Olgun Şimşek

Olgun Şimşek is a Turkish actor known for the cult youth comedy Yedi Numara, the hit sitcom Yalan Dünya and his Golden Orange-winning performance in Uğur Yücel’s Yazı Tura. He was born on 1 June 1971 in the village of Yenice in Büyükorhan, Bursa; his father was a primary school teacher.

Training

Şimşek graduated in theatre from the Istanbul University State Conservatory and began acting professionally in 1993. Early on he appeared on stage in Otogargara with Demet Akbağ and Yılmaz Erdoğan.

Film

After small parts in Tersine Dünya (1993) and Yerçekimli Aşklar (1995), his role in Karışık Pizza (1998) won him Most Promising Actor at the Ankara Film Festival. In 2004 he played a soldier left disabled after his service in Uğur Yücel’s Yazı Tura, winning the Golden Orange for Best Actor as well as best actor awards in Ankara, Istanbul, Adana and from SİYAD.

Television

On TV he appeared in Sihirli Ceket, Beşik Kertmesi and Alacakaranlık. He became a household name with Yedi Numara, the much-loved youth comedy, and later played two different characters in the sitcom Yalan Dünya, one of the most popular Turkish comedies of the 2010s.

Why audiences love him

Şimşek moves easily between comedy and drama, and his warm, funny screen persona has made him a favourite with several generations of Turkish viewers.

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