stage rhythm and bonding with the audience from Dilligil and the deep psychological analysis of characters from Uraz, made a solid entrance into the Yeşilçam industry with the movie “Vur Patlasın Çal Oyunsın” in 1970. Achievements and Milestones Şemsi İnkaya’s career is full of huge achievements, independent of each other. In the 1980s, “Zübük” and other productions in which he starred with Kemal Sunal, especially the 1981 “Gırgıriye” series, proved his timing mastery in the field of comedy.
However, the biggest turning point in the history of Turkish television was the character “Halil Güneşli” (Gaddar Halil) played in the 1998 TV series “Üvey Baba”. The transformation of an actor, who was seen in naive and funny roles for years, into one of Turkey’s most feared and hated television characters with an incredible performance is one of the greatest peaks in his acting career. Acting Style and Influences Şemsi İnkaya, who is a perfect synthesis of the Ulvi Uraz and Avni Dilligil schools, builds living, breathing characters that embody social contradictions, instead of superficial characters.
Just as his perfect timing in comedy roles is strong, his use of cool body language and tone of voice in roles requiring drama and psychological tension is as effective. He brings the social layer of the character he plays to the screen with surgical precision, without alienating the audience. Recent Projects In recent years, İnkaya has acted with the selectivity brought by his mastery period and has been taking roles in historical epics and powerful family dramas.
The historical figure he portrayed in the TV series “Magnificent Century: Kösem” and his popular culture performance in the TV series “Kertenkele” revealed his perfect harmony with the new generation of actors. TV Series 1979 – Tired Warrior – Role 1981 – IV. Murat – Role 1989 – Half Joking, Half Serious – Role 1990 – For example We Said – Role 1992 – Everybody’s Dream – Role 1993 – Cümbüş Sokak – Role 1994 – Cümbüşiye – Role 1997 – Yasemince – Role 1998-2002 – Stepfather – Halil Güneşli 2000 – Zart-1 TV – Role 2002 – Legend – Pamir 2004 – Zümrüt – Role 2006 – Broken Wings – Mukhtar 2007 – Sinekli Grocery Store – Role 2008 – Night Voices – Role 2011 – Canan – Role 2012 – One of the Houses – Role 2013-2014 – I Loved Him Very Much – İsmet İnönü 2014 – Valley of the Wolves Ambush – Adil Bey 2014-2016 – Kertenkele – Ekrem Bey 2016-2017 – Magnificent Century Kösem – Yahya Efendi 2025 – Gönül Dağı – Mahmut 2026- My Name is Aylamaz – Bahtiyar Dede Latest TV Series Project The most recent excitement of the master actor on the screens is his inclusion in the cast of Gönül Dağı, the phenomenon production of TRT 1 screens.
İnkaya, who will appear before the audience with the episodes broadcast in 2025, will add great value to the sincere atmosphere of the steppe with her masterful acting. Cinema Movies 1970 – Hit It, Let It Explode – Role 1972 – Hicran – Role 1972 – Lie World – Role 1973 – Victim of Lust – Role 1974 – Open Your Eyes Memet – Role 1975 – Horny Virgins – Role 1975 – Ah This Youth – Role 1975 – Hababam Git Hababam Gel – Role 1976 – Excitement in the Rows – Role 1976 – I’m Tired of Dying Every Day – Role 1976 – Don’t Let My Wife Hear It – Role 1976 – Puppets – Role 1976 – What We Expected and What We Found – Role 1976 – Zuhdü – Role 1977 – Marriage Company – Role 1977 – Our Girl – Role 1977 – The Love of the Coachman – Role 1978 – Helpless – Role 1978 – He is married and whatever he does is fine – Role 1978 – Target – Role 1979 – Doctor – Role 1979 – Woe to Us – Role 1979 – Corner Grab – Role 1979 – Love Wine – Role 1979 – Canikom – Role 1979 – One Flower Three Insects – Role 1979 – Love Woman – Role 1980 – Cry to God – Role 1980 – Zübük – Role 1980 – Give Up My Heart – Role 1981 – Gırgıriye – Role 1981 – The End of Fame – Role 1982 – Aunt Adile – Role 1982 – There is a Festival in Gırgıriye – Role 1982 – I Loved It Like My Eyes – Role 1982 – Uncouth People – Role 1982 – Wet Mendil – Role 1982 – Şıngırdak Şadiye – Role 1983 – White Death – Role 1983 – There is Cümbüş in Gırgıriye – Role 1983 – Zifaf – Role 1984 – Big Choice in Gırgıriye – Role 1984 – Alev Alev – Ro l 1984 – Whore – Role 1984 – Fire – Role 1984 – Crownless Queen – Role 1985 – Great Sin – Role 1985 – Traps of Destiny – Role 1985 – Every Day is a Holiday for the Madman – Role 1986 – Poor Millionaire – Role 1986 – Jealousy – Role 1986 – Our Love Story – Role 1986 – Gün Before I Was Born – Role 1986 – Ah These Women – Role 1986 – Prostitute – Role 1986 – Keko Gang of Fools – Role 1986 – Barbershop – Role 1987 – Man Without Tomorrow – Role 1987 – We Laughed While We Were Born – Role 1987 – Stamp – Role 1987 – My Wife’s Shadow – Role 1987 – From Heart to Heart – Role 1987 – Open Forum Hüsnü – Role 1987 – Hafız Yusuf Efendi – Role 1989 – Zehir Hafiye – Role 1989 – Fortune Bird – Role 1989 – I Liked It – Role 1989 – A Love Thousand Sins – Role 1991 – Searching for the Lost – Role 1997 – Çökertme – Role 2002 – Inside – Role 2009 – Governor – Role 2011 – Türkan – Role 2015 – Coup – Role 2025 – Ayşe Goes on Holiday – Role Theater Plays 1960s – Pabuçcu Ahmet – Role Advertising and Voiceover Works İnkaya, who always reflects his radio theater roots with his deep voice that appeals to large audiences, has undertaken voice-over duties in many documentaries and special productions.
The 2014 biopic “Moses Without a Staff” is one of the important works in which the artist showcases his vocal talent. Awards and Nominations 2017 – 24th International Adana Film Festival – Lifetime Honor Award 2017 – Anabilim Educational Institutions Musical Theater Group “Gırgıriye” Gala – Lifetime Honor Award Critic and Fan Comments The artist, who is defined as the “lock-breaking actor” and “joker” by the authorities and critics of the industry, has been greatly loved by the public.
Reproaches that continued for many years, especially on social media and digital platforms, such as “it is a shame that such a master actor was not given an award at all”, ended with the Lifetime Honor Award in 2017. The comedy master’s performance in “Stepfather” is still remembered with astonishment and admiration among the audience, with comments such as “It is interesting that Şemsi İnkaya, who played funny roles in Yeşilçam films of the 70s and 80s, later played cruel evil roles.” Private Life and His Place in the Media Şemsi İnkaya, who stays away from gossip in the art community, stands out with his sectoral leadership.
The artist, who is a member of the Theater Actors Association (To-Der), served as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the association and fought important institutional struggles to protect the rights of set workers and young colleagues. Future Projects As of 2025, Şemsi İnkaya has entered an intensive production process. The master artist will appear in movie theaters in the coming period with the movie “Ayşe Tatile Geçti” (2025).
In addition, it is preparing to greet its viewers on television screens with the record-breaking series “Gönül Dağı” and the upcoming projects “My Name is Aylamaz”. Frequently Asked Questions About Him Which high school did Şemsi İnkaya graduate from? The actor completed his high school education at the Commerce High School and then turned to conservatory and theater education. How old is Şemsi İnkaya? The master actor was born on April 13, 1939.
He will be 87 years old as of 2026. Where is Şemsi İnkaya originally from? Şemsi İnkaya was born and raised in Istanbul. Is Şemsi İnkaya married, who is his wife? In the past, he was married to the valuable artist Ayten Erman and later they parted ways. Does Şemsi İnkaya have a child? Yes, he has a son named Ozan from his marriage with Ayten Erman. What was the name of Şemsi İnkaya’s unforgettable Stepfather role? In the series, he played the character of “Halil Güneşli”, or better known as “Gaddar Halil”, who made his family vomit blood.
Does Şemsi İnkaya have a new TV series? Yes, as of 2025, she is in the cast of the popular TRT 1 series Gönül Dağı and is preparing for the TV series “My Name is Aylamaz”. Did Şemsi İnkaya receive an award? Yes, he received a Lifetime Honor Award at the 24th International Adana Film Festival in 2017 for his outstanding achievements in his artistic life. Did Şemsi İnkaya star in the movie Gırgıriye? He gave life to one of the most popular characters in the movie Gırgıriye, which was released in 1981 and broke box office records.
Does Şemsi İnkaya use social media? The artist prefers to keep his private life secret and does not actively use a known social media account.


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