List of Istanbulites
Encyclopedia
This is a list of famous people hailing from the city of Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
- Hakan CelikHakan CelikHakan Celik is a Turkish journalist, TV anchorman and radio host.He graduated from the Faculty of Communications of Istanbul University in 1990, and took his M.A. from the Faculty of Political Sciences of the...
, Journalist, TV Anchorman, Radio Producer - AhmetAhmet ErtegunAhmet Ertegün was a Turkish American musician and businessman, best known as the founder and president of Atlantic Records. He also wrote classic blues and pop songs and served as Chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and museum...
and Nesuhi ErtegünNesuhi ErtegunNesuhi Ertegun was a Turkish record producer and executive of Atlantic Records and WEA International.-Background:Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Nesuhi and his family, including younger brother Ahmet, moved to Washington, D.C...
, co-founder and executive of Atlantic RecordsAtlantic RecordsAtlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
and the New York CosmosNew York CosmosThe New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history... - Ahmet Emre Ünal
- Ajda PekkanAjda PekkanAyşe Ajda Pekkan is a Turkish pop singer and actress. Through a career spanning five decades thus far, Pekkan has released more than 20 albums and, with Sezen Aksu, is the most commercially successful female Turkish music artist with the sales of over 30 million copies worldwide. She is nicknamed...
, Singer - Alexander MavrocordatosAlexander MavrocordatosAlexander Mavrocordato was a member of the Greek family Mavrocordatos, a doctor of philosophy and medicine of the University of Bologna, and dragoman to Sultan Mehmed IV in 1673 - notably employed in negotiations with the Habsburg Monarchy during the Great Turkish War.Alexander Mavrocordatos was...
, Greek dragoman to Sultan Mehmed IV - Alexandros SoutsosAlexandros SoutsosAlexandros Soutsos was a Greek poet from a prominent Phanariote family. He founded the Greek Romantic school of poetry. Soutsos was born in Istanbul in 1803 from Chian parentage. At the time of the Greek Revolution, he was a young, liberal partisan. He wrote poems to encourage the insurgents....
, Greek poet and partisan - Ara GülerAra GülerAra Güler is a Turkish photojournalist of Armenian descent, nicknamed "the Eye of Istanbul" or "the Photographer of Istanbul".- Early life :...
, Photographer - Andrew MangoAndrew MangoAndrew James Alexander Mango Andrew James Alexander Mango Andrew James Alexander Mango (born 1926 in Istanbul (Constantinople) is a British author who was born in Turkey as one of three sons of a prosperous Anglo-Russian family. He is the brother of the distinguished Oxford historian and...
, British author - Athinodoros ProusalisAthinodoros ProusalisAthinodoros Prousalis or Proussalis , born in 1926 in Constantinople , Turkey is a Greek film and television actor.-Films:-Television:...
, Greek actor - Constantine YpsilantisConstantine YpsilantisConstantine Ypsilantis , was the son of Alexander Ypsilanti, a key member of an important Phanariote family, Grand dragoman of the Porte , hospodar of Moldavia and Walachia , and a Prince through marriage to the daughter of Alexandru Callimachi.-The Liberation of Greece from the Ottoman...
, Greek revolutionary - Arif MardinArif MardinArif Mardin was a Turkish-American music producer, who worked with hundreds of artists across many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, soul, disco, and country...
, Music producer - Aziz NesinAziz NesinAziz Nesin was a famous Turkish writer and humorist of Crimean Tatar origin and author of more than 100 books.-Pseudonyms:...
, Novelist - Barış MançoBaris MançoBarış Manço was a Turkish rock singer, composer, and television producer. He composed about 200 songs, some of which were translated into a variety of languages including English, Japanese, Greek, Italian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Persian, Urdu and Arabic...
, Musician - Elia KazanElia KazanElia Kazan was an American director and actor, described by the New York Times as "one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history". Born in Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, to Greek parents originally from Kayseri in Anatolia, the family emigrated...
, Director, producer, screenwriter, novelist - Başak Bakırcı
- Batuhan Alpdoğan Lead Guitarist of "Purple Haze"
- Bedri Rahmi EyūboğluBedri Rahmi EyübogluBedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu was a Turkish painter and poet.Bedri Rahmi was born 1911 in Görele on the Black Sea. He was the second child of a family with five. His elder brother, Sabahattin Eyuboglu, is a well-known writer and his younger sister, Mualla Eyüboğlu, was one of the first architects working...
, Painter, poet - Beki L Bahar, Jewish writer, playwright, poet
- Bülent ArelBülent ArelBülent Arel was a Turkish-born composer of contemporary classical music and electronic music.He was born in Istanbul, and studied composition at the Ankara Conservatory and sound engineering in Paris...
, Music producer - Bülent EcevitBülent EcevitMustafa Bülent Ecevit was a Turkish politician, poet, writer and journalist, who was the leader of Republican People's Party , later of the Democratic Left Party and four-time Prime Minister of Turkey.- Personal life :...
, Former prime minister - Cem YilmazCem YilmazCem Yılmaz is a Turkish stand-up comedian, actor and filmmaker, best known for his films G.O.R.A. , A.R.O.G and Yahşi Batı , who has won two Sadri Alışık awards for his roles in Organize İşler and The Magician .-Biography:While studying at the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management of...
, Stand-up comedian, actor - Cornelius CastoriadisCornelius CastoriadisCornelius Castoriadis was a Greek philosopher, social critic, economist, psychoanalyst, author of The Imaginary Institution of Society, and co-founder of the Socialisme ou Barbarie group.-Early life in Athens:...
, Greek-French political philosopher - Cüneyt Ayral, Jewish poet, journalist, broadcaster, photographer, business entrepreneur
- Daron AcemoğluDaron AcemogluKamer Daron Acemoğlu is a Turkish-American economist of Armenian origin. He is currently the Elizabeth and James Killian Professor of Economics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and winner of the 2005 John Bates Clark Medal. He is among the in the world according to IDEAS/RePEc...
, Economist - Duygu AsenaDuygu AsenaDuygu Asena was a Turkish journalist, best-selling author and activist for women’s rights.-Life and career:...
, Women's rights activist - Ege Can Kepoglu, Turkish-American Rock Singer
- Erdem Irez , Co-founder of NDS Electronics
- Ezgi Saydam, Mezzo-soprano
- Fahri KorutürkFahri KoruturkFahri Sabit Korutürk was a Turkish navy officer, diplomat and the sixth President of Turkey.-Biography:He was born in Istanbul, at Soğukçeşme Sokağı, a small street between Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia. He attended the navy cadet school in 1916, was graduated in 1923 and from the Naval Academy...
, Former president of Turkey - Fatma GirikFatma GirikFatma Girik is a Turkish actress and later politician.- Biography :She was born in 1942 in Istanbul. She graduated from "Cağaloğlu Kız Lisesi" in Istanbul. Her first appearance in front of the camera was as a walking lady in the movie "Günahkar Baba" by Arşavir Alyanak...
, Actress - Feyyaz Fergar, Poet, translator, editor
- Galoust Gulbenkyan, Businessman, philanthropist
- Görkem Tüzün, International Maritime Lawyer
- Haldun TanerHaldun TanerHaldun Taner is a well-known Turkish playwright and short story writer. He was born on March 16, 1915 in Istanbul...
, Playwright - Halide Edip AdıvarHalide Edip AdivarHalide Edip Adıvar or Halide Edib Adivar was a Turkish novelist and feminist political leader...
, Novelist, politician - Hamza YerlikayaHamza YerlikayaHamza Yerlikaya is a Turkish Graeco-Roman style wrestler. He is a two-time Olympic champion, three-time World Champion , and the only Turkish wrestler to ever become European champion eight times...
, Wrestler and Olympic gold medalist - Hidayet Türkoğlu, Basketball star
- Alexander Ypsilantis (senior), Greek diplomat
- Alexander Ypsilantis (junior)Alexander Ypsilantis (1792-1828)Alexander Ypsilantis, Ypsilanti, or Alexandros Ypsilantis was a member of a prominent Phanariot Greek family, a prince of the Danubian Principalities, a senior officer of the Imperial Russian cavalry during the Napoleonic Wars, and a leader of the Filiki Eteria, a secret organization that...
, Greek military commander - Hulusi BehçetHulusi BehçetHulusi Behçet was a Turkish dermatologist and scientist. He described a disease of inflamed blood vessels in 1937, which is named after him as the Behçet's disease.- Professional works :...
, Dermatologist - Hülya KoçyiğitHülya KoçyigitHülya Koçyiğit is a famous Turkish actress. She is considered to be one of Turkish cinema's most famous female leads and has received numerous awards such as at the prestigious Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival and at various other international film festivals...
, Actress - Irfan OrgaIrfan Orgaİrfan Orga was a Turkish fighter pilot, staff officer, and author, writing in English. He published books on many areas of Turkish life, cookery, and history, as well as a life of Atatürk, and a universally admired autobiography...
, Turkish Air Force fighter pilot, diplomat, writer - Ismail NecmiIsmail NecmiIsmail Necmi is a Turkish independent photographer and filmmaker.-Career:Born in Turkey, Ismail Necmi works as an independent filmmaker, photographer and visual artist. After graduating in Law from Istanbul University, he collaborated on a number of movies, shorts and documentaries...
, Photographer, Filmmaker - Kerem Demiray, Turkish-Bulgarian Football Player
- Lefter KüçükandonyadisLefter KüçükandonyadisLefter Küçükandonyadis , born 22 December 1925 in Istanbul, is a Turkish football player of Greek descent, who is recognised as one of the greatest footballers to play for Turkey.-Early life and club career:...
, Football player - Leyla GencerLeyla GencerLeyla Gencer, or Ayşe Leyla Çeyrekgil was a world-renowned Turkish operatic soprano.Known as "La Diva Turca" and "La Regina" in the opera world, Gencer was a notable bel canto soprano who spent most of her career in Italy, from the early 1950s through the mid-1980s, and had a repertoire...
, Opera singer - Marika NezerMarika NezerMarika Nezer was a Greek actress. She was the daughter of Konstantinos Nezer, brother of Christoforos Nezer and cousin of Christoforos Nezer and granddaughter of Christoforos Nezer, fort chief of Athens and an aide-de-camp of King Otto of Greece.-Early...
, Greek singer - Mehmet Karamanlargil, Backgammon champion
- Melisa Gürpinar, Poet, writer
- Müjde ArMüjde ArMüjde Ar is a Turkish film actress.- Biography :She is the oldest daughter of the dramaturge and song writer Aysel Gürel. She left school at the age of 20, while she was doing a German Language and Literature M.A...
, Actress - Nasuh MahrukiNasuh MahrukiAli Nasuh Mahruki is a professional mountain climber, writer, photographer and documentary film producer. An all-round outdoor sportsman, he climbed to the summit of Mount Everest and was the first ever Turkish person to climb the Seven Summits.Ali Nasuh Mahruki was born in Istanbul...
, First Turkish Mt. Everest summiter - Neşe ErberkNese ErberkNeşe Erberk is a Turkish businesswoman, a former fashion model, beauty contestant and Miss Europe 1984.-Biography:She was born on October 14, 1964, in İstanbul, Turkey...
, Miss Europe 1984 - Nicola Rossi-LemeniNicola Rossi-LemeniNicola Rossi Lemeni, , was a basso opera singer of mixed Italian-Russian parentage.Rossi Lemeni was born in Istanbul, Turkey, the son of an Italian colonel and a Russian mother. In his prime he was one of the most respected bassos in Italy...
, opera singer - Nihat KahveciNihat KahveciNihat Kahveci is a Turkish footballer. Nihat plays as a Forward.-Biography:Nihat's family name, Kahveci, means "coffee maker." Many people in Turkey adopted the name of their profession as their family name in the early 20th century, suggesting that Nihat's ancestors were in the coffee business...
, Football player - Nuri Bilge CeylanNuri Bilge CeylanNuri Bilge Ceylan is a Turkish photographer and film director. He is married to the filmmaker, photographer, and actress Ebru Ceylan, his co-star in İklimler .-Life:Ceylan learned photography at age 15, and developed an interest in film at 22....
, filmmaker - Oğuz AralOguz AralOğuz Aral was a Turkish political cartoonist.-Biography:Born in Silivri, Istanbul Province, he founded the cartoon magazine Gırgır with his brother Tekin Aral, and created such characters as "Avanak Avni" , "Köstebek Hüsnü" , "Utanmaz Adam" and "Vites Mahmut"...
, Cartoonist - Kleanthis MaropoulosKleanthis MaropoulosKleanthis Maropoulos was a star football player for AEK Athens FC and Greece during the 1930s and 1940s. Arguably the finest Greek football player of his period, he was affectionately known as the "Blonde Eagle of AEK"....
, Greek footballer - Orhan BoranOrhan BoranOrhan Boran is a Turkish radio and TV host and actor. He is also widely known for his laudable usage of the Turkish language.-Early life:...
, radio and TV host - Orhan PamukOrhan PamukFerit Orhan Pamuk , generally known simply as Orhan Pamuk, is a Turkish novelist. He is also the Robert Yik-Fong Tam Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University, where he teaches comparative literature and writing....
, Novelist - Orhan VeliOrhan VeliOrhan Veli Kanık or Orhan Veli was a Turkish poet. Kanık who is the founder of Garip Movement together with Oktay Rıfat and Melih Cevdet has moved to the poetic language, utterance of man-in-the street by purposing rootedly to change the old structure in Turkish poetry...
, Poet - Pekinel sistersPekinel sistersGüher Pekinel and Süher Pekinel as identical twins, are Turkish pianists performing mostly in duet.-Early years:...
, Twin pianists - Gregory V, Greek Patriarch of Constantinople
- Recep Tayyip ErdoğanRecep Tayyip ErdoganRecep Tayyip Erdoğan has been Prime Minister of Turkey since 2003 and is chairman of the ruling Justice and Development Party , which holds a majority of the seats in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey. Erdoğan served as Mayor of Istanbul from 1994 to 1998. He graduated in 1981 from Marmara...
, Prime minister of Turkey - Semiha BerksoySemiha BerksoySemiha Berksoy was one of the first Turkish opera singers, the prima donna of the Turkish opera, a painter, and an internationally acclaimed artist....
, Opera singer - Sertab ErenerSertab ErenerSertab Erener is a Turkish pop music singer and also a cross-over soprano with a vocal range that extends to high F. She is one of the most successful female Turkish pop singers in her homeland, and is considered one of the divas of Turkish pop music...
, Singer - Stavros XenidisStavros Xenidis-Biography:He studied acting in the Arti Theatre of Karolos Coon and made his debut in theatre in 1944. He took part in more than 70 movies, mostly in secondary roles and mainly in the comedy acting part; his first was The Song of Pain and his last was Grafeio ideon .Stavros Xenidis was connected...
, Greek actor - Tansu ÇillerTansu ÇillerTansu Penbe Çiller is a Turkish economist and politician. She was Turkey's first and only female Prime Minister.- Early career :She is the daughter of a Turkish governor of Bilecik province during the 1950s. She graduated from the School of Economics at Robert College after finishing the American...
, Former prime minister - Tolga CevikTolga ÇevikTolga Çevik is a Turkish actor and comedian.He studied theatre at Central Missouri State University in the USA.He is married to Özge Yılmaz, sister of the comedian Cem Yılmaz...
, Actor - Tunch IlkinTunch IlkinTunch Ilkin is a Turkish sports broadcaster and a former American football player. He currently serves as a television and radio analyst for the Pittsburgh Steelers.-Biography:...
, Former American Football Player, TV anchor - Tunç HamaratTunç HamaratTunç Hamarat is a Turkish chess player living in Austria and the 16th International Correspondence Chess Federation World Champion in 2004....
, Correspondence chess World champion 2004 - Yaşar BüyükanıtYasar BüyükanitGeneral Mehmet Yaşar Büyükanıt was the 25th Chief of the Turkish General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces, from 28 August 2006 to 28 August 2008.-Biography:...
, Chief of the Turkish General Staff - Kostas NegrepontisKostas NegrepontisKonstantinos Negrepontis was a Greek football forward of the 1920s and 1930s. Born in Constantinople in 1897, he started his football career in Turkey, playing for the Pera-based Pera Club. He also played in France and Fenerbahçe S.K. for a time before eventually settling in Greece to play for...
, Greek footballer - Yonca EvcimikYonca EvcimikYonca Evcimik is a Turkish pop singer and actress.-Biography:Evcimik studied dance and ballet at the academy of music at Mimar Sinan University. In an interview she revealed that she worked as a sales agent for a life insurance company before starting her career. After graduation she worked at...
, Pop singer - Verda Zincirkıran, Producer
See also
- IstanbulIstanbulIstanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
- TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
- Ottoman EmpireOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
- Turkish RivieraTurkish RivieraThe Turkish Riviera is a term used to define an area of southwest Turkey encompassing Antalya, Muğla and to a lesser extent the provinces of Aydın, southern İzmir and western Mersin...
- Haghia Sophia
- Bosphorus