27.06.2026 11:34
Kadir İnanır, regarded as one of the living legends of Turkish cinema, has won the hearts of millions over his 50-year artistic career. With his unforgettable films and countless awards, he has become one of Yeşilçam's most powerful male actors. He was our resilient Tatar Ramazan who said "I'll spoil this game" against injustice, and İlyas in Al Yazmalım who taught that love is labor. İnanır's latest film in his cinema career was the 2019 film Kapı.
Kadir İnanır, one of the names that left a mark on half a century of Turkish cinema, earned a place in the memories of millions not only with the films he acted in, but also with the unforgettable characters he portrayed. The master actor, who redefined the concept of the "leading man" in Yeşilçam, inscribed his name among the living legends of Turkish cinema with his performances in over 180 films. Here is the life and artistic journey of Kadir İnanır, who left behind an unforgettable legacy...
THE LEGENDARY NAME OF TURKISH CINEMA Kadir İnanır, one of the unforgettable names of Turkish cinema, was born on April 15, 1949, in the Fatsa district of Ordu. Originally from the Sürmene district of Trabzon, İnanır was the youngest child of his family. After completing his primary and secondary education in Fatsa, he received boarding education at Istanbul Haydarpaşa High School. He later graduated from the Radio-Television Department of the Faculty of Communication at Marmara University.
HE STEPPED INTO CINEMA THROUGH PHOTO NOVELS In 1968, he participated in the "Cinema Artist Competition" organized by Ses magazine. He could not make it into the top three among the other competitors in this contest, who were Uğur Güçlü, Engin Çağlar, Aykut Bora, Sümer Tilmaç, Demir Karahan, Sühan Baydar, and Altan Bozkurt.
However, by winning first place in the "Photo Novel Artist Competition" organized by Saklambaç Newspaper, İnanır took roles in photo novels for a while. In the same year, he made his entry into cinema with the film "Seven Steps Later."
His first cinema film was 7 Steps Later He shared his first leading role with Türkan Şoray in the film "My Dark-Eyed One" directed by Atıf Yılmaz in 1970. The duo became one of the most unforgettable partners of Turkish cinema over the years.
HE BECAME THE INDISPENSABLE LEADING MAN OF YESILCAM One of the most sought-after actors of Yeşilçam in the 1970s and 1980s, Kadir İnanır starred in landmark productions of Turkish cinema such as "I Long for You with My Slender Willow Red Scarf," "Shame," "A Sip of Love," "Oh Beautiful Istanbul," "A Broken Love Story," "The Log," "The Muleteers," "Tatar Ramazan," and "Tatar Ramazan in Exile." With the characters he portrayed, he became the symbol of the honest, strong, and defiant male figure who does not bow to injustice.
Tatar Ramazan A SUCCESSFUL CAREER CROWNED WITH AWARDS Awarded many prizes throughout his successful career, İnanır won the Best Actor awards at the Altın Koza Film Festival for the film "Shame," at the Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival for "Revenge of the Snakes," and at the Ankara Film Festival for "Tidal Landscapes."
HE ALSO LEFT A MARK ON TELEVISION Meeting the audience not only in cinema but also on television screens, İnanır took roles in numerous TV series, most notably "Marziye." Additionally, he presented the program "This Won't Go On Like This" broadcast on Kanal D in 1995-1996, and the Flash TV Main News Bulletin in 1998.
HIS LAST FILM WAS "THE DOOR" Having fit over 180 films and 12 TV series into his nearly half-century-long artistic career, Kadir İnanır last appeared before the audience in the 2019 film "The Door." Playing the character Yakup in the film directed by Nihat Durak, the master actor returned to the camera after a seven-year hiatus. The film was etched in memories as the final project with which the artist bid farewell to cinema.
PERSONAL LIFE Having been with actress and writer Jülide Kural for many years, Kadir İnanır was also the uncle of musician Soner Arıca, former national football player Erdoğan Arıca, and actor Levent İnanır.
Kadir İnanır - Jülide Kural HE WAS IN INTENSIVE CARE After undergoing long-term treatment following illnesses in 2024, the master artist was admitted to intensive care in 2026 due to pneumonia. As his health condition worsened, Kadir İnanır was intubated and, after spending 6 days in intensive care, passed away today at the age of 77.
Leaving behind not only hundreds of productions but also dozens of unforgettable characters engraved in the memory of Turkish cinema, Kadir İnanır will continue to be remembered as one of the strongest and most charismatic actors of Yeşilçam.