12.10.2026 13:23
Actor, poet and writer Nihat Ziyalan, known for the villain characters he portrayed in Yeşilçam, passed away at the age of 90. The artist had been living in Sydney, Australia, for many years.
Nihat Ziyalan, who had lived in Sydney, Australia for many years, passed away at the age of 90. The artist, who appeared in numerous films in the 1960s and 1970s, was also interested in poetry and literature as well as acting.
HE MOVED INTO CINEMA AT YILMAZ GÜNEY’S INVITATION
After his military service, Ziyalan began acting at Adana City Theatre, and after the theatre closed, he continued his work at Ankara Art Theatre. His first poetry book, “The Sullen-Faced One,” was published in 1963.
Ziyalan came to Istanbul in 1966 at the invitation of his childhood friend Yılmaz Güney and stepped into cinema by taking a role in the film “Horse Thief Banuş.”
HE PORTRAYED YEŞİLÇAM’S VILLAIN CHARACTERS
Ziyalan, who mainly took on villain roles in his film career, also portrayed the character Nedim in the film “Sezercik, the Lion’s Cub.”
The last film of the artist, who worked in the same productions with such names as Kadir İnanır, Hülya Koçyiğit, Ediz Hun, Lale Belkıs, Türkan Şoray, Fatma Girik, and Selma Güneri, was “Torment,” directed by and starring Şoray.
HE HAD RECEIVED THE ÇUKUROVA AWARD
Ziyalan, who spent the later years of his life in Australia, also continued his literary work. The artist from Adana was deemed worthy of the Çukurova Award in 2009 for his contributions to the promotion of Çukurova.