28.06.2026 18:11
The funeral of Kadir İnanır, the legendary leading man of Yeşilçam who passed away, was brought to Ulus Cemetery after the funeral prayer at Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha Mosque. Türkan Şoray, with whom he appeared in front of the camera in many films, also attended the funeral. Şoray, who did not leave her close friend alone on his final journey, was caught in the crowd amidst the chaos.
The funeral of Kadir İnanır, the master actor of Yeşilçam, who passed away at the age of 77 in the hospital where he was being treated in Istanbul, was brought to the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha Mosque in Levent for the funeral prayer following a farewell ceremony.
FAREWELL TO KADİR İNANIR The funeral of Kadir İnanır, the master actor of Yeşilçam, who passed away at the age of 77 in the hospital where he was being treated in Istanbul, was brought to the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha Mosque in Levent for the funeral prayer after a farewell ceremony held at the Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage. The mosque courtyard was filled with his loved ones and many names from the art community who wanted to pay their last respects. The master actor was laid to rest at the Ulus Cemetery following the funeral prayer after the afternoon prayer.
TÜRKAN ŞORAY ALSO CAME All eyes were on Türkan Şoray during his final journey. Şoray did not leave her close friend İnanır, with whom she co-starred in many films, alone on his final journey. Due to the crowd's interest, Şoray found herself in the middle of a commotion.
SONER ARICA: DEATH DID NOT SUIT UNCLE KADİR AT ALL A funeral ceremony was first held for the master name of Turkish cinema, Kadir İnanır, at the Harbiye Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Batuhan Mumcu, General Director of Cinema Birol Güven, General Director of State Theaters Tamer Karadağlı, former Minister of Culture and Tourism Ertuğrul Günay, İYİ Party Chairman Müsavat Dervişoğlu, and İBB Deputy Chairman Nuri Aslan, as well as many people from the cinema, politics, and art worlds.
Speaking to an AA correspondent before the ceremony, İnanır's nephew Soner Arıca stated that his emotions were shattered and he couldn't believe the reality, saying, "I think, 'This can't be.' Because I don't like the word death anyway, but there's no other way to describe it now. It doesn't suit anyone, yes, but it didn't suit Uncle Kadir at all. He wasn't just my uncle. He was the uncle, big brother, and sibling of the whole country. Of course, for me, he wasn't just an uncle, but also an artist I greatly admired, a great actor."
Reminding that he had also lost his mother recently, Arıca said, "I am sad and shocked. My mother three days ago, we are going through such a strange process three days apart. I am really sad, shocked. I think there is a summary of the crowd that loves him here, as much as fits here. I think the whole country is here right now. That's how I feel. From the messages and comments I've been receiving for two days, I understand that really the whole country is here now. Everyone is naturally very sad. Because he was an idol, an icon, we are talking about a very great artist. Our family relationships aside, him being my uncle aside, we are talking about a very important artist. No matter how I look at it, it's very difficult, no matter how I look at it, it's very complicated."
Cinema writer Atilla Dorsay, noting that Turkish cinema became widespread with Yeşilçam, said, "Yeşilçam was a legend. Just as there is Hollywood in America, there was Yeşilçam here, and the films Yeşilçam made took people running to movie theaters. Meanwhile, we got to know Kadir İnanır. He was in a very different place. There were many artists. But with about 180 films he made, he endeared himself to our people with all those films. I don't know if such a man can replace him after this."
JÜLİDE KURAL: YOU ALL KNOW HIS HUMANITY Jülide Kural, who made the first speech at the ceremony that began with a screening of a segment from the documentary "The Man from the North," emphasized İnanır's humanity and conscience.
Kural shared, "Actually, you all know Kadir İnanır. You all know his overflowing anger against injustice, that he never needed words to express his love, his conscience rising against poverty, injustice, inequality, and sometimes in the fragility of his heart, how those tears were the friend of those beautiful eyes, in short, you all know his humanity. Perhaps it is something I have always witnessed while he built his own acting in cinema, which was perhaps his greatest excitement in life. It is the place he always turned to, his heart, his intuitions, and most importantly, his curiosity and courage to look at life with a smile. I always watched him in these processes, and that was a great privilege for me. Watching how an actor builds his beloved profession was a very special experience for me. On the other hand, you know that Kadir İnanır, with just one look, is the unforgettable memory of his audience that will last for years."
Jülide Kural MENDERES SAMANCILAR: HE WAS A HUGE FIG TREE FOR ME Actor Menderes Samancılar noted that the master artist compiled the Hekimoğlu Folk Song and said, "He also spoke of it with praise. We would hug in a friendly way; he was a huge fig tree for me. A heart constantly giving sweet figs, looking at life sweetly, full of peace, brotherhood, and love. We will never forget a value like Kadir İnanır."
LEVENT İNANIR: HE WILL LIVE INSIDE US İnanır's nephew Levent İnanır, recalling that his uncle said in an interview years ago, "If I die one day, funerals will be held in all houses in Turkey," noted the following:
Levent İnanır "Again, in his own words, he would say, 'My body will go, but the films I made will be watched with pleasure years later.' Watching with pleasure can be underlined as follows: all his films were quality works that pointed to social wounds, chose heroes from among us, and touched the scripts as much as he acted in them. Therefore, they will leave traces in all of you. We will continue our lives with those traces. That's why I am not saying goodbye to him. He will live inside us, he is living."
At the ceremony, names such as Adil Kaya, Ali Gündoğdu, Köksal Holoğlu, Kerim Yıldız, his goddaughter Aslı Kızıltuğ, Baran Seyhan, Nevsal Elevli, Canan Kaftancıoğlu, Ada Cemal, Cemal Kayacı, Sali Turan, and his niece Gül Bakar also took the stage to express their feelings and thoughts. The commemoration program ended with a farewell and respect procession by the attendees in front of the master artist's coffin.