Muhsin Ertugrul

Biography

Muhsin Ertugrul also known as Ertugrul Muhsin Bey, was a Turkish actor and director. Muhsin Ertugrul, who had important contributions to both Turkish theatre and Turkish cinema, was born in Istanbul on 28 February 1892. His first performance in theatre was in 1909 with the role of "Bob" in Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle. He ran the Darülbedayi Theatre in Istanbul from its opening in 1914. He married in 1929 Neyyire Neyir (née Münire Eyüp), one of the first ever Turkish actresses, who debuted in the 1923 movie Atesten Gömlek, directed by himself. The marriage lasted until Neyyire's death in 1943. Ertugrul then married Handan Uran (born 1927) in 1950. A stage actress, she starred in her only movie, the 1953 Halici Kiz, once again directed by Ertugrul himself. She survived her husband's death in 1979. During his stay in Izmir following the honorary doctor ceremony, Ertugrul died of a heart attack at the age of 87 on 29 April 1979. He was buried in Zincirlikuyu Cemetery in Istanbul. Muhsin Ertugrul was bestowed the title Honorary Doctor by Ege University on 23 April 1979 in recognition for his contribution to the theatre and cinema of Turkey. Three theaters in Turkey are named in his honor: the Harbiye Muhsin Ertugrul Stage and Bahcesehir Muhsin Ertugrul Theatre in Istanbul and the Muhsin Ertugrul Stage in Ankara.