Career
Özkul completed his education at the Istanbul Boys High School (İstanbul Erkek Lisesi). He then started his acting career in the Bakırköy Halkevi theatre. Later he worked in the Ankara State theatre and İstanbul Şehir theatre. He became famous for his role in Muhsin Ertuğrul's Fareler ve İnsanlar (Mice and Men).
From the 1950s onwards, he became a prolific film actor associated with Yeşilçam. During the 1970s, he appeared in many of director Ertem Eğilmez's films such as Hababam Sınıfı, Şabanoğlu Şaban, Mavi Boncuk, Banker Bilo and Namuslu. In many of these films he was paired with the actress Adile Naşit.
Others of his films include Edi ile Büdü, Halıcı Kız, Kalbimin Şarkısı, Miras Uğruna, Balıkçı Güzeli, Neşeli Günler, Gülen Yüzler, Gırgıriye, Görgüsüzler, Bizim Aile and Aile Şerefi. In the 1980s, he acted in several television series including Uzaylı Zekiye, Ana Kuzusu and Şaban ile Şirin.
Personal life
Özkul married four times and had three children. His second wife was actress Suna Selen.
In 1998, he was awarded the title of "State Artist of Turkey" by the Turkish Ministry of Culture.
He struggled with alcoholism for a number of years but stopped drinking completely in the 1990s. From 2003 he suffered from dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the years leading up to his death, he used to think that many people whom he knew in the past were still alive. On 5 January 2018, he died at his home in Cihangir, Beyoğlu, at the age of 92. After his funeral prayers were performed at Teşvikiye Mosque, his body was buried in Bakırköy Cemetery.
Filmography
Television
- 1979 — İbiş'in Rüyası — Nahit
- 1984 — Köşe Dönücü
- 1987 — Uzaylı Zekiye — 2 episodes
- 1991 — Bir Ömrün Bedeli
- 1991 — Varsayalım İsmail
- 1993 — Nasreddin Hoca
- 1994 — Kızlar Sınıfı
- 1996 — Ay, Işığında Saklıdır — Münir Baba — TV movie
- 1996–1997 — Ana Kuzusu
- 1997 — Şaban ile Şirin
- 2000–2002 — Reyting Hamdi
