Engin Cezzar

Engin Cezzar — Biography

Engin Cezzar was a Turkish stage, film and television actor and director born in Istanbul. He was educated at Robert College before continuing his studies at the Yale School of Drama and the Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. He began his acting career at Istanbul City Theatres playing "Hamlet," becoming the youngest actor ever to take on the role anywhere in the world.

In 1962 he founded a theater company together with his wife, actress Gülriz Sururi, taking the lead in many of its productions. His portrayal of the character Keşanlı Ali in Haldun Taner's musical "Keşanlı Ali Destanı" became one of the defining roles of his career and remains closely associated with his name.

Cezzar was also one of the closest friends American writer James Baldwin made during his years in Istanbul. He died in 2017, and the Gülriz Sururi-Engin Cezzar Theatre Encouragement Award, established in his and his wife's honor, continues to be presented to theater artists today.