Who is Onur Saylak? Bio, Age, Height, Family, Career and More

The distinguished Turkish actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, and Theater DirectorOnur Saylak, born Arif Onur Saylak, has established a prominent and permanent career across contemporary Turkish cinema, primetime television dramas, and international digital streaming networks. Born on May 12, 1977, in Ankara, Türkiye, he grew up navigating diverse intellectual disciplines before dedicating his focus entirely to screen performance and cinematic direction. Before transitioning into one of the most versatile leading talents and visionary directors in the Turkish Entertainment landscape, he balanced an academic background in public administration with the rigorous training of dramatic literature and performance.

Academic Transitions and Early Theatrical Foundations

Onur Saylak completed his secondary education before enrolling at Middle East Technical University (METU) to pursue higher studies in the Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, entering the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. Driven by a passion for performance, he later chose to change his career path, transferring to the Bilkent University Faculty of Music and Performing Arts, where he successfully graduated from the Department of Theater. During his university years, he worked as a stage actor in institutional theater companies, performing in classical plays and serving as an assistant Director before relocating permanently to İstanbul to expand his creative networks.

Her formal introduction to professional television series materialized in the early 2000s when he secured roles in productions such as Bizim Evin Halleri and Aşk Buraya Uğramıyor. His initial nationwide visibility arrived through his role as Tekin in the Drama series Kod Adı, broadcast on Kanal D. This breakout role boosted his profile among primetime casting directors, leading to his landmark portrayal of Ziya in the internationally acclaimed romance-drama series Asi, starring opposite Murat Yıldırım and Tuba Büyüküstün. His character’s intense emotional delivery became a major driving force for multiple seasons, establishing his permanent footprint on national television.

Mainstream Dominance and Critical Cinematic Triumphs

Following the commercial milestone of Asi, Onur Saylak achieved critical recognition within Turkish and independent cinema. He delivered a breakout performance as Yusuf in Özcan Alper’s highly acclaimed dark drama feature film Sonbahar (Autumn) in 2008, a performance that earned him the Best Actor award at the SİYAD Turkish Cinema Critics Association Awards and established his visibility on the international festival circuit. He subsequently expanded his cinematic filmography by starring as Cihan in the psychological film Denizden Gelen, and portraying the main character in the historical drama Rüzgarın Hatıraları (Memories of the Wind), sharing scenes with Tuba Büyüküstün.

The peak of his mainstream television presence materialized between 2016 and 2018 when he joined the cast of the globally acclaimed historical epic series Vatanım Sensin (Wounded Love), produced by OGM Pictures and broadcast on Kanal D. He delivered a transformative performance by portraying the complex, calculating antagonist Tevfik. The narrative placed his character in intense political and romantic confrontations opposite lead actors Halit Ergenç and Bergüzar Korel. His execution of this dramatic role earned him widespread recognition from critics and solid global syndication licensing. He subsequently reprised his television leading status by portraying Ferman Façalı in the action series Kuzgun alongside Barış Arduç, and Egemen in the psychological thriller series Babil opposite Halit Ergenç and Ozan Güven.

Directorial Masterpieces and the Phenomenon of Şahsiyet

In addition to his dominant on-screen presence, Onur Saylak transitioned into cinematic direction and screenwriting, collaborating closely with prominent Author Hakan Günday. In 2017, he made his feature film directorial debut with the psychological drama Daha (More), which explored deep societal struggles and won multiple awards at international film festivals. His major directorial milestone arrived in 2018 when he spearheaded the internationally acclaimed Crime-drama miniseries Şahsiyet (Persona), produced by Ay Yapım and broadcast on Puhu TV. The complex narrative featured a legendary performance by Haluk Bilginer, who portrayed Agâh Beyoğlu and subsequently won the International Emmy Award for Best Actor under Saylak’s direction.

Following the massive success of the initial project, Onur Saylak directed the highly anticipated second season, titled Şahsiyet II: Fasıl, which achieved widespread critical acclaim across digital platforms. His directorial portfolio within digital streaming networks expanded further through headlining the 2023 Netflix original mystery-drama film Boğa Boğa (Chokehold), and directing the Netflix original series Uysallar (Wild Abandon). During the 2025 and 2026 broadcasting blocks, he successfully consolidated his industrial presence by directing the high-profile Netflix original mystery-thriller series Eve Giden Yol (The Road Home), where his creative direction guided a star-studded cast including Aras Bulut İynemli.

Physical Profile, Personal Life, and Net Worth

Onur Saylak stands at a height of 1.80 meters (5 feet 11 inches) and maintains a weight of approximately 78 kilograms (172 lbs). Regarding his personal life, he is married. He entered his first marriage with the prominent Turkish actress Tuba Büyüküstün in July 2011 in Paris, France, and the couple shares twin daughters, Maya Saylak and Toprak Saylak, born in January 2012. Following their legal divorce in June 2017, he entered his second marriage with Media manager Gözde Yılmaz in August 2020, and the couple shares one son, Deniz Ali Saylak, born in December 2020. Residing in İstanbul, his financial stability is sustained by his directorial project fees, international digital streaming platform residuals, television contracts, and intellectual property royalties.

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Check out our 1977 born celebrities page to discover Onur Saylak and other notable people born in the same year.