Filiz Akın (born Suna Akın, 2 January 1943 – 21 March 2025) was a Turkish actress, writer and television presenter. Known as Yeşilçam Turkish cinema's "noble, modern, urban and elegant face", Filiz Akın had a large fan base in Turkey. She was an official ambassador, due to her third husband Sönmez Köksal being Turkey's Ambassador to France. Türk sinemasının asil, modern, kentli ve zarif yüzü Filiz Akın Cumhuriyet, Retrieved 23 January 2014
Life and career Early life and education Filiz Akın was born on 2 January 1943 in Ankara.Filiz Akın’ın Ankara Life Dergisi Röportajı dijimecmua.com, Retrieved 17 January 2014 Her mother, Habibe Leman Şaşırmaz, was a tailor from Ankara, and her father, Bekir Sami Akın, was a judge from Afyonkarahisar.Babam Beni Hiç Sevmedi Hürriyet, erişim 17 Ocak 2014 Her mother was of Albanian descent on her paternal side, while her father was of Circassian descent on his maternal side. She had a sister Günseli from her mother's second marriage.Modacı olmak bizim genlerimizde var Posta, Retrieved 17 January 2014 Her grandmother, Halime Hanım's father was a clerk of Atatürk, and her stepfather was Atatürk's executive assistant and would ask Halime Hanım's help in Atatürk's attire for state occasions. Filiz Akın lived in Beypazarı, where her father was working, until the age of three. Filiz Akın'dan Beypazarı nostaljisi Hürriyet, Retrieved 17 January 2014 At the age of five, she started attending primary school. She finished her primary education at Sarar Elementary School in Kızılay, Ankara.Kızılay'da tarih kokan okul 'Sarar' Sabah, Retrieved 24 January 2014 Her parents divorced when she was seven years old.
Filiz Akın continued her education at TED Ankara College Foundation Schools through boarding and scholarship. She received various awards at the school with her paintings and compositions.Türk sinemasının unutulmaz ismi 'Filiz Akın' kariyer.net, Retrieved 18 January 2014 She passed all the classes successfully, and was chosen as an ideal student by her teachers. Her best-known hidden talent at school was her very good imitation.Filiz Akın, Sabah Newspaper (9 October 2005) Sabah, Retrieved 23 January 2014 In June 1960, she graduated from college.Filiz Akın'ı annesi anlatıyor (July/1963) michaelshow.com, Retrieved 20 January 2014 After finishing her studies, she started working at the Ankara branch of American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines.Carpe diem (Bugünü yaşa) Sabah, Retrieved 17 January 2014Anılar Milliyet, Retrieved 17 January 2014 After working at the company for two years, she became the head of its marine branch. She learned English, French, and a little bit of Italian. Meanwhile, she attended Ankara University, Faculty of Language, History and Geography for a semester and studied archaeology.
Rise to fame With the insistence of her friend Oya San's mother, Akın participated at a competition organized by Artist magazine and became the winner in 1962. After she was told that she would receive the award only if she would play in the movie Akasyalar Açarken, she refused to accept it. Journalists and filmmakers came from Istanbul to Ankara to convince her, but she still refused to accept the deal. But when Memduh Ün came to Ankara and insisted on it, she accepted to play in the film. She left the university and work and came to Istanbul with her mother. Trusting the executives of the magazine and Memduh Ün, who convinced her to take the role, helped Akın start her film career.
She signed the agreement and after shooting her first film Akasyalar Açarken opposite Göksel Arsoy in 1962, the producers prepared a program for her during the entire year.
1962–1975 Tatlı Dillim, Yumurcak, Umutsuzlar, Ankara Ekspresi, Utanç, Dağlar Kızı Reyhan and Yankesici Kız were among her most famous movies. In 1971, for her role in Ankara Ekspresi she won the best actress award at the 8th International Antalya Film Festival.8.Antalya Altın Portakal Film Festivali altinportakal.org.tr, Retrieved 18 January 2014 From May 1962 to September 1972, she starred in more than 105 films. After appearing in 116 films Akın ended her cinema career in 1975. Together with actors Türkan Şoray, Hülya Koçyiğit and Fatma Girik, she left a mark on Turkish cinema and was accepted as one of the four influential actresses of her time.Dört Yapraklı Yonca ltinkozafestivali.org.tr Retrieved 23 January 2014
In 1965, her son İlker from her first marriage to Türker İnanoğlu was born.İlker İnanoğlu sinematurk.com, Retrieved 18 January 2014 During this period the family resided at Şişli.Yeşilçam Efsanesi Filiz Akın Bir Zamanlar Bu Evde Oturuyordu! acunn.com, Retrieved 18 January 2014 In 1974, the couple divorced after 10 years of marriage.Türker İnanoğlu Biyografi turkerinanoglu.com, erişim 19 Ocak 2014
1975–1982 After ending her cinema career, she played in Istanbul Bank's commercials and in 1977 she presented the music program Podyum Show on TRT. In 1979, she took a role in Haldun Dormen'in play Bir Ayrılık.Filiz Akın tiyatrocu oldu Milliyet (23 August 1979, page 19), Retrieved 21 January 2014Kulis dedikoduları Hey Dergisi, Retrieved 18 January 2014
In 1979, she performed as a headliner at the İzmir International Fair.1979 İzmir Fuarı yesilcamsokak.com, Retrieved 18 January 2014
In September 1979Millî Tarih, Radikal newspaper, 15 September 2009 she was stabbed in the leg by an attacker while entering the İzmir Efes Hotel. The attacker who was captured immediately, said to the prosecutor that he was in love with Filiz Akın but after she refused his advances, he decided to stab her. He later changed his confession and said that he was asked by mafia boss Mehmet Nabi İnciler to perform this act. Filiz Akın survived the attack with a slight wound and at the same night appeared on stage.Filiz Akın’ın Bıçaklandığı Gün , Turksinemasi.com, 7 November 2012
1982–2002 For 11 years, Akın lived in Neuilly and Bougival in Paris, and then moved to the Turkish embassy in Paris for the next four years, making her stay in France 15 years.
In 1982, she married Bubi Rubinstein. They divorced in 1993 after 11 years of marriage.Filiz Akın neden boşandı? Milliyet (09.04.1993), Retrieved 19 January 2014
In 1989, she played in series "Geçmiş Bahar Mimozaları".
In May 1994, she married chief of the National Intelligence Organization Sönmez Köksal in Ankara.Ankara'da Mutlu Son Milliyet (16 May 1994), Retrieved 18 January 2014Sönmez Köksal mit.gov.tr, Retrieved 19 January 2014 After marriage, the couple settled in Ankara. The witnesses to their marriage were President Süleyman Demirel and Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Hüsamettin Cindoruk.
Her husband, Sönmez Köksal, was appointed as ambassador to France in February 1998Filiz Akın resmen Paris sefiresi Hürriyet, Retrieved 19 Ocak 2014 and for four years they lived at the Turkish embassy in Paris. To promote Turkey and its culture in Paris, she organized a Turkish-Ottoman products exhibition in La Fayette, and Lale Park and Turkish Painters Exhibition in Bagatelle. These actions made Filiz Akın a cultural ambassador, who with her effortsBir Kültür Elçisi: Filiz Akın Sabah (08.05.1999), erişim 24 Ocak 2014Gerçekten Türkler çılgın mı? Sabah, Filiz Akın (27 November 2005), erişim 24 Ocak 2014 influenced the French by Turkish culture."Günah keçisi" seçilenler.. Sabah, Retrieved 20 Ocak 2014
In 1991, her father, Sami Akın, died in İzmir.Filiz Akın'a Acı Bayram Milliyet (27 June 1991), Retrieved 18 January 2014
2002–2025 In 2002, she learned that she had cancer of the nose and mouth (nasopharynx).‘Kansere karşı insanları sarsmak istiyorum’ Milliyet, erişim 18 Ocak 2014Onlar kanseri yendi! Sabah, erişim 18 Ocak 2014 She received treatment at the MD Anderson Cancer Center of the University of TexasMD.Anderson Kanser Merkezi Sabah, Retrieved 18 January 2014 and her cancer was cured.Filiz Akın anlatıyor: Kanseri nasıl yendim? kanseriyendim.com, Retrieved 18 January 2014
From 2004 to 2007, she worked as a columnist for Sabah.Filiz Akın, Sabah Gazetesi (2004) Sabah, Retrieved 19 January 2014Filiz Akın, Sabah Gazetesi (2005) Sabah, Retrieved 19 January 2014Filiz Akın, Sabah Gazetesi (2006) Sabah, erişim 19 Ocak 2014Filiz Akın, Sabah Gazetesi (2007) Sabah, Retrieved 19 January 2014
In 2005, for the benefit of Turkey Breast Foundation and to support the "yellow bracelets against cancer," she launched a campaign, and more than 1 million bracelets were sold.Filiz Akın ile Sarı Bilezik Kampanyası (2005) Meme Vakfı, Retrieved 21 January 2014Hayat kurtaran bilezik Milliyet, Retrieved 21 January 2014 In 2005, she supported the promotion of the "blue bracelet" campaign organized for the benefit of the Hacettepe University Hope House project, organized to raise awareness of cancer in the community.Şimdi de mavi bilezikler hayat kurtaracak Vatan, Retrieved 21 January 2014Mavi Bilezik Kampanyası hoev.org.tr, Retrieved 21 January 2014 From 2007, she was a supporter of "Türkiye'de İşitmeyen Kalmasın", a project initiated by The Starkey Hearing Foundation's and Turkey EMÖV Foundation. İşitme engellilere yine müjde var Hürriyet, Retrieved 21 January 2014Mavi Starkey'den Ses Getirecek Bir Proje Daha emov.org.tr/, Retrieved 21 January 2014
In 2006, the street where she lived until she was 3 years old, was named as "Filiz Akın Sokak" by the city council in Beypazarı.Filiz Akın'ın adı Beypazarı'nda sokağa verildi Vatan, Retrieved 19 January 2014 In 2008, she presented the program "Filiz Akın'la Sohbetler" on Kanal 1.'Dualarla ayaktayız' Milliyet, Retrieved 19 January 2014 In 2009, she presented "Filiz Akın'la Hafta Sonu Sohbetleri" on Habertürk TV.Bizi antika gibi bir yere koydular Milliyet, Retrieved 19 January 2014
In November 2013, she met her fans for her third book, Lezzete Merhaba'''s signature day at the 32nd Tüyap Istanbul Book Fair.TÜYAP'tan Filiz Akın geçti Yeni Şafak, Retrieved 20 January 2014 Filiz Akın was a member of the Board of Trustees of TED University.TED Üniversitesi Mütevelli Heyet Üyesi tedu.edu.tr, Retrieved 21 January 2014
Akın died at a hospital in Istanbul on 21 March 2025, at the age of 82. She was interred at Aşiyan Asri Cemetery.
Awards
1971 International Antalya Film Festival, Best Actress, Ankara Ekspresi 1972 School of Journalists, Best Female Artist in Cinema 1974 Turkish Journalists' Association, Female Artist of the Year 2000 37th International Antalya Film Festival, Lifetime Honorary AwardAltın Portakal’ın ilk ödülleri verildi NTV Retrieved 18 January 2014 2001 Golden Orange Culture and Art Foundation, Lifetime Honorary AwardAltın Portakal Kültür ve Sanat Vakfı Milliyet, Retrieved 18 January 2014 2004 Contemporary Cinema Actors Association, Acting Award of 2004Sinemacılara 'çağdaş' ödüller Sabah, Retrieved 18 January 2014 2005 74th İzmir International Fair, "Sinema Burada Festival"'s Lifetime Honorary Award,74. Uluslararası İzmir Fuarı yeniasir.com.tr, Retrieved 18 January 2014 2005 Magazine Journalists Association, 12th Golden Objective Awards, Honorary Award Hürriyet, Retrieved 18 January 2014 2006 Isparta Süleyman Demirel University, honorary doctor degree 2008 45th Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival,"Festival Order"45. Antalya Altın Portakal Film Festivali başladı Cumhuriyet, Retrieved 18 January 2014 2009 16th International Adana Film Festival, Lifetime Honorary AwardAltın Koza ödülleri açıklandı Sabah, Retrieved 19 January 2014 2010 Yeşilçam Awards, Culture and Art Service AwardFiliz Akın'a hizmet jesti Sabah, Retrieved 18 January 2014 2010 21st Ankara International Film Festival, Aziz Nesin Labor Award21. Ankara Uluslararası Film Festivali ntvmsnbc.com, Retrieved 18 January 2014 2010 Beykent University, Turkish Cinema Day of Love, Honorary AwardFiliz Akın: Yeni filmlerde masumiyet kalmadı Sabah, Retrieved 21 January 2014 2011 6th International Dadaş Film Festival, Honorary AwardOnur Ödülü'nü oğulları verecek Sabah, Retrieved 18 January 2014