Haluk Bilginer

'Haluk Bilginer' (qv) is a Turkish actor. In addition to his acting career in Turkey, he has also worked in the United Kingdom and remains known for his role as Mehmet Osman in the television soap opera _EastEnders (1985)_ (qv) during the 1980s. He has also starred in Hollywood movies as a minor actor. He played a villainous guerrilla leader in the 1987 comedy film _Ishtar (1987)_ (qv) (one of the most notorious flops in movie history) and a Turkish Mafioso in the 2001 dark comedy film _Buffalo Soldiers (2001)_ (qv). He played the character of Emre Celenk in the episode of Persephone in _MI-5 (2002)_ (qv) 2004.Bilginer was born in Izmir, Turkey. He graduated from Ankara State Conservatory in 1977 before going to England where he graduated from London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. He landed his first role at _EastEnders (1985)_ (qv). Bilginer makes his first appearance in _EastEnders (1985)_ (qv) as Mehmet Osman on-screen in June 1985, four months after the show originally aired. His arrival coincides with a cot death story line of Sue and Ali's baby, Hassan. Mehmet appears as a recurring character from 1985-1987, setting up a cab firm named Ozcabs from inside Ali's cafe; however, he becomes a regular in 1988, when both he and his wife Guizin (Ishia Bennison) are made partners in Ali's cafe, which is renamed Café Osman. Mehmet is portrayed as a charmer, a rogue and a womanizer. Author of The _EastEnders (1985)_ (qv) Handbook, 'Hilary Kingsley' (qv), has said of him, "he tries it on with every woman he meets and sometimes succeeds through a combination of good looks and sheer audacity." A serial gambler, Mehmet was shown to steer Ali into various money-losing ploys, and had a combustible marriage to Guizin, who put up with his philandering, as in the Turkish community, that's "what a wife was expected to do".Described as "the Terrible Turk", 'Haluk Bilginer' (qv) was one of the more popular male cast members on _EastEnders (1985)_ (qv) during the 1980s, and he reportedly received sackfuls of fan mail, "despite playing a villain and a womanizing snake". 'Hilary Kingsley' (qv) has said that what made the character so popular was Bilginer's Omar Sharif-style good looks and charm. Following the departure of Holland and Smith, Mehmet was eventually written out of the serial in May 1989, in a story line that signified the disbandment of the Osman family. On-screen, Mehmet returns to his native Cyprus after a fight with Guizin regarding her suspicions about Mehmet's fabricated affair with Sue. The Osman family were among many characters to leave the serial that year. Writer 'Colin Brake' (qv) has commented, "the pace of comings and going was fast and furious during 1989, as the program me tried to find a new direction." Bilginer went into musical theatre after leaving _EastEnders (1985)_ (qv). During the course of the show, he came to Turkey to star in the 1987 TV series _Gecenin Öteki Yüzü (1987)_ (qv) (The Other Side of the Night), where he met his eventual first wife 'Zuhal Olcay' (qv), famous Turkish actress and singer. After dividing his time in London and Istanbul for six years, he left the show to stay in Turkey permanently and married 'Zuhal Olcay' (qv) in 1992. He guest starred in an episode of _The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992)_ (qv) as Ismet Inönü, and went on to star in the 'Yavuz Özkan' (qv) film "_Iki Kadin (1992)_ (qv)" (Two Women). He then starred in various movies including the controversial _Istanbul unter meinen Flügeln (1996)_ (qv) (Istanbul Under My Wings) and the famous _Sawdust Tales (1997)_ (qv) (Master, Kill Me). After critical acclaim for these roles, he earned his first award as a supporting actor in _Masumiyet (1997)_ (qv) (Innocence). After deciding he wants to pursue career on stage, he founded "Tiyatro Stüdyosu" (Theatre Studio) with his wife 'Zuhal Olcay' (qv) and Ahmet Levendoglu in 1990. After starring in various plays for six years, he had to return to screen in 1996 because of a fire that has destroyed the theater. He and his wife starred in television and movies to raise money to found another theater.During this era, he starred in _Eyvah kizim büyüdü (2000)_ (qv) (Oh My, My Daughter Has Grown), starting his second era in television. After years of work, he and his wife managed to start a second theater, called "Oyun Atölyesi" (Play Workshop). His most famous role however came after he started his second theater. He landed a role in _Sweet Life (2001)_ (qv), a remake of _The Jeffersons (1975)_ (qv). He played the role of Ihsan Yildirim, an angry, racist and foul-mouthed, yet lovable dry cleaner. He was accompanied by legendary actress 'Türkan Soray' (qv), who played his wife, 'Asuman Dabak' (qv) playing the witty cleaner, Neco playing the Greek neighbor (The enmity between Greeks and Turks were put instead of the Black-White one in the original) and 'Çolpan Ilhan' (qv) playing Neco's wife. He and the show's breakthrough character Irfan (played by 'Celal Kadri Kinoglu' (qv)) are regarded as the best characters in Turkish TV history. He divorced 'Zuhal Olcay' (qv) in 2004 and began a relationship with 'Askin Nur Yengi' (qv), a famous Turkish singer. They married in 2006 and had a girl. After _Sweet Life (2001)_ (qv), he starred in _Firuze, wo bist du? (2004)_ (qv) (Where Are You Firuze?), _Diebstahl alla turca (2005)_ (qv) (Thief!) and _Hinrichtung der Schatten (2006)_ (qv) (Why Were Hacivat&Karagöz Murdered?). His most recent role in _Police (2007)_ (qv) (Police) however, is his most critically acclaimed role after _Sweet Life (2001)_ (qv). His portrayal of the troubled police legend Musa Rami has gained critical acclaim from both critics and viewers, who thought the movie was too experimental. Bilginer, however, has said that he will work in all of 'Onur Ünlü' (qv)'s (screenwriter and director of _Police (2007)_ (qv)) movies, even as an extra if required. Bilginer played the role of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in an Is Bank commercial, which first aired on 10 November 2007 during the 69th commemorations of Atatürk's death. In 2009 , He play in famous Turkish soap _Ezel (2009)_ (qv) during the second season. He became famous with this role around Arab world. Bilginer co-starred in the 2009 American thriller _The International (2009)_ (qv) as Ahmet Sunay, a Turkish high-tech missile guidance system dealer. He was accompanied by 'Clive Owen' (qv) and 'Naomi Watts' (qv) in this movie. Bilginer plays Aydin, an imposing Grey-haired former actor, in _Winter Sleep (2014)_ (qv), which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2014.::[email protected] and ahmetkozan