Yeşilçam legend 'Panther Emel' has passed away

Yeşilçam legend 'Panther Emel' has passed away

16.06.2026 20:30

Actress Emel Yıldız, known to the public by the nickname 'Panther Emel' and who lost her daughter 40 days ago, has passed away. It was learned that Yıldız, who died at the age of 85, will be laid to rest after her funeral prayer to be held at Fatih Mosque tomorrow at noon prayer.

Actor Emel Yıldız has passed away. 

"SHE LOST HER DAUGHTER 40 DAYS AGO..."

Actor Tuna Arman, known in the public as 'Panter Emel', made a statement on her social media account regarding Yıldız's death, saying, "We lost Panter Emel. We will bid her farewell tomorrow afternoon at Fatih Mosque after the noon prayer. She lost her daughter 40 days ago.. You always told us to be happy, Emel abla, I am very sad to hear you are gone, very sad."

Actor Emel Yıldız passed away

WILL BE BURIED TOMORROW

It has been learned that Emel Yıldız, who passed away at the age of 85, will be laid to rest after the funeral prayer to be held at Fatih Mosque during tomorrow's noon prayer.

WHO IS PANTER EMEL?

Emel Yıldız, born in Bulgaria in 1941, worked as an actor in Yeşilçam during her youth and acted in many films. One of the most interesting details in cinema history is that she is the person who discovered Türkan Şoray. Türkan Şoray went to a film set with Emel Yıldız, who was the daughter of her landlords at the time, and thus stepped into cinema.

Emel Yıldız in her youth

After her acting career, she dedicated herself entirely to protecting stray animals. Especially in the 1990s and 2000s, she was remembered for her uncompromising and aggressive defense style, standing up to those who abused animals and giving harsh reactions to those who insulted her on television programs. The nickname "Panter Emel" comes from this uncompromising attitude.

Emel Yıldız with animals

She wrote columns on environment, human and animal rights in popular culture and arts magazines such as Öküz and Hayvan, as well as in various newspapers.

Emel Yıldız in her later years

She fought great struggles alone in the early periods for the awareness of stray animals and animal rights in Turkey, and with her unique style, she became one of Turkey's unforgettable figures.

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