Sarp Apak was born on November 11, 1981, in Diyarbakır. He is a Turkish television, film, and theater actor.
Name: Sarp Apak
Date of Birth: November 11, 1981
Place of Birth: Diyarbakır
Height: 1.76 m
Weight: 72 kg
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Eye Color: Brown
Spouse: Bengisu Uzunöz
Child: Güney Apak
Siblings: Mehmet Berk Apak
Pets: He has a dog and a cat.
Family: His parents are from Antakya; he was born in Diyarbakır due to his parents’ civil service positions. At the age of five, his family moved to Bursa, where he grew up. In 2017, he married his long-time partner Bengisu Uzunöz in Barcelona, Spain. The couple has a son named Güney.
Education: He graduated from Dokuz Eylül University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Acting.
Turning Point in His Life: The first turning point in his life was taking the conservatory entrance exams at his mother’s insistence. The second turning point was being cast in the series Avrupa Yakası (European Side). “Thanks to these two events, I am the person you know today.”
First Step into Acting: His television career began with the series En Son Babalar Duyar (The Last Fathers Hear).
Breakthrough Project: He captured public attention with his portrayal of the character ‘Tanrıverdi’ in the series Avrupa Yakası (European Side).
Personality Traits: Fun, energetic, sincere, warm, and naive.
Social Life: Outside of work, he tries to do things he enjoys, such as eating out with friends and playing sports. Football is a particular hobby. “I love watching matches, going to the stadium, and playing. Football and basketball, in particular, are activities that relax my mind. Besides these, I love playing PlayStation.”
Mindset: Studying acting changed his perspective on the profession. “Our main job is to distract people from their daily anxieties, make them think about other things, and to entertain and inform them. To do this, you need to be very healthy and neutral. The greatest benefit of a formal education was that it taught me that this is a profession. It taught me that this profession can last until you are 80 or 85 years old. I’m glad I studied. I advise everyone under 23 who wants to pursue this profession to take the entrance exams for conservatories and fine arts faculties.”
Is there a role he is not satisfied with? “I was a guest actor in the film Aşk Geliyorum Demez (Love Doesn’t Announce Its Arrival), where I played a gay character. When I watched myself, I really disliked my performance. I could portray a gay character much better today. Everyone in that film is very dear to me, my friends, my mentors; the issue here is my own failure.”
Source of Happiness: He finds joy in the affection from his fans. “I came from Izmir with the dream of becoming a well-known and beloved actor. I am happy with the interest and love I receive now.”
First Feature Film: Yılmaz Erdoğan’s Organize İşler (Magic Carpet Ride).
Outlook on Life: He finds it impossible to act in his daily life. He cannot lie or hide his emotions and gets found out immediately. As he is generally a cheerful person, when he is upset or anxious, his expression instantly changes, and he cannot hide it with acting. “Perhaps this is my test in a way; not being able to do this in daily life and only doing it when necessary might be a blessing. Of course, people familiar with this profession might think we act in our daily lives as well, but I never act in my daily life, and I’m not good at it. I try to be as sincere as possible. Of course, like any human, there are times when I don’t voice my true thoughts or pretend to believe in something, but generally, I don’t act in my daily life.”
Perspective on His Work: He believes there have been very promising developments in Turkish comedy in recent years. He makes a point of watching his own performances, believing it helps his acting. “We are a nation of humor. If we can break free from commercial concerns and return to our ‘factory settings,’ I believe an era like the Yeşilçam period can be revived. I make a special effort to watch myself. Even in long-running series, I try not to miss an episode and watch my performance. Watching yourself is good practice. Scenes you thought were perfect might not turn out as you expected, while scenes you were not happy with can be surprisingly good. The only way to see this difference is to watch yourself.”
Concerns: He feels that society has become very rude and arrogant. He attributes this to the “winner” concept that has been injected into society recently. “Everyone is a winner, there are no losers; this brings impertinence with it. I almost feel like inviting people who politely ask for a photo to my home because I think kindness is now a very rare form of behavior.”
What kind of music does he listen to? He loves listening to Turkish music, especially Turkish rock, and enjoys all good songs. “Lately, I’ve been listening to Ezel. I also listen to Büyük Ev Ablukada, and Duman is always my favorite band. I also love Athena and Pinhani. Depending on the setting, I also listen to Arabesque and Turkish Classical Music. Honestly, I can say I prefer listening to Turkish music. Especially since Spotify and Apple Music entered my life, the ‘discover’ feature has helped me find many new bands. But generally, I listen to anything that sounds pleasing to my ear.”
How is his relationship with social media? He actively uses Instagram and Twitter and creates all his posts himself. He believes social media should be used positively and correctly. “I am one of those who think it’s great that social media exists and has become such a significant part of our lives. I believe it’s a wonderful platform for everyone to express themselves. Some share entertaining content, others share informative things. You can follow or not follow as you wish. No one should criticize others for these choices; everyone should do as they please. I don’t like to interfere with people’s lives, and I expect the same in return.”
What does he do at home? He enjoys cooking at home and prefers a simple, plain lifestyle. “We are planning a life where we are in control. At home, my wife’s word is final. I’m not putting on a show; I’m genuinely ‘henpecked.’ And I don’t feel bad about it at all. It was the same in my childhood home. My father, for example, is very happy; his mind is always at ease! I state it clearly: this is the right way. If my wife is happy, I’m happy too. For peace, I recommend ‘hanımcılık’ (being devoted to one’s wife) to all men.”
What does he spend money on? He doesn’t have a habit of shopping online. He usually does his shopping in two large batches per year, for winter and summer. “I love to dress comfortably and casually. Therefore, unless it’s for a gala or a special event, I mostly wear sportswear. My favorites are soft, low-crotch, shalwar-style pants. I like to live a simple and comfortable life.”
Hobbies: Football and basketball are his biggest hobbies. He finds that both are good for his mind and body.
Sarp Apak TV Series
- 2002: En Son Babalar Duyar – Kimsesiz İsmail (TRT 1 / Star TV)
- 2006: Anadolu Kaplanı (Anatolian Tiger) (Kanal D)
- 2006-2009: Avrupa Yakası (European Side) – Tanrıverdi (atv)
- 2008, 2010: Çok Güzel Hareketler Bunlar (These Are Very Beautiful Movements) – Himself (Kanal D)
- 2009-2011: Kavak Yelleri (Daydreaming) – Güven Karakuş (Kanal D)
- 2011: Aşağı Yukarı Yemişlililer (The Yemişliler, More or Less) (atv)
- 2012-2014: Yalan Dünya (World of Lies) – Emir Danışman (Kanal D)
- 2015: Komedi Türkiye (Comedy Turkey) – Himself (TV8)
- 2016: Saba ile Oyuna Geldik (We Were Tricked by Saba) – Himself (TV8)
- 2017: Güldür Güldür Show (Laugh Laugh Show) – Himself (Show TV)
- 2018-2020: Jet Sosyete (Jet Set) – Ozan Özpamuk (Star TV / TV8)
- 2021-2022: Kaderimin Oyunu (The Game of My Destiny) – Mahir (Star TV)
- 2023: O Ses Türkiye Yılbaşı Özel (The Voice Turkey New Year’s Special) – Himself (TV8)
Sarp Apak Digital Series and Films
- 2021: Ayak İşleri (Errands) – Kenan (GAİN)
- 2023: Organizasyon Bizim İşimiz (Organization is Our Business) – Mercan (tabii)
- 2024: Karşılaşmalar (Encounters) – Mert Ulusoy (Exxen)
Sarp Apak Feature Films
- 2005: Organize İşler (Magic Carpet Ride) – Kemal
- 2007: Beyaz Melek (The White Angel) – Reşat
- 2008: Plajda (On the Beach) – Ali
- 2008: O… Çocukları (The Bastards) – Saffet
- 2009: Güneşi Gördüm (I Saw the Sun) – Ahmet
- 2009: Aşk Geliyorum Demez (Love Doesn’t Announce Its Arrival) – Berkcan Aktaş
- 2009: 7 Kocalı Hürmüz (7 Husbands for Hürmüz) – Fişek Ömer
- 2012: Yeraltı (Underground) – Bartender (Cameo)
- 2014: Karışık Kaset (Mixed Tape) – Ulaş
- 2015: Yaktın Beni (You Burned Me) – Selam
- 2018: Ölümlü Dünya (Mortal World) – Serhan
- 2023: Ölümlü Dünya 2 (Mortal World 2) – Serhan
- 2024: İyi Bir Aile Değiliz (We Are Not a Good Family) – Sinan
Commercials
- Doğtaş
- İşTcell
Theater Plays
- Öp Babanın Elini (Kiss Your Father’s Hand)
- Sizinkiler Dünya Kaç Bucak
- Ağır Roman (Heavy Novel)
- BKM Mutfak (BKM Kitchen)
- Çok Güzel Hareketler Bunlar (These Are Very Beautiful Movements)
- Yoldan Çıkan Oyun (The Play That Goes Wrong)