Ibrahim Celikkol is a Turkish TV Series & film actor, former basketball player and fashion model. Affectionately called Ibo by family and friends, he was born on February 14, 1982 in Izmit, Turkey.
Ibrahim was part of the under-20 national basketball team but, after his father passed away when he was 18, he left the arena for good. He said being on court reminded him too much of his father and it was better for him to move on.
He worked as a professional model before he started acting and did his first catwalk for the brand Vakko. He quit modeling after 6 years and started a textile business which he had learned during the modeling days. He is passionate about leather jackets and owns them in various colours.
Turning Point as Actor
On a chance encounter he met Osman Sinav, a Turkish film producer, and it marked the beginning of his career as an actor. Even though he became known through his roles in Karadaglar and Iffet, his emergence as a serious actor came from his successful role as Ulubatli Hasan in the epic Turkish film Fetih 1453 (Conquest 1453) in 2012. Before taking part in what he thought would be his last audition that would define whether he would continue as an actor, he reportedly said ”let’s stick the Turkey flag on the top as done by the character of Ulubatli Hasan in the movie.” Faruk Aksoy gave him a scene to prepare before he was auditioned. To his surprise, he was announced as Ulubatli Hasan in the presence of 300 people.
Ibrahim in Fetih 1453
Fetih 1453 received huge praise from critics and audiences alike. The movie earned $61.2 million at the box office, with the highest budget for the movie being $18.2 million and as such it was declared a Blockbuster. The Turkish platform “Tum Filmler Seyirci Rekoru – Ilk 100” announced in 2018 that Fetih 1453 was the 4th most watched movie in Turkish history.
Now known in Turkey as ‘The Natural Actor’, Ibrahim has established himself as a versatile and sought after lead actor, with several successful projects in the last few years.
Series
His impressive acting career includes successful tv series such as Merhamet (Mercy; 2013-2014) with Ozgu Namal, Siyah Beyaz Ask (Black and White Love; 2017-2018) with Birce Akalay and, most recently, the hit drama series Dogdugun Ev Kaderindir (My Home My Destiny; 2019 – 2020) with Demet Ozdemir. Each of his roles is distinctly different, showcasing his acting range and physical adaptability to the demands of the role. From a cold-blooded hitman in Siyah Beyaz Ask to a kind-hearted leader in a small neighborhood in Dogdugun Ev Kaderindir, he lives his characters heart, body and soul.
Films
Much acclaim has come from his work in films. Ibrahim plays the lead role in Sadece Sen, a beloved romantic drama that aired in 2014 and achieved worldwide success. His quiet and brooding character communicated intense emotions with very few dialogues, and his performance was very well received. Sadece Sen is noted to be one of the top romantic dramas ever made, was a box office success and is still one of the most watched Turkish films on Netflix.
Ibrahim played a military hero in the epic story of the Gallipoli Campaign from the first world war. It was aired as a Mini- Series in 2016, titled Seddulbahir 32 Saat. It is a true story about Turkish soldiers’ last 32 hours in Seddulbahir in Canakkale during the war, and holds tremendous significance for the Australians, New Zealanders, and the Turkish people. Ibrahim’s role marked another significant achievement for the actor.
Future
There is much anticipation for the upcoming film Mest-I Ask (“Intoxicated By Love”), which is a story of the Persian poet Rumi, his friendship with Shams Tabrizi, and his poetry. Ibrahim plays the role of Iskender, a commander and follower of Rumi. This epic film is in post-production and is expected to be released by the end of September 2020.
Ibrahim’s role as the adored lead character of Mehdi in the TV drama series Dogdugun Ev Kaderindir (My Home My Destiny) with Demet Ozdemir is set to resume filming at the end of June 2020. Based on a true story, it is an adaptation of the novel Camdaki Kiz written by a psychiatrist and author Dr. Gulseren Budayicioglu. The successful series has recently been launched worldwide by Eccho Rights and will also get a second season.
Ibrahim is managed by ID Iletisim Agency in Istanbul, Turkey. Since 2017, he is married to Mihre Mutlu (Celikkol) and the couple was blessed with a son, Ali, in December 2019.
Source: various contributors
Note: This post will be updated periodically to showcase the latest in Ibrahim’s career
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