Sami Hazinses

Sami Hazinses — Biography

Sami Hazinses was one of those Yeşilçam character actors who took up little space in the credits but a great deal in the audience's memory. Born Samuel Agop Uluçyan, he appeared in more than 330 films and series over roughly half a century, mostly in supporting roles. Besides acting he wrote lyrics and music; the song Derdimi Kimlere Desem (Dinleyin Beni Dağlar) has become a classic, known in the voices of Müslüm Gürses, İbrahim Tatlıses and many others.

Born in the Hançepek quarter of Diyarbakır, he came to Istanbul to work after primary school. He entered cinema in 1953 with a small part in Kara Davut, directed by Mahir Canova and starring Cüneyt Gökçer, Atıf Kaptan and Muhterem Nur. In later years his parts grew and he made his place among comic performers. He also contributed to cinema as a composer with the music for the 1960 film Şoför Nebahat. His filmography is wide: Memo in Belanın Kralı, Avarel Dalton in Atını Seven Kovboy: Red Kit Daltonlara Karşı and Cemal in Tövbekar are among his roles.

As a composer, his piece Bir Dilbere Müptelâdır Deli Gönlüm was sung by Zeki Müren. A Turkish Armenian, Hazinses's identity was often discussed in articles and interviews written years after his death. He died in Istanbul on 23 August 2002 aged 76, and after the ceremony at the Surp Takavor Church in Kadıköy was buried in the Kadıköy Armenian Cemetery.