Turkish stage actor Metin Serezli passes away

Metin Serezli, one of Turkey's most prolific actors who played in over 100 stage productions in addition to numerous onscreen roles, died on Sunday, losing a lengthy battle with lung cancer. He was 79. Serezli died Sunday morning at 7 a.m. at his house in Istanbul with his wife Nevra, also a well-known stage actress, and their two sons by his side. The famous actor had been receiving treatment for lung cancer for the past two-and-a-half years. Born in 1934, Serezli studied law, journalism and art history at Istanbul University before turning to acting in 1954 as an amateur artist with Istanbul University's Youth Theater troupe. Serezli took to the stage in his first role as a professional actor in 1955 in the comedy "Papaz Kacti," the Istanbul-based Dormen Theater's immensely popular Turkish adaptation of the English comedy "See How They Run". Serezli will be buried in a funeral to be held Tuesday at the Zincirlikuyu Cemetery following noon prayers at the Tesvikiye Mosque. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a text message to offer his condolences to Serezli and said Serezli, who dedicated his whole life to stage, made the stage to be widely acclaimed.  Culture and Tourism Minister Omer Celik also issued a message, saying that Serezli will always be in memories.