The art world was plunged into mourning with the death of Genco Erkal.

An 86-year-old Genco Erkal, who has been battling leukemia for a while, passed away early this morning. The death of the master actor has plunged the art world into mourning. Names like Sabahat Akkiraz and Ceylan Ertem sent farewell messages one after another after the death of the master actor.

Here are the posts of famous personalities.

AJDA PEKKAN

"I am deeply saddened by the loss of the veteran figure of theater, Genco Erkal. He was a very valuable intellectual who dedicated his life to art and an enlightened Turkey ideal. May he rest in peace."

NEBAHAT ÇEHRE

"Genco Erkal, farewell without a single syllable."

MERVE DİZDAR

"Always doing your job with belief, love, and passion."

CEYLAN ERTEM

"Always at the forefront, embracing the rope. He wrote the book of enlightenment. He never stopped producing and thinking. An insatiable actor, a once-in-a-lifetime spirit. We are grateful to have had the honor of knowing you. Thank you thousands of times for everything."

ARMAĞAN ÇAĞLAYAN

"Thank you for everything, Mr. Genco. Rest in peace. These farewells make life even harder as we get older. Goodbye."

ALİ SUNAL

"Goodbye, great master Genco Erkal"

SABAHAT AKKİRAZ

"For some artists, death is just a stop. Master Genco Erkal has passed away. My heart is deeply wounded. I bow with respect to his courage, stance, and what he has contributed to our theater. Rest in lights, master."

GÜL SUNAL

"Another master bid us farewell. His farewell was announced with a poem by Nazım Hikmet. I watched the play 'Bir Delinin Hatıra Defteri' with admiration when I was 12-13 years old... Then he played this magnificent work by Gogol for years. A true actor who never disconnected from theater, never turned his art into money, and never played games he didn't believe in just to get by. Goodbye. One of the few names that left a clean reputation. Goodbye."

CELİL NALÇAKAN

"Great Genco Erkal, flowed from our eyes to our hearts."

CENGİZ SEMERCİOĞLU

We have lost another great master. Turkish theater bids farewell to a legend. I wonder how many of his plays I have watched, how many interviews we have done. Thank you for what you have contributed to the cultural and artistic life of this country, thank you for always standing tall."

YEKTA KOPAN

"You lived loudly, Mr. Genco. Always at the forefront, always in the struggle... Side by side, shoulder to shoulder... With the determination of being enlightened... You always wanted to say goodbye on stage. You were on stage until two months ago. Thank you very much for everything you taught us about life, for teaching us what hard work is, for your mentorship, and for your friendship, Mr. Genco! You became the voice of Nazım, the strength in our hearts. With endless respect and never-ending love..."

CEYHUN YILMAZ

Master theater artist and film actor Genco Erkal has passed away. May his soul rest in peace. After all, what is an actor? We exist while we perform. When we disappear, our voice remains as a pleasant echo in this empty dome. After a while, it is forgotten. The day dawns, cleaners come, and the lines find their places. And the curtain falls."

FAZIL SAY

"Genco Erkal passed away this morning. We have lost our greatest artist. Our condolences. He shed light throughout his entire life, may he rest in lights. He was the greatest hero of solitary struggle... I learned so much from him. Turkey was bigger with him..."