The painful farewell of 2024! Which celebrities passed away this year? Genco Erkal, Şerif Gören, and more...

In 2024, many star figures bid farewell to life both in Turkey and around the world. Undoubtedly, the most painful goodbyes were the sudden and untimely ones. Heart attacks took young figures Metin Arolat and Vural Çelik from life prematurely. Kenan Işık, who had been in a coma for years, ended his struggle this year. Young basketball player İlkan Karaman became a victim of traffic terror. Turkey's first female Sumerologist, Muazzez İlmiye Çığ, also passed away at the age of 110.

Another one of the young deaths was that of British singer Liam Payne. The famous singer lost his life after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires. French actor Alain Delon, who was among the most handsome actors of all time, died at the age of 88.

January 4, 2024: Famous theater artist, cinema actor, and singer Ayla Algan passed away in Istanbul at the age of 86 due to a brain hemorrhage. Algan, who is among the unforgettable names of Turkish theater, continued her career, which she started at the Istanbul City Theaters, with many theater plays and feature films. Algan, who introduced Yunus Emre to the world by reading his poems in German, French, and English, was also a name who provided training to numerous actors within the industry.

January 4, 2024: David Soul, known in Turkey for the series "Sarı Gül" (Yellow Rose) broadcast in the 1980s and who achieved worldwide fame with the 1980s series "Starsky & Hutch," passed away at the age of 81. David Soul's notable series include "Sarı Gül" and "Starsky & Hutch."

January 7, 2024: Yüksel Uzel, one of the unforgettable names of Turkish classical music, was also among those who bid farewell to their loved ones. Uzel, who had been receiving cancer treatment for a long time, passed away in South Africa, where she was living. Yüksel Uzel's albums include "Bir Seni, Bir Gülü Öptüm," "Yıllar Yorgun Ben Yorgun," and "Al Aşkını Ver Gönlümü."

January 7, 2024: Legendary German footballer Franz Beckenbauer was a world-class athlete who dedicated his entire life to football. Beckenbauer, who is cited as the world's best defender, continued his successes as a coach after leaving the pitch and was nicknamed 'The Emperor.' The Emperor, who started his football career at Bayern Munich, passed away at the age of 79.

January 9, 2024: Gelengül Tayfuroğlu, who represented Turkey at the first Miss Universe pageant held in the USA in 1952, was also among the names who lost their lives in January. Competing alongside beauties from 30 countries around the world, Tayfuroğlu returned to her own life after the competition and moved away from those glittering lights.

January 13, 2024: Turkish intelligence officer and former head of the MIT Counter-Terrorism Department Mehmet Eymür passed away at the age of 81. While it is known that Eymür was a key figure in many operations, it was commented that he died with his secrets.

January 21, 2024: Actor Ergin Duru, who played in the most-watched series on Turkish television screens, "Kurtlar Vadisi" (Valley of the Wolves), and was known as 'Cerrahpaşalı Hüseyin,' lost his life in the hospital where he was being treated after suffering a heart attack.

January 31, 2024: Famous author Mario Levi passed away at the age of 66. Known as an 'Istanbul lover,' the famous author signed many books such as "İstanbul Bir Masaldı" (Istanbul Was a Fairy Tale), "En Güzel Aşk Hikayemiz" (Our Most Beautiful Love Story), "Bir Şehre Gidememek" (Not Being Able to Go to a City), "Lunapark Kapandı" (The Amusement Park Closed), and "Size Pandispanya Yaptım" (I Made You Sponge Cake). Levi, who was also the recipient of many awards such as the Haldun Taner Short Story Award and the Yunus Nadi Novel Award, became one of the names who will not be forgotten with his instructive identity.

February 2, 2024: Author, academic, and sociologist Alev Alatlı, one of the important names of intellectual and artistic life, is another valuable name who left us at the age of 81. Alatlı, who studied abroad and returned to Turkey in 1974, was honored with the "Freedom Medal" by Yasser Arafat, who was in exile in Tunis in 1986, for her work to raise awareness for the Palestinian cause. Alatlı, who received the Mikhail Alexandrovich Sholokhov 100th Anniversary Literature Award in Russia in 2006, was also a recipient of the Presidential Culture and Arts Grand Award.

February 2, 2024: Carl Weathers, who gained worldwide fame by playing the boxer Apollo Creed opposite Sylvester Stallone in the "Rocky" film, passed away at the age of 76. Weathers also played a CIA agent opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 film "Predator."

February 11, 2024: Author, screenwriter, and director Firuzan, who is among the important names of contemporary Turkish literature, passed away at the age of 91. Firuzan, who won the 1972 Sait Faik Short Story Award with her first storybook "Parasız Yatılı" (Boarding Student) and the 1975 Turkish Language Association Novel Award with her first novel "Kırkyedi'liler" (The Forty-Sevens), also had her work "Parasız Yatılı" adapted into cinema. Firuzan had also written the screenplays for many films, including "Ah Güzel İstanbul" and "Benim Sinemalarım."

February 11, 2024: Turkish politician and author Yılmaz Karakoyunlu passed away at the age of 87. Karakoyunlu served in the Turkish Grand National Assembly as an ANAP Istanbul deputy in the 1995 and 1999 elections. He authored numerous works, most notably the novel "Salkım Hanım'ın Taneleri" (Mrs. Salkım's Diamonds).

February 17, 2024: Famous actress Sevda Ferdağ passed away in Istanbul at the age of 81. Ferdağ had acted in numerous television series as well as many Turkish films.

February 26, 2024: Tolga Savacı, one of the handsome actors of Yeşilçam, passed away after a heart attack in the USA, where he was living.

March 6, 2024: Actor Efe Deprem, known for his character 'Zafer' in the series "Seksenler" (The Eighties), passed away at the age of 41 following a motorcycle accident.

March 9, 2024: Turkish cinema and television actor Kayhan Yıldızoğlu passed away at the age of 90. The famous actor had appeared in more than 250 films.

March 19, 2024: Ersen Martin, one of the important names of Turkish football, also passed away at the age of 44 as a result of an illness. Martin played for many Turkish teams, including Beşiktaş and Trabzonspor.

March 21, 2024: Bahar Öztan, one of the famous names of Yeşilçam and known as the 'dimpled beauty,' passed away at the age of 61. Öztan, who had been battling cancer for many years, lost her battle to the cancer she had beaten three times before.

April 2, 2024: Türker İnanoğlu, one of the doyens of Turkish cinema and known as 'Mr. Cinema,' passed away at the age of 87. İnanoğlu, who produced numerous films in Turkey during a period with the film company he founded, had also come to the fore with his directing.

April 10, 2024: O.J. Simpson, who was brought to the world's agenda with a sensational double murder case followed worldwide, passed away at the age of 76. Simpson, one of the most famous American football players in the USA, was tried on charges of stabbing his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman to death, and the 1995 trial, which was broadcast live on television, occupied the agenda. Simpson was acquitted in the double murder case but received a 33-year sentence for a lesser crime in 2008. The images of Simpson wearing the 'gloves determined to have been worn during the murder' in court were etched into memories.

April 24, 2024: Businessperson Mehmet Ali Yılmaz, one of the colorful figures of Turkish football and politics, passed away at the age of 75. Yılmaz, a former president of Trabzonspor, had also served as a Trabzon deputy and Minister of State Responsible for Sports.

May 14, 2024: Ayten Gökçer, who is among the unforgettable names of the theater and cinema world, left us at the age of 84. Gökçer had entered cinema in 1965 with the film "Taçsız Kral" (The Crownless King). Gökçer, who played the lead role of Hürmüz in the musical "Yedi Kocalı Hürmüz," also entered the television world in 1999 with the series "Yılan Hikayesi" (Snake Story). Gökçer was also the recipient of many awards.

May 16, 2024: Erkan Yolaç, the beloved presenter known in the Turkish television world for the "Evet-Hayır" (Yes-No) contest, passed away at the age of 89. Yolaç had become one of the most beloved names for Turkish viewers with the program he hosted starting in 1985.

May 29, 2024: Ahmet Uğurlu, one of the important names of Turkish cinema and theater, had written his name among unforgettable characters with the film "Tabutta Rövaşata" (Somersault in a Coffin). Uğurlu, who passed away at the age of 72, died due to cancer.

June 1, 2024: Businessperson Özer Çiller, the husband of Turkey's first female prime minister Tansu Çiller, passed away at the age of 86.

June 4, 2024: Fatma Karanfil, who acted in Turkish series, also passed away at the age of 72. The 72-year-old Karanfil had been intubated on May 25 due to the cancer she had been battling for some time. The master actress increased her recognition with her role in the series "Aşk-ı Memnu" (Forbidden Love), which was broadcast on Kanal D in 2008.

June 11, 2024: Famous name Murat Soydan, who is among the unforgettable names of Turkish cinema, left us at the age of 83. Known as the 'handsome man of Yeşilçam,' Soydan was a lead actor in many films.

June 18, 2024: French actress Anouk Aimee, who worked with directors such as Federico Fellini, Sidney Lumet, and Bernardo Bertolucci, passed away at the age of 92. The Oscar-nominated actress was perhaps best known for her role in Claude Lelouch's beloved 1966 romantic film "A Man and a Woman," in which she starred alongside Jean-Louis Trintignant.

June 20, 2024: Canadian actor Donald Sutherland had played in important productions on the silver screen since the 70s, such as the war comedy "MASH," the heartbreaking family drama "Ordinary People," the conspiracy thriller "JFK," and the dystopian "The Hunger Games." The famous actor, father of famous actor Kiefer Sutherland, passed away at the age of 89.

July 13, 2024: Shannen Doherty, known in the world and in Turkey for the youth series "Beverly Hills, 90210," fought cancer for a large part of her short life. Doherty, who gave life to the character of Brenda Walsh, passed away at the age of 53.

July 28: Dubbing artist and actor Uğur Taşdemir, who gave life to many foreign actors with his voice in Turkey, passed away at the age of 59.

July 29: While fans were wondering about the latest condition of Kenan Işık, the sad news arrived. The famous artist Işık, who had been in a coma for 10 years, passed away today at the age of 76. On March 21, 2014, Işık, who entered the sauna after exercising, lost his balance after the sauna and hit his head on the floor. As a result, Işık suffered a brain hemorrhage and remained in a coma for 10 years.

July 31: Genco Erkal, who had been battling blood cancer for some time, passed away at the age of 86. Fazıl Say shared the sad news with the words, "We have lost our greatest artist. Our condolences. He shone light for a whole lifetime, may he sleep in the light." The farewell message posted on Erkal's social media account included the following: Goodbye my friends, goodbye!

August 17: Legendary actor Tuncay Akça, known for his role as the student nicknamed 'Bacaksız' (Shorty) in the film "Hababam Sınıfı," passed away as a result of a heart attack.

August 17: Famous actor Aydemir Akbaş, who had been experiencing health problems for some time, passed away at the age of 88 in the hospital where he was taken. Akbaş, who acted in 127 films, mostly comedies, directed 8 films and played in nearly 30 theater plays and many series.

August 18, 2024: French actor Alain Delon, who is among the most handsome actors of all time, became one of the most attractive stars of world cinema in the 1960s and 70s, whether playing tough guys or tender lovers. Delon, the unforgettable actor of films such as "Le Samouraï" (The Samurai), "Rocco and His Brothers," and "The Leopard," had retired from acting in 2018. In a statement, Delon had said, "I had incredible luck. I was happy throughout my life, I filmed with the best. I did what I wanted, with whom I wanted, when I wanted."

September 1: Ahu Tuğba passed away at her home in Miami, USA. The famous star, who had been receiving treatment for asthma for some time, passed away at the age of 69.

September 4: Cihan Kolivar, Chairman of the Bread Producers Union, passed away. Kolivar had been arrested in 2022 for saying "Bread is the staple food of stupid societies" and was later released. Kolivar's court process was still ongoing.

September 6: Turkish activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi was shot in the head with live ammunition and killed during a protest demonstration held against the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Born in 1998, Eygi was a human rights activist and a volunteer for the International Solidarity Movement. The Turkish activist had completed her major in Psychology as well as Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures in June 2024.

September 8: Former national basketball player İlkan Karaman passed away as a result of being hit by a drunk driver while on the sidewalk. Born in 1990, İlkan Karaman grew up in the TOFAŞ youth system; in his career, he wore the jerseys of Pınar Karşıyaka, Fenerbahçe, Acıbadem University, Beşiktaş, İBB, Büyükçekmece, Cholet, Antibes, Petkim Spor, Yalovaspor, Manisa BB, and finally Çayırova Municipality.

September 9, 2024: James Earl Jones, who gave life to the character of Darth Vader in the Star Wars series with his voice, left an unforgettable mark on the cinema world for years with both his voice and his acting. The actor, who struggled with stuttering but overcame this situation and built a successful career, had stated that he 'did not earn a huge profit from Star Wars' but was satisfied with the work he did. Jones passed away at the age of 93.

September 21: Metin Arolat passed away after suffering a heart attack at the venue where he was performing. The artist felt unwell and collapsed to the ground while singing at the entertainment venue. Although heart massage was performed quickly, the master artist could not be brought back to life.

September 27, 2024: Maggie Smith, who won the hearts of the young with her role as Hogwarts professor Minerva McGonagall in Harry Potter, passed away at the age of 90. Maggie Smith, who acted in theater plays adapted from the literary works of many famous authors from Shakespeare to Anton Chekhov, received great acclaim both in the world and in Turkey in recent years with the series "Downton Abbey."

September 28, 2024: US singer, songwriter, and actor Kris Kristofferson passed away at the age of 88 at his home on the island of Maui, Hawaii. The actor, who is remembered in the world and in Turkey for the film "A Star Is Born," in which he starred alongside Barbra Streisand, acted in productions such as "Planet of the Apes" and "Heaven's Gate."

October 1: Güneri Cıvaoğlu, one of the leading names of the Turkish press, passed away at the age of 85. Güneri Cıvaoğlu, who went to a restaurant to eat, lost his balance and fell there. Cıvaoğlu, who hit his head during the fall, became unwell. Cıvaoğlu, who was quickly taken to Acıbadem Hospital in Fulya, had been taken under treatment in intensive care. Cıvaoğlu died during his treatment in intensive care.

October 7: Recai Kutan, Founding Chairman of the Felicity Party (Saadet Partisi), passed away at the age of 94 at Güven Hospital in Ankara, where he was receiving treatment. The news of Recai Kutan's death was announced on the Felicity Party's social media account.

October 10, 2024: It was announced that Ethel Kennedy, the wife of Robert E. Kennedy, brother of US President John Kennedy, and the mother of Robert F. Kennedy, the prospective US Secretary of Health who will take office in 2025, passed away at the age of 96. Ethel Kennedy, one of the last members of a family full of political success and tragedies, had received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014.

October 16: British singer and songwriter Liam Payne passed away after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires. Payne had become famous with One Direction, one of the famous music groups of the 2010s. The tragedy that took place in the hotel room is full of disturbing details showing that Payne's final hours were spent in chaos. In the photos released after the incident, a broken television screen and the messy state of the room drew attention.

October 17: Actor Vural Çelik, known for the series "Avrupa Yakası" (European Side), passed away. Birol Güven, General Manager of Cinema at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, confirmed in a statement on his social media account that Vural Çelik was found dead in his home at 19.00. Vural Çelik, known for the character Kubilay he played in the series "Avrupa Yakası," was found dead in his home in Üsküdar, Istanbul. The cause of death was announced as a heart attack as a result of the examination.

October 18: Prof. Dr. Fuat Keyman, one of Turkey's leading names in the field of international relations, passed away due to the cancer he had been battling for some time. Prof. Dr. Fuat Keyman was known as one of Turkey's most respected academics in the fields of international relations and political science.

November 3, 2024: Famous organizer, orchestra conductor, composer, arranger, musician, and producer Quincy Jones, who left his mark on the history of Black American music, passed away. The famous artist, who won 27 Grammy Awards, was born in the largest Black ghetto in Chicago during the Great Depression. The artist worked with celebrities such as Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, and Frank Sinatra. "Thriller," which he released with Michael Jackson, sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and became the greatest album of all time.

November 17: One of Turkey's important scientists, Sumerologist Muazzez İlmiye Çığ, passed away at the age of 110. Born in Bursa in 1914, Çığ, who was Turkey's first female Sumerologist, conducted studies on Sumerian and Assyrian civilizations. Muazzez İlmiye Çığ, who made important contributions to the fields of archaeology and history, was an archaeologist, linguist, and author.

December 8: Famous director Şerif Gören passed away. Born in 1944 in the city of Xanthi, Greece, Gören's films, mostly in the drama genre, received awards at various festivals. Among the important films the master director brought to Turkish cinema are numerous films such as 'Yol,' ‘Kurbağalar,’ ‘Yılanların Gücü,’ ‘Sen Türkülerini Söyle,’ ‘Almanya Acı Vatan,’ ‘Endişe,’ ‘Deprem,’ ‘Katırcılar,’ ‘Amerikalı,’ ‘Derman,’ ‘Gelincik,’ ‘On Kadın,’ ‘Nehir,’ ‘Tomruk,’ ‘Firar,’ and ‘Herhangi Bir Kadın.’