In Memoriam | Filiz Akın ( 1943 – 2025)

Filiz Akın, one of the legendary names of Turkish cinema, has passed away at the age of 82. Akın was laid to rest by her relatives in Aşiyan Cemetery. The legendary actress had been struggling with health problems for a while.Akin died Saturday in a hospital in Istanbul. “Filiz Akın, one of the rare gems of Turkish cinema has passed away at the hospital where she had been receiving treatment for some time,” the ministry said, adding that the actress had left “unforgettable marks on the history of cinema.” The cause of death was not specified.

Mavi Boncuk |

Filiz Akın (born Suna Akın, 2 January 1943 – 22 March 2025) was a Turkish actress, writer and television presenter. Known as Yeşilçam Turkish cinema's "noble, modern, urban and elegant face", Filiz Akın gained a huge fan base in Turkey.

Along with Turkan Soray, Hulya Kocyigit and Fatma Girik, Akın was considered one of the four most iconic actresses of the Turkish film industry that was known as “Yesilcam” - after the street in Istanbul where film companies were based. Girik died in 2022.

 Her journey to stardom began when she submitted her photograph to a beauty contest organized by a magazine in 1962, encouraged by the mother of a high school friend.

She won the competition and caught the attention of Turkish film producer and director Memduh Un, who introduced her to the film world. She went on to star in more than 200 movies between 1962 and 1975.

Yumurcak (1969)

Tatlı Dillim, Yumurcak, Umutsuzlar, Ankara Ekspresi, Utanç, Dağlar Kızı Reyhan and Yankesici Kız were among her most famous movies. In 1971, for her role in Ankara Ekspresi she won the best actress award at the 8th International Antalya Film Festival. From May 1962 to September 1972, she starred in more than 105 films. After appearing in 116 films Akın ended her cinema career in 1975. Together with actors Türkan Şoray, Hülya Koçyiğit and Fatma Girik, she left a mark on Turkish cinema[ and has been accepted as one of the four influential actresses of her time.

For 11 years, Akın lived in Neuilly and Bougival in Paris, and then moved to the Turkish embassy in Paris for the next four years, making her stay in France 15 years after her husband Sönmez Köksal was appointed as ambassador to France in February 1998.

In 1965, her son İlker from her first marriage to Türker İnanoğlu was born.[21] During this period the family resided at Şişli.[22] In 1974, the couple divorced after 10 years of marriage.

She is survived by her husband and a son, Ilker Inanoglu, who is also an actor.

Books about her

"Four Leaf Clover, What Was Their Magic?" , Bircan Usallı Silan, Epsilon, 2004 

"Starring Filiz Akın: Filiz Akın as an iconographic and sociological value in Turkish cinema", Pınar Çekirge, Epsilon, 2007

Akın's portraits have appeared in Atıf Yılmaz's "Hayallerim, Aşkım ve Sinema" (1990), Türker İnanoğlu's "Bay Sinema" (2004)

Agâh Özgüç's "Türk Sineması’nın Kadınları" (2008).

During World War II, Germany aims to conquer Turkey with an operation which is Ankara Express. German spy Hilda and Turkish major Seyfi engage in a dangerous relationship while they work for Ankara Express operation.

"Akın, who is remembered as one of the most elegant and modern faces of Yeşilçam, left her mark on the history of cinema not only with her beauty but also with her strong acting. The master actress, who has starred in countless films since the 1960s, has managed to fascinate the audience in a wide range of genres from romantic drama to espionage films, from comedy to tragedy."