Who is Cihan Ünal? From His Artistic Life to Iconic Works and Marriage to Türkan Şoray

Cihan Ünal, a veteran and prominent actor of Turkish theater and television, has once again drawn attention in recent years through his return to the series "Kuruluş Osman". His name, especially following the latest news, has become one of the most searched terms on social media.

The Beginning: Birth and Education

Cihan Ünal was born on January 22, 1946, in the city of Kastamonu. He completed his primary education in Tosya and Kırıkkale, and then attended Kurtuluş High School in Ankara. He began his artistic career as a teenager by collaborating in Ankara Radio programs such as Radio Theater and "Arkası Yarın".

During this period, he participated in theater classes at the Ankara Public Culture House, receiving training under instructors like Nezhet Şenbay, Suat Taşer, and Mahir Canova, stepping into the professional path of art.

Entry into the Professional Art World

In 1964, he enrolled in the Ankara State Conservatory and graduated five years later from the acting department. In the same year, he performed professionally on stage at the Ankara State Theater.

In 1971, he had his first cinematic experience with the renowned film "Fiddler on the Roof", and afterward, he acted in the Turkish classic horror film "The Devil" (1974).

International Experience and University Teaching

In 1982, after receiving a scholarship from the British Council, Cihan Ünal went to London and worked at institutions like the Royal National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He also taught as a guest instructor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

After returning to Turkey, he began teaching diction, acting, and stage courses at Mimar Sinan University, Yeditepe University, and Hacettepe University. In 2001, he became the head of the Theater Department at Hacettepe University.

Personal Life of Cihan Ünal

Cihan Ünal first married model Sabiha Tarhan, and they had a daughter named Irmak. His second marriage was to prominent Turkish actress Türkan Şoray, and from this marriage, they had a daughter named Yağmur.

He currently continues his activities at the Istanbul Theater, and teaches at Hacettepe University and the Capital Communication Sciences Academy in areas such as diction, anchoring, voice-over, and acting.

"Cihan Ünal is one of the most influential figures in acting education in Turkey, having inspired many generations of actors."

He is also a member of the Center for Performance Research (Giving Voice) and the Theater Actors Association (TODER).

Prominent Works of Cihan Ünal in Cinema and Television

• Fiddler on the Roof (1971)
• The Devil (1974)
• The Judge and the Executioner (1975)
• The Rose and the Nightingale (1977)
• Murad IV (1980)
• Establishment - Osmancık (1987)
• Any Woman
• I Buried You in My Heart
• Mine
• I Love You
• A Woman, A Life
• Storm of Passion
• I Want Love
• Blind Man’s Bluff
• That Woman
• Winds of Wrath
• The Enemy in My Heart
• Prisoners of the Night Dance
• If a Woman Wants
• Magnificent Century: Kösem (2016)