Okan Yalabık

Okan Yalabık — Biography

Okan Yalabık was born on 13 December 1978 in Istanbul. Raised as the second child of a family with roots in Balıkesir, he attended Şişli Terakki High School and Sakıp Sabancı Anatolian High School before graduating from the Theatre Department of the Istanbul University State Conservatory in 1998; he then earned a master's degree in Film and Drama at Kadir Has University.

Yalabık stepped onto the theatre stage in 1999 with Kent Oyuncuları's production of The Seagull and began his screen career with the series Kaygısızlar. After productions such as Yılan Hikayesi, Avrupa Yakası and Serseri, he became widely known for his role as Necdet in Hatırla Sevgili.

In 2011, his portrayal of Pargalı Ibrahim Pasha in Muhteşem Yüzyıl brought him great fame, especially in Arab countries and Latin America. He appeared in films such as Kolay Para, Güz Sancısı, Av Mevsimi, Annemin Yarası, Tereddüt, Azizler and Mavi Mağara, and in the series Vatanım Sensin, Masum, Hakan: Muhafız and Hekimoğlu. Also active as a voice actor, Yalabık took the lead role in Kasaba (The Town), the 2025 Netflix series directed by Seren Yüce.