Pierce Williams

Kemal Sunal (1944-2000) was a Turkish actor and comedian. Known especially for his comedic films, many of which were made in the 1970s and remain popular today, Sunal is considered one of the most important actors in Turkish cinema. Born in Istanbul to Mustafa and Saime Sunal, he graduated from Vefa High School. His artistic career began with the play "Zoraki Tabip." After working for a year at Kenterler Theatre, he joined Devekuşu Kabare Theatre. In 1973, he debuted in cinema with Ertem Eğilmez's "Tatlı Dillim" and began appearing in ensemble casts. One of the biggest comedians of Turkish cinema, Sunal achieved great commercial success with his numerous films. He often played the role of an innocent and kind-hearted character. He won the Best Actor award at the Antalya Film Festival in 1977. His acting and unique characterizations brought a new breath to comedic acting in Turkish cinema. Characters like İnek Şaban became iconic, winning him the love of audiences of all ages. He starred in hugely popular and enduring films such as "Hababam Sınıfı," "Tosun Paşa," "Şabanoğlu Şaban," "Süt Kardeşler," "Kibar Feyzo," "Salako," and "Köyden İndim Şehire." Beginning in the 1980s, he started taking on roles in films with more social commentary, without losing his popularity. Films like "Zübük," "Orta Direk Şaban," "Koltuk Belası," and "Varyemez" allowed him to entertain while expressing his views on contemporary political events. From the 1990s onward, his films were continuously broadcast on television, though he received no compensation for these airings. He completed his university education, which had been interrupted before the 1980 coup, graduating from Marmara University's Faculty of Communication, Radio, Television, and Cinema department in 1995 and began postgraduate studies. Throughout his life, he acted in 82 films. In the 1990s, he appeared more frequently in TV series such as "Şaban Askerde," "Bay Kamber," and "Saygılar Bizden." His final project was Sinan Çetin's 1999 film "Propaganda," where he played the customs officer Mehdi. He died of a heart attack on July 3, 2000, on a plane to Trabzon to begin filming "Balalayka." He is buried in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery. He was married to Gül Sunal since 1974 until his death. They had a son, Ali (born 1977), and a daughter, Ezo (born 1984).