Orhan Elmas

Orhan Elmas — Biography

Orhan Elmas was one of the most prolific figures of Yeşilçam: for more than forty years he worked in cinema as director, screenwriter and actor, and he is credited with 122 films as a director. In all, 138 films and television productions carry his name. He is counted among those who gave the most to Yeşilçam.

He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts for a while without finishing, worked as a magazine illustrator and shop-window dresser among other jobs, and in 1944 turned to journalism, writing about cinema for the newspapers Son Dakika and Posta and the magazines Yıldız and Çiçek; he was managing editor of the magazine Yelpaze. He entered cinema as an actor with Toros Çocuğu and went on to appear in films such as Bir Bahar Akşamı. He began directing in 1954 with Üçüncü Kat Cinayeti. In the 1970s he directed films including Kanlı Para, Hedef and Süpermenler, while acting in Topal, Yüz Numaralı Adam, İnek Şaban, Ayağında Kundura and Kavgamız.

He won the second-best-film award at the Adana Golden Boll Film Festival for Ezo Gelin (1968) and the same award at the Golden Orange for Öleceksek Ölelim (1971), and was given an honorary award at the 31st Golden Orange. He was married to Alev Koral. He died in Istanbul on 26 April 2002.