Kenan Işık, who had been in a coma for 10 years due to a cerebral hemorrhage, passed away yesterday morning at Istanbul Baskent University Hospital. Kenan Işık was married to Beryl Işık and was the father of two children. He was 76 years old.
The artist, who had been in a sauna after working out in 2014, said that he felt unwell after coming out of the sauna, and immediately lost his balance and fell to the ground. Kenan Isyk, who is said to have suffered head trauma from the force of the impact, was taken to the hospital in an unconscious state and immediately underwent surgery at the American Hospital. After a four-hour operation, Isyk was taken to the intensive care unit and was treated at home for a long time.
His remains were taken from Gasirhane
Işik’s body, which died at a private hospital, was taken to Karaca Ahmet gas station, where it was later transferred to the Ataturk Cultural Center for a funeral.
Işık’s body will be buried at the Karşyaka Cemetery after midday prayers at the Ankara Ahmet Hamdi Aşeki Mosque on Wednesday.
“His love of art was a constant source of inspiration.”
The ceremony, hosted by actor Ali Dusenkarkar, began with a moment of silence for Kenan İşik. Speaking at the ceremony, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Ersoy said it was a very painful day for the arts world, and that they came together to say goodbye to one of the giants of Turkish theater and television, Kenan İşik, on his final journey.
Ersoy said Kenan İşik’s death was a great loss not only to his family and relatives, but also to the art world and the whole of Turkey, saying, “Kenan İşik holds a special place in our hearts and not only for his works. He exhibited on stage but also made unique contributions in the fields of directing, screenwriting and television programming.” “His love for art was always a source of inspiration,” he said.
“We all share the pain of this great loss.”
Ersoy said Işık won the love of people of all ages with his personality and work and that the whole of Turkey feels deep grief for him following his accident, adding:
Today, we all share the pain of this great loss experienced after him. Ishq, who worked as a consultant in our ministry for some time, was also considered worthy of many awards as a director. The values he added to our culture, the leadership he showed in the field of arts and the support he gave to young artists will never be forgotten. Kenan Ishq’s artistic stance, lifelong hard work and determination will always be our guiding light. The legacy he left behind is a treasure for our art community and keeping this legacy alive is the most important loyalty we can show to his memory.
“He won the love of the people.”
Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu noted that Işık was loved and respected by all segments of society, saying, “He won people’s love with many successful works both on stage and behind the camera. He is not only an actor but also an artist.” “He was professionally involved in the art community,” he said.
Imamoglu stressed that Işık’s gentlemanliness and artistry will never be forgotten, saying, “Another side of him was journalism, but his very special fan side was his contribution to our beautiful city by serving this city and taking on the arts in general.” Director of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipal Theater “We were hoping to hear good news from him during his cerebral hemorrhage 10 years ago and the period that followed. I think millions of people were praying for him, and unfortunately we all received that news. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to him for his passing and the many blessings he has brought to our lives up to now.”
“He held a special place in our hearts.”
State Theater General Director Tamer Karadar said Kenan Işik was a valuable theater artist and an important figure in the television world, saying, “Kenan Işik has been engraved in our memories for many years and is one of the most prominent figures in the Turkish theater world. As an artist, actor, writer and director, “he has earned a special place in our hearts with his success on stage and screen,” he said.
Emphasising that Ishq practices art not only with talent but also with humanity and sincerity, Karadar said:
Kenan Işık, who has written hundreds of articles, books and theatrical texts, took the position of General Artistic Director of Istanbul Municipal Theater in 1996, taking the seat that is Muhsin Ertugrul’s legacy. His absence is a great loss for us. However, we know that he, who dedicated his life to his profession, was not only an artist, but also one of the bearers, leaders and sources of inspiration of our culture. For this reason, the works and memory left by Kenan Işık will continue to keep his name and legacy alive in the future. Every death is a loss. It is a great pain. With death, pain, sorrow and suffering are accompanied by dignity, and when we feel that pain, it combines the great pride and great pain we feel in our hearts. Kenan Işık’s life and achievements are a source of great pride, especially for our theater community. We will also have the opportunity to keep his memory alive.
“He fulfilled his fatherly duties for the entire nation.”
Speaking on behalf of the master’s family, his son Mehmet İşik said of his father: “Throughout his life, my father was a good, fair and above all merciful man. He knew the people of his country well and loved them equally. He always showcased his art for his country and its people and tried to make the world a better place. That is his role as a father not only for me but for all the people of this country.”
“We didn’t accept visitors.”
One of Kenan Işık’s sons, Ahmed Işık, made the following statement:
My father’s death devastated us, even though that was the reality of our lives. You may think as if we had been preparing for 10 years, but that is not the case. I am truly sorry. May he rest in peace. The 10-year process was hard. Financially, mentally, psychologically, emotionally. My mother had it the hardest. We went to him and talked, we talked about life. We chatted, we listened to his favorite music. We tried to keep it about life. We did not accept visitors due to health reasons.
Mehmet İşik said his father placed Anatolian and Turkish culture at the center of his art, saying, “In the plays he staged, my father combined the Anatolian spirit with Molière, Sophocles and Shakespeare, and led his people. He became the center of us all.” With the richness, sincerity and honesty of his art and personality, he was the supreme center of our lives. “Great passion, art. Just as I have expressed my gratitude to him here, I believe you all do the same. May my father’s soul rest in peace.”
“We became actors thanks to his support.”
Zafer Argos said, “We met the Kenan brothers in 1976. We participated in the State Theatre Children and Youth Exam as actors under 18 years old. Erkan Can and I were the only ones under 18. The committee told us, ‘You are underage, we cannot accept you. You are under 18. Come later.’ They said, ‘The kids have prepared so much, they should at least after the performance.’ ‘They have the talent for acting. If they were 18, they should come to the course as guests. The reason we became actors in the first place is Kenan Ishq. He directed the play in which I acted.’ We had hopes that one day he would get better, but that was all he had.
Many celebrities attended the ceremony.
After the Halal prayer, the body of the great actor was carried on the shoulders of his loved ones. Historian Professor Dr. İlber Oltaİr, actor Zafer Argoz and actor Ahmet Yenirmes, as well as many other prominent figures from the world of culture and art, attended the ceremony.
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