--- title: Gürkan Uygun slug: gurkan-uygun-f86a0 url: /detay/gurkan-uygun-f86a0 type: biography language: English entity: primary: Gürkan Uygun type: biography disambiguation: Gürkan Uygun: Turkish actor known for Valley of the Wolves & many more TV series and films. categories: - name: General Knowledge slug: genel-kultur url: /kategori/genel-kultur - name: Cinema And Television slug: sinema-ve-televizyon url: /kategori/sinema-ve-televizyon tags: - historical productions - Magnificent Century - Valley of the Wolves - Turkish theatre - Gürkan Uygun author: Ömer Said Aydın created_at: 2025-05-04T13:07:04.833565+03:00 updated_at: 2025-05-10T13:59:29.437240+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/05/04/tu9VW7JKuGNdz1ldWrcaNZBo9Q9e3nD3.jpg --- # Gürkan Uygun > Gürkan Uygun is a Turkish actor best known for his role as Memati Baş in the television series Kurtlar Vadisi (Valley of the Wolves). Beginning his acting career on the theater stage, Uygun has portrayed a variety of characters in period dramas and feature films. ## KURE Information Cards ### KURE Information Card: Gürkan Uygun ![TontmZJS1iss1OBMqOl9jn2807GN8hxS.webp](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/05/04/tqeWYPHNPffNp6pNa3FYImnVWgD1gufh.webp) | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Place of Birth(Text) | İzmit Kocaeli | | Born(Text) | 27 May 1964 | | Child(ren) | 3 | | Wife | Şebnem Ceylan (m. 2008) | | Award(s) | 2005: Best Supporting Actor (Crime Drama),1st White Pearl TV Awards (Valley of the Wolves) | | Education | Istanbul University State Conservatory,Department of Theatre | ## Article Content [Gürkan Uygun](/en/detay/gurkan-uygun-8d211/llms.txt) is a Turkish theatre, film, and television actor. He was born on May 27, 1974, in İzmit, Turkey, into a family of Georgian descent. He developed an interest in theatre during high school and began his artistic career in 1990 with amateur theatre. After receiving formal training at the Theatre Department of the Istanbul University State Conservatory, he started acting at the Dormen Theatre. Uygun made his television debut in 1994 and became widely recognized for his portrayal of Memati Baş in the TV series *Valley of the Wolves*, which began airing in 2003. ### **Early Career and Theatre Work** Uygun began his professional acting career in the theatre, first appearing in the play *Muhteşem İkili* in 1994. He took part in productions at Dormen Theatre and Oyun Atölyesi, such as *Arapsaçı*, *Komik Para*, and *Timon of Athens*. During this period, he learned core theatrical values such as discipline and backstage etiquette from prominent figures in Turkish theatre. ### **Television Career** His television career began with a small role in *Kaygısızlar* in 1994. He went on to appear in *Tatlı Kaçıklar*, *Böyle Mi Olacaktı*, *Yedi Numara*, *Deli Yürek*, and *Şapkadan Babam Çıktı*. Uygun's breakthrough role came in 2003 with *Valley of the Wolves*, where he portrayed Memati Baş, a role he continued for about a decade in its various adaptations and film versions (*Valley of the Wolves: Iraq*, *Palestine*). He later portrayed the architect Mimar Sinan in *Magnificent Century* and starred as Serhat Hakeri in *Kaçak* (2013–2015). Other notable roles include *Kehribar* (2016), *Bu Şehir Arkandan Gelecek* (2016–2017), and *Payitaht Abdülhamid* (2018–2020) as Halil Halid Bey. In *Awakening: Great Seljuks* (2020), he acted Hasan Sabbah. Between 2021 and 2023, he portrayed Yıldırım Koral / Hasan Atmaca (codename: Efkar) in *Teşkilat*. In 2024, he acted Kürşat Kilimci in *Bir Gece Masalı* and later appeared in *Şehrazad* as the father of the titular character. ### **Film Career** Gürkan Uygun's film career began with *Fasulye* in 1999. He appeared in *Valley of the Wolves: Iraq* and *Valley of the Wolves: Palestine*, as well as in films such as *Tamam mıyız?*, *Whisper If I Forget*, *The Mountain II*, *Deliormanlı*, *The Ottoman Lieutenant*, and *Cep Herkülü: Naim Süleymanoğlu*. He has shown a preference for historical productions and acted in *Çanakkale: End of the Road* and *Somuncu Baba: The Secret of Love*. ### **Acting Approach and Character Preparation** Uygun emphasizes the importance of vocal control in acting and prepares for roles, especially historical or intense characters, by conducting detailed research. He has cited drawing inspiration from birds of prey for mimicking facial expressions of aggressive roles. Despite frequently playing violent or stern characters, he maintains a reconciliatory personality in private life. ### **Personal Life** Gürkan Uygun married Şebnem Ceylan in 2008. The couple has two children, Mihriban Balım and Ateş. He has a strong interest in music, collects vinyl records, and is learning to play the clarinet. ### **TV Series** - The Carefree Ones - Sweet Crazies - Was It Going to Be Like This? - Number Seven - Crazy Heart - My Father Came Out of the Hat - Valley of the Wolves / Valley of the Wolves: Ambush / Valley of the Wolves: Terror - Magnificent Century - The Fugitive - Amber - This City Will Follow You - The Last Emperor: Abdulhamid - Awakening: The Great Seljuks - The Agency - A Night's Tale - Scheherazade ### **Films** - Bean - Valley of the Wolves: Iraq - Valley of the Wolves: Palestine - Are We OK? - Çanakkale: End of the Road - Whisper If I Forget - The Byzantine Games: Game of Bizans - Full Throttle - Full Throttle 2 - The Mad Woodsman - Somuncu Baba: The Secret of Love - Pocket Hercules: Naim Süleymanoğlu - I Will Find You, Son! - Peace with Life - Temel: The Sumela Code Revisited ### **Awards** - 2005: Best Supporting Actor (Crime Drama) – 1st White Pearl TV Awards (Valley of the Wolves) ## Academic Sources and References 1. "ATV Oyuncu Profili: Gürkan Uygun." ATV. Accessed May 2, 2025. https://www.atv.com.tr/gurkan-uygun/kimdir"Beyazperde Filmografisi: Gürkan Uygun." Beyazperde. Accessed May 2, 2025. https://www.beyazperde.com/sanatcilar/sanatci-145824/filmografi/"Beyazperde Oyuncu Profili: Gürkan Uygun." Beyazperde. Accessed May 2, 2025. https://www.beyazperde.com/sanatcilar/sanatci-145824/"Gürkan Uygun Biyografisi." Haberler.com. Accessed May 2, 2025. https://www.haberler.com/gurkan-uygun/biyografisi/"Gürkan Uygun Kimdir? Tiyatrodan Ekranlara Uzanan Başarılı Kariyer." Eagle Medya. Accessed May 2, 2025. https://www.eaglemedia.com.tr/magazin/gurkan-uygun-kimdir-tiyatrodan-ekranlara-uzanan-basarili-kariyer/542/"Gürkan Uygun’un Kendisi Gibi Oyuncu Olan Ünlü Kardeşi Görenleri Şaşırtıyor." GZT Jurnalist. Accessed May 2, 2025. https://www.gzt.com/jurnalist/gurkan-uygunun-kendisi-gibi-oyuncu-olan-unlu-kardesi-gorenleri-sasirtiyor-3158802"Kurtlar Vadisi’nin Yıldız İsmi Ekranlara Dönüyor: Gürkan Uygun’un Yeni Projesi Belli Oldu." Yeni Şafak. Accessed May 2, 2025. https://www.yenisafak.com/foto-galeri/hayat/kurtlar-vadisinin-yildiz-ismi-ekranlara-donuyor-gurkan-uygunun-yeni-projesi-belli-oldu-buyuk-selcukluteskilat-derken-simdi-de-gurkan-uygun-kimdir-projeleri-4607169/1"Memati ve Deli Hikmet Çay Topladı." İhlas Haber Ajansı (İHA). Accessed May 2, 2025. https://www.iha.com.tr/haber-memati-ve-deli-hikmet-cay-topladi-33152"Oyuncu Gürkan Uygun: Bir Oyuncunun Tek Derdi Hayatı Boyunca Oynayabilmektir." Anadolu Ajansı (AA). Accessed May 2, 2025. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/kultur-sanat/oyuncu-gurkan-uygun-bir-oyuncunun-tek-derdi-hayati-boyunca-oynayabilmektir/1673504