Halit Ergenç

Halit Ergenç (Turkish pronunciation: [haˈlit æɾˈɟentʃ]) (born 30 April 1970) is a Turkish actor.

Halit Ergenç was born as the son of Yeşilçam-era actor Sait Ergenç on 30 April 1970 in İstanbul. He completed his secondary education at Beşiktaş Atatürk High School in 1989 and entered İstanbul Technical University to study Marine Engineering. He left after one year to study opera at Mimar Sinan University and supported himself working as a computer operator and marketer. He briefly worked as a backing vocalist and dancer for Ajda Pekkan and Leman Sam.

In 1996, Ergenç began acting at the Dormen Theatre and had his first leading role in the musical The King and I. He established himself on television with his part in the series Kara Melek. He continued working in theatre with such plays as Kiss Me, Kate, Tatlı Charity, Beni Seviyor, Kral ve Ben, Amphitrion 2000, Evita, Hayalet and Ötekiler and Şarkılar Susarsa. Following appearances in the series Köşe Kapmaca and Böyle mi Olacaktı, he went to New York and acted in the musical The Adventures of Zak.

In 2000, he acted in the films Hiç Yoktan Aşk and Ölümün El Yazısı and then the series Dedem, Gofret ve Ben and Zerda where she starred opposite Ece Uslu. Then, he had appearances in a number of plays such as ''Bugün Git Yarın Gel, Popcorn, Arapsaçı and Sevgilime Göz Kulak Ol. In 2004], he starred in the series Aliye with Sanem Çelik and Nejat İşler.

In 2005 and 2006, Ergenç acted in the films Babam ve Oğlum directed by Çağan Irmak, The Net 2.0, Tramway and İlk Aşk. Beginning in 2006, he starred as Onur Aksal in the hit series Binbir Gece which was on air until 2009. During this period he also had roles in the films Devrim Arabaları which on based true story and Acı Aşk. Ergenç also starred as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in the film Dersimiz Atatürk which on based true story. In 2011 he starred as Suleiman the Magnificent in the hit series Muhteşem Yüzyıl until 2014.

Ergenç was involved in the Gezi protests of 2013, appearing in newspaper photos wearing a Bob Marley t-shirt and surgical mask for protection against tear gas. His presence made for interesting copy, since he at once played the role of one of the Ottoman Empire's foremost leader in the show Muhteşem Yüzyıl, and at the same time he was protesting the actions of a government very much invested in celebrating Ottoman glory. Ergenç was subsequently summoned with other cultural leaders to a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan, and Erdoğan apparently quizzed Ergenç on Ottoman words used by Suleiman, the character whom Ergenç played in Muhteşem Yüzyıl.

After, He played two movies in Ali & Nino and İstanbul Kırmızısı. In 2016, He is playing with his wife Bergüzar Korel for 3 times in Vatanım Sensin which based on true story.

Ergenç's mother was of Albanian descent. He is married to actress Bergüzar Korel with who he has a son named Ali. He has stated that he likes Zeki Demirkubuz's style and Ferzan Özpetek's emotion, but prefers to work the most with Reha Erdem and Çağan Irmak who he describes as both young and talented directors.

In 2017, Ergenç visited Pakistan and attended the Lux Style Awards–where he was honoured with the International Icon award–due to his popularity in the country. In his accepting speech, Ergenç said the he has been grew up knowing Pakistan as a "brother country."