Sümer Tilmaç

Sümer Tilmaç — Biography

Born Sıtkı Kazım Sümer Tilmaç (15 July 1948, Malatya – 12 June 2015, Istanbul), he grew up in Antalya despite being born in Malatya, and became a familiar face of Turkish theatre, film and television. He began his acting career on stage in 1962, spent three years with the Antalya State Theatre, and went on to appear in dozens of films and series over a career of more than four decades.

Known for character roles in productions such as Kahpe Bizans, Hemşo, Gönül Yarası, Maskeli Beşler İntikam Peşinde, Osmanlı Cumhuriyeti, Korkusuz and Denizden Gelen, Tilmaç also worked in advertising and television projects and received the Golden Orange Honorary Award.

Alongside his acting career, Tilmaç ran a restaurant in Istanbul serving Antalya cuisine; after it closed, he and his wife welcomed visitors to their orange orchard in Serik, Antalya, offering local food and crafts. He died of a heart attack at 66 on 12 June 2015, and remains fondly remembered as one of the enduring names of Turkish cinema.