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Kemal Sunal, the people's beloved, starred in 82 films and created unforgettable characters
Kemal Sunal, an unforgettable figure in Turkish cinema, won hearts with his pure, honest, everyman hero roles, especially the character of 'İnek Şaban'. His artistic career, spanning 82 films and numerous awards, came to a tragic end with a heart attack on a flight to Trabzon in 2000.
From a childhood of deprivation, Kemal Sunal went on to build a career with 82 films and unforgettable characters, becoming one of Turkish cinema's most beloved names. With his 'İnek Şaban' persona, the veteran actor entered the hearts of millions, using humor to address social inequality, bureaucracy, and injustice on the big screen.
A childhood marked by poverty and the education years
Born on November 11, 1944 in Küçükpazar, Istanbul, Ali Kemal Sunal was the first child of Mustafa Sunal from Malatya and Saime Hanım. As a member of a low-income family, he worked as an electrician's apprentice and later at the Emayetaş Factory. He completed primary school at Mimar Sinan Primary School and high school at Vefa High School, which took him 11 years to finish.
While still in high school, Sunal developed an interest in theater, and his philosophy teacher Belkıs Balkır discovered his talent. Convinced that 'You should be an actor,' the teacher persuaded his family and took him to Kenter Theater to meet Müşfik Kenter. Sunal, who appeared on stage as an amateur in 'Zoraki Tabip' during high school, won the 'Best Character Actor' award at a competition organized by the Akşam newspaper.
From theater stages to movie sets
Starting his professional theater career in 1966 with the play 'Deli İbrahim' at Kenter Theater, Sunal drew attention by making the audience laugh despite having no lines. After a short stint there, he moved to Pendik Theater, where he met Bülent Kayabaş. Due to theater tours, he had to put his education on hold. He later performed at Ulvi Uraz Theater, Aksaray Küçük Opera, Ayfer Feray Theater, and Devekuşu Cabaret Theater.
After watching the play 'Dün Bugün' at Devekuşu Cabaret, Münir Özkul told director Ertem Eğilmez, 'Keep an eye on this kid, he's got something,' which opened the door to Sunal's transition to cinema. Sunal made his film debut in 1972 with 'Tatlı Dillim', appearing alongside Münir Özkul, Zeki Alasya, Metin Akpınar, Tarık Akan, and Filiz Akın in the cast.
'İnek Şaban' and unforgettable characters
His portrayal of 'İnek Şaban' in the 1975 film 'Hababam Sınıfı' made Sunal one of Turkey's most recognizable faces. This naive, honest, and justice-seeking folk hero instantly became the audience's darling. That same year, he starred in films such as 'Hanzo' and 'Şaşkın Damat'.
1976 was a busy year for Sunal: he worked with five different directors on productions such as 'Süt Kardeşler', 'Hababam Sınıfı Uyanıyor', 'Tosun Paşa', 'Sahte Kabadayı', 'Meraklı Köfteci', and 'Kapıcılar Kralı'. The master actor, who made every character his own, made audiences laugh in a wide range of roles, from teachers to watchmen and from janitors to garbage collectors.
The artist explained the public's embrace of his roles with these words: 'The secret behind this love stems first from the fact that I am a simple citizen. It comes from being one of the people, from having my back to the people. I am not a balloon.'
Private life and academic achievements
The actor, who married Gül Sunal in 1975 after meeting her during a Devekuşu Theater tour in Ankara, had two children, Ali and Ezo. He completed his military service in Ankara in 1981. Sunal, whose education journey was challenging, graduated from Marmara University's Faculty of Communication at the age of 51 in 1995. At the ceremony, he joked, 'I finished a four-year university life in 27 years.' He later completed a master's degree with a thesis titled 'Kemal Sunal's Comedy in Television and Cinema,' which was published as a book by his family in 2005.
A career crowned with awards
Having appeared in a total of 82 films (6 supporting roles, 76 leading roles) and 4 TV series, Kemal Sunal received numerous awards. In 1977, he won the 'Best Actor' award at the Antalya Film Festival for 'Kapıcılar Kralı,' and in 1989, he was named 'Best Actor' at the Ankara Film Festival for 'Düttürü Dünya.' In 1998, he was honored with a 'Lifetime Achievement' award at the Antalya Film Festival.
Sunal, whose films were like motivational stories, portrayed characters such as a watermelon seller who becomes a goalkeeper in 'İnek Şaban,' a janitor who becomes a doctor in 'Doktor Civanım,' and an ordinary civil servant who turns into a neighborhood hero in 'Korkusuz Korkak.' Productions like 'Salako,' 'Bekçiler Kralı,' and 'Yüz Numaralı Adam' followed the same pattern.
Trabzon journey and a tragic farewell
Sunal, who had a lifelong fear of flying and had never boarded a plane, suffered a heart attack on July 3, 2000, on a plane he took to Trabzon for the shooting of the film 'Balalayka.' Despite all interventions, he could not be saved. His funeral was held at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery in Istanbul. His death plunged Turkey into mourning.
Despite the passing years, Kemal Sunal's films continue to be watched with interest on television and digital platforms, and he endures in the collective memory of different generations as a folk hero who makes people laugh and think.
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