Memet Ali Alabora

Memet Ali Alabora — Biography

Memet Ali Alabora (born 25 November 1977 in Istanbul) is the son of actors Mustafa Alabora and Betül Arım and trained at the Istanbul University State Conservatory. He became known for playing the character Memoli in the 1999-2002 television series Yılan Hikayesi, and appeared in popular comedies such as the Hababam Sınıfı sequels, Yedi Kocalı Hürmüz and Maskeli Beşler, as well as taking the lead role in the Turkish-Greek co-production Kayıkçı. In theatre, he was among the founders of Garajistanbul in 2007 and of the Actors' Union (Oyuncular Sendikası) in 2011.

He supported the 2013 Gezi Park protests and was accused of helping provoke the unrest through a play he staged, allegations he has consistently denied. He said he received death threats after the accusations, was tried in the Gezi Park case, and had an arrest warrant issued against him in 2018; he settled in Wales during this period.

Now living in Wales, Alabora announced his divorce from actress Pınar Öğün in 2021. In 2023 a film he directed in Wales, "Wales Is a Sanctuary Country," won an award, and in interviews he has said he believes he is "standing on the right side of history."