Ayberk Pekcan

Ayberk Pekcan — Biography

Born Osman Ayberk Pekcan on May 22, 1970, in Mersin, he spent his childhood in Adana and finished high school back in Mersin. Before completing a degree in the Theatre department of Mersin University's Faculty of Fine Arts, he worked as a civil servant and a laborer and spent time in local politics; in 2001 he left the civil service, settled in Istanbul, and turned to acting.

He debuted on screen in 1995 with Çiçek Taksi, then took prominent roles in Tatlı Hayat, Ihlamurlar Altında, Yaprak Dökümü, Kurtlar Vadisi Pusu and Keşanlı Ali Destanı. His work in the film Saç brought him a Best Actor award in 2011, and his role in Aşk ve Devrim was honored at both the Ankara and İzmir film festivals in 2012; his parts in Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Kış Uykusu and Mustang also drew critical praise. His widest recognition came from playing Artuk Bey in Diriliş Ertuğrul, which he began in 2014; the series' popularity in Pakistan led him to visit the country with a delegation in 2020.

Diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2021, Pekcan died on January 24, 2022, at age 51 in his native Mersin and was buried in Tarsus; his final film, Dilberay, reached theaters just days after his death.