He was born in 1949 in Eyüp, İstanbul, and he moved around Anatolia with his father. While studying at the College of Journalism in İstanbul, he participated to the contest organized by the SES magazine; upon winning the first prize, he went on to work in cinema. During the first years of his career that began with Solan Bir Yaprak Gibi, being a new and young leading actor, he appeared in many features films alongside most of the female stars of the Turkish cinema. He got his first award at Antalya Film Festival in 1973, he took on roles in Ertem Eğilmez's Hababam Sınıfı film series and also some family comedies. By the end of 1970s, he starred in politically flavored films such as Kanal, Maden, Demiryol, Adak. Later on, meeting with Yılmaz Güney, he worked with Şerif Gören and Zeki Ökten in Sürü and Yol, which Güney wrote. He received a special prize at Berlin International Film Festival with Ökten's Pehlivan. Constantly improving himself, and ever popular since four generations, Akan is considered to be one of the few names in Turkish cinema to merge stardom with real acting. Working actively during the 1970s and 1980s, he took part in less films after the 90s, however he acted in some TV series, and published his memoirs. He is still effective in TV and cinema productions.
- Atilla Dorsay

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