Bilkent Mourns State Artist Ecder Akışık
State Artist Ecder Akışık, served as a member of the Bilkent Department of Theater from 1997 to 2009. He passed away on Tuesday, September 28, 2010, at the age of 73.
Ecder Akışık, one of the masters of Turkish theater, was born in Ankara in 1938. He graduated from the State Conservatory, Theater Department in 1957. At the State Conservatory, he served both as an actor and as an administrator until he retired in 2003 after 45 years of service. Akışık performed in and directed more than 70 plays such as Dışarıdakiler, Othello, Şen Kadınlar, Klinik Bir Vaka, III Selim, Evlere Şenlik, and İsyancılar.
Mr. Akışık gave generously of his time to educate and inspire. In addition to his largesse to the entire Bilkent community, Mr. Akışık taught at Hacettepe University and gave voice and speech courses at many institutions in Turkey.
He was especially renowned for his skill in his precise and beautiful use of the Turkish language. He was able, through skill and talent, to bring out the richness of Turkish. He inspired many as both an artist and a teacher figure.
Akışık's absence from the stage has left Turkish theater with a profound void. Not only his family but also many colleagues and former students will mourn this artist's final bow.