Biography
Oktay Kaynarca was born on 27 January 1965 in Istanbul‘s Üsküdar district. His parents worked in Germany and his grandmother raised him for much of his childhood; he lost his father at five. He earned a master’s in the Theatre Department of Istanbul University State Conservatory and began acting on screen in the 1989 TRT series Gençler.
He won Best Supporting Actor at the Antalya Altın Portakal Film Festival for both Yengeç Sepeti and Deli Yürek: Bumerang Cehennemi. On television he became a cult figure as Süleyman Çakır in Kurtlar Vadisi (2003 to 2004), and later played Adanalı Yavuz in Adanalı and the title role in Ustura Kemal.
From 2015 to 2021 he played Hızır Çakırbeyli in atv‘s Eşkıya Dünyaya Hükümdar Olmaz, then created, wrote, produced and starred in Ben Bu Cihana Sığmazam (2022 to 2024) through his company KYN Yapım. He has also hosted Kim Milyoner Olmak İster? and released a fashion collection with Kiğılı.
He was married to Melek Angun in 2012 and 2013. In 2026 he is back with atv’s Hamal, based on his own story: he plays Hamal Kemal, a porter in Eminönü hiding a dark past as Harputlu Kemal, and is also co-producer. Filming began on 20 September 2026.
