Daniel Fanego

Zeki Levent Kırca (1950-2015) was a Turkish comedian, theater and film actor. Known throughout Turkey since the 1970s through his theater and television work, he is especially remembered for his satirical program, "Olacak O Kadar." Born in Ladik, Samsun in 1950, his father, painter Mehmet Kırca, left the family to live in Switzerland. His mother, Bahriye Özbay Kırca, was a teacher. He first appeared on stage in 1964 at the Ankara State Theater. He graduated from the Ankara State Conservatory Theater Department. He worked at the Ankara Birlik Stage and Halk Oyuncuları (People's Players). Later, he joined TRT (Turkish Radio and Television) and produced television series such as "Nasreddin Hoca Oyun Treni," "Siz Olsaydınız Ne Yapardınız?," "Bu Oyun Nasıl Oynanmalı?," "Sağlık Olsun!," and "Ne Olur Ne Olmaz." During this time, he met writer and director Nur Diner, whom he married in 1975. Their marriage lasted until 1985. In 1978, he entered the film industry with the film "Taşı Toprağı Altın Şehir." He acted in films such as "Ne Olacak Şimdi?" and "Mavi Muammer." He founded the Hodri Meydan Theatre Group. With Oya Başar, he performed plays like "Güzel ve Çirkin" and "Sefiller." He also performed in plays like "Üç Baba Hasan" and "Kadıncıklar." From 1988 to 2010, he hosted the television program "Olacak O Kadar," which ran for 22 years. He made his directorial debut in cinema with the film "Son." He also directed the film "Şeytan Bunun Neresinde." In 2010, he starred in his son Oğulcan Kırca's first feature film, "Son İstasyon." In 2011, he began a comedy series called "Karımın Dediği Dedik Çaldığı Kontrbas," but it was canceled after four episodes. He was also involved in politics; he ran for Üsküdar mayor in the 2009 elections for the Democratic Left Party, served in the Worker's Party's administration, and ran for Istanbul mayor in 2014 for the Worker's Party. He wrote columns for the daily newspaper Aydınlık. He received the title of State Artist in 1998 from the Ministry of Culture, but it was revoked in April 2015. Diagnosed with liver cancer in July 2015 and undergoing chemotherapy, he passed away on October 12, 2015, at Marmara University Pendik Education and Research Hospital. His funeral was held on October 13 at Levent Mosque, followed by burial at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery. He had three sons, Oğulcan (with Nur Diner), Umut (with Oya Başar), and Özdeş (with Nur Diner), and a daughter Ayşe (with Oya Başar). He was also with Aslı Çetiner during the last 5 years of his life. His son Oğulcan followed in his theatrical footsteps, while Özdeş pursued music, and Ayşe works in acting in the USA. He has a wax statue in the Saint Petersburg Museum of Wax Figures.