03.07.2025 14:04
It has been 25 years since the passing of Kemal Sunal. The master actor, who is remembered for films like "Hababam Sınıfı" and "Tosun Paşa," passed away on July 3, 2000, after suffering a heart attack while boarding a plane. His wife, Gül Sunal, shared an emotional message on the anniversary, stating, "Even if another 25 years pass, it seems impossible for me to understand and accept this."
The legendary figure of Turkish cinema, Kemal Sunal, has been gone for exactly 25 years. The master artist, who left an indelible mark on the hearts of the people with the innocent, honest, and cheerful characters he portrayed in dozens of films, passed away on July 3, 2000, due to a heart attack he suffered just before takeoff on a plane he boarded to go to Trabzon for the filming of the movie "Balalayka."
Sunal, who had never flown in his life and was known for his fear of flying, stepped onto a plane for the first time that day, but this journey ended tragically before it could even begin. With the laughter-filled films he left behind and the love of millions, his absence is deeply felt even as the years go by.
"I CAN'T ACCEPT IT EVEN IF 25 MORE YEARS PASS"
Gül Sunal commemorated her husband on the 25th anniversary of his death with a heart-wrenching post on her social media account. In the message, where the feelings of longing and inability to accept are intensely felt, she expressed, "Kemaaaalllll !!!! I really can't accept that you are gone… It seems that a long time was needed for this… Even if 25 more years pass, it doesn't seem possible for me to understand and accept this… And you really haven't gone… July 3 has come again. I have said all the words I know for 25 years… I can no longer find the words…”
HE CONTINUES TO LIVE ON WITH HIS LEGENDARY ROLES
"Hababam Sınıfı," "Köyden İndim Şehire," "Tosun Paşa," "Kapıcılar Kralı," "Süt Kardeşler," and many more… Kemal Sunal was not only a master of comedy in Turkish cinema but also the architect of characters that became symbols of honesty and the common man. These characters, which hold a special place in the memory of viewers of all ages, made him unforgettable.
HE ACTED IN 82 FILMS
Kemal Sunal managed to fit 82 films into his 28-year artistic career, excluding theater plays, with 6 of them being supporting roles and 76 being leading roles. Sunal, who also acted in a total of 4 series between 1993-1996, including "Saygılar Bizden," "Şaban Askerde," "Şaban ile Şirin," and "Bay Kamber," portrayed many characters from teacher to guard, from janitor to garbage collector, and was always of interest to audiences.
With every character he portrayed, Sunal, who managed to make the audience smile and was widely embraced by the public, highlighted examples of Turkish people's traditions, customs, and beliefs in most of the films he acted in.