Fikret Hakan (born Bumin Gaffar Çıtanak), one of the most versatile and prolific figures in Turkish cinema and theater, was born on 23 April 1934 in Balıkesir. Throughout his artistic career, his performances in films and television series left a lasting mark on Turkish cinematic history; in addition to acting, he made significant contributions as a director, screenwriter, producer, and author.

The artist, whose birth name was Bumin Gaffar Çıtanak, was born on 23 April 1934 in Balıkesir; however, his official registration lists his date of birth as 21 April 1934. His father, Abdullah Gaffar Çıtanak (A. Gaffar Güney), was a literary teacher and translator known in Ankara’s literary circles during the 1940s, and his mother was nurse Fatma Belkıs Hanım.

^{Fikret Hakan İnfografik} (Anadolu Ajansı)

Hakan’s childhood years were spent in various cities across Anatolia due to his father’s professional assignments. After his parents separated, he traveled with his mother across different provinces and completed his primary education at Bursa 23rd Primary School.^【1】

The artist’s artistic foundation was shaped during childhood by films he watched in cinemas across Anatolia, where his interest in acting first emerged. He continued his secondary education in Eskişehir and, in his final year of middle school, moved with his family to Istanbul in 1948.

While studying at Taksim Atatürk High School, he developed an interest in literature and read the works of Nâzım Hikmet, Orhan Veli, and Ercüment Behzat.

Hakan began his journalism career during high school at the newspaper İstanbul Ekspres and published short stories in several literary journals. He left school during his first year of high school to focus on his professional path. His father’s extensive library and translation activities played a key role in cultivating the artist’s discipline in reading and writing from an early age.^【2】

His acting career began in 1950 with the musical comedy "Üç Güvercin Opereti" staged by Ses Tiyatrosu. During this period, he legally changed his name to Fikret Hakan by court order.

He took on roles in theatrical productions such as "Leblebici Horhor" and "Afrodit" and worked with groups including Çığır Sahne, Cep Tiyatrosu, Küçük Sahne, and Oraloğlu Saat 6 Tiyatrosu. He also founded Sahne 8 and Fikret Hakan Tiyatrosu.

Hakan entered cinema with the 1952 film "Köprüaltı Çocukları" and achieved his true artistic breakthrough with the 1955 film "Beyaz Mendil," directed by Lütfi Akad and written by Yaşar Kemal. In later stages of his career, he portrayed a wide range of characters—urban dwellers, peasants, workers, police officers, and con artists—focusing on character-driven performances rather than typecasting.^【3】

In the 1970s, Fikret Hakan expanded beyond acting and became active behind the scenes in cinema. He directed the films "Sürgünden Geliyorum" (1971), "Cennetin Kapısı" (1973), "En Büyük Patron" (1975), "Sürgün" and "Hamal" (1976). He also wrote the screenplays for all these films except "Hamal."

^{Fikret Hakan (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

Between 1970 and 1975, the artist also entered the music world, releasing albums titled "Cemo/Dedikleri Gerçek İmiş," "Dostun Gülü/Löberde," and "Aşk Uğultusu/Sancı," and gaining experience in cabaret performances and hosting. During the crisis years of Yeşilçam, he settled in Marmaris and lived there until the early 1980s.^【4】

The artist’s writing career developed alongside his acting career. In the 1950s, Hakan wrote short stories under the pen names "Bumin Gaffar" and "Bumin Güney" and was part of the Mavi Hareketi movement.^【5】

In addition to short story collections such as "Tellak Ali" (1953) and "Hamal'ın Uşakları" (1997), he published poetry books titled "İnce Müzikli Otobüsler" (1984) and "İmbikçi Duvar" (2002). His only novel, "Gece Limanı: Yasaksız Mutsuzluklar Rıhtımı," was published in 2010. He also contributed an academic archive to the industry with his comprehensive work "Türk Sinema Tarihi" (2008), which documented the history of Turkish cinema from 1914 to 1996 using documents, posters, and photographs.^【6】

Fikret Hakan received numerous national and international awards throughout his career:

• 1965: Antalya Film Festival and İzmir International Fair 1st Film Festival, "Best Actor Award" (Keşanlı Ali Destanı).
• 1968: Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, "Best Actor Award" (Ölüm Tarlası).
• 1971: Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, "Best Actor Award" (Hasret).
• 1984: Tercüman Newspaper, "Best Male Theater Actor Award" (Play Zorba).
• 1993: 30th Antalya Film Festival, "Best Supporting Actor Award" (Yalancı).
• 1994: Best Actor Award (Gerilla).
• 1997: 34th Antalya Film Festival, "Lifetime Honorary Award".
• 2012: Engelsiz Yaşam Vakfı, "Lifetime Professional and Honor Award".
• 2014: İzmir International Fair, "Work Honor Award".
• 2014: Necati Cumalı Poetry Award, Jury Special Award (Eski Biri).
• 2016: Attila İlhan Work Award (Falez Bitti).^【7】

^{Fikret Hakan İnfografik (}Anadolu Ajansı⁾

• Köprüaltı Çocukları (1952)
• Beyaz Mendil (1955)
• Dokuz Dağın Efesi (1958)
• Üç Arkadaş (1958)
• Yılanların Öcü (1962)
• Karanlıkta Uyananlar (1964)
• Keşanlı Ali Destanı (1964)
• Ölüm Tarlası (1966)
• Pir Sultan Abdal (1973)
• Küçük Ağa (TV Series, 1983) – as Çolak Salih
• Yalancı (1993)
• Gerilla (1994)
• Kurşun Yarası (TV Series, 2003)
• Hanımın Çiftliği (TV Series)
• Bir Zamanlar Osmanlı Kıyam (TV Series)
• Birleşen Gönüller (2014)^【8】

Fikret Hakan was married to Lale Sarı, Semiramis Pekkan, Neşecan Paşmak, Hümeyra, and Fatma Zeynep Mirgün during his lifetime. His daughter Elif was born in 1962 from his relationship with Neşecan Paşmak.

^{The Funeral Ceremony of Fikret Hakan} (Anadolu Ajansı)

In 1998, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism granted him the title of "State Artist," and in 2009, Eskişehir Osmangazi University awarded him the honorary title of "Honorary Doctor."^【9】

The artist, who was undergoing treatment for lung cancer, passed away on 11 July 2017 at the age of 83 at Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital. His funeral prayer was held at Levent Mosque, after which he was buried at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery.^【10】