Tribute Ceremony Held for Late Artist Haldun Dormen in Istanbul
Istanbul, January 25 – A ceremony was held today at the Muhsin Ertuğrul Stage in Harbiye, Istanbul, to honor the esteemed artist Haldun Dormen, who passed away on January 21st at the age of 97. Dormen, a celebrated actor, director, educator, and playwright, succumbed to an infection he contracted recently.
The ceremony saw the attendance of Haldun Dormen’s son, Ömer Dormen, his daughter-in-law, Ayşe Arman, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism Batuhan Mumcu, numerous figures from the art community, his family, and many admirers. Following the ceremony, Dormen’s coffin, draped in the Turkish flag, was transported to Teşvikiye Mosque for the funeral prayer, after which he will be laid to rest in Edirnekapı Cemetery.
A Legacy of 72 Years in Art
Haldun Dormen, who held the title of State Artist, was celebrating his 72nd year in the arts this year. In the 1990s, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree by Hacettepe University and received numerous honorary awards at significant festivals.
Son Ömer Dormen: ‘A Deep Relationship with Life, Art, and People’
Ömer Dormen, Haldun Dormen’s son, delivered an emotional speech during the ceremony. “The doyen of Turkish theater, the teacher of teachers, everyone’s ‘Haldun Abi,’ teacher, and dear friend – but as Halit said, he was my father. Theater was his priority, his passion. But he didn’t live this passion by excluding everyone; on the contrary, with his determination, energy, and inclusive, sharing demeanor, he made all of us a part of this passion. He lived life with genuine belief and attachment, not superficially. When he believed in something, he stood by it until the end, never giving up. Sometimes he seemed stubborn to his family, but in reality, this was a very deep relationship he built with life, art, and people – a relationship of trust,” he stated.
Ömer Dormen continued, “He loved to live life to the fullest. He never postponed any part of life; he embraced it completely. So today, instead of grieving his departure, let’s remember and smile at the beautiful memories, his energy, humility, nobility, playfulness, and his loving heart that he left us. My father was a child of the republic, deeply in love with his homeland. He was a patriot wholeheartedly devoted to Atatürk’s principles and revolutions. He saw art as one of the indispensable cornerstones of a modern society. Therefore, providing theater education to young people was one of his greatest missions. Your outlook on life, your stance, what you taught us will always be with me and hundreds of my siblings. You will continue to guide us. You will continue to live through your life. I love you very much. The curtain will never close.”
Actor Halit Ergenç: ‘He Opened New Horizons for Us’
Actor Halit Ergenç, speaking at the ceremony, shared his personal experience. “I am one of the thousands of children whose lives Haldun Abi touched. He guided me. He opened new horizons for us. Many great theater people have come and gone in our country and around the world. But I don’t think there is another person who has connected with so many people, encouraged them, and given them opportunities to realize themselves in their lives as much as Haldun Dormen. I am one of them, and I am very lucky. If I am standing before you today, if I can live my life and do my job, it is thanks to Haldun Abi. For believing in me despite everything and everyone, and for entrusting me with responsibilities I never would have imagined, telling me, ‘Go ahead and do it.’ Everything begins with doing, and Haldun Abi was a person who did that beautifully for everyone.”
Actress Nevra Serezli: ‘I Lost My Director, My Co-Star’
Actress Nevra Serezli expressed her profound sorrow. “Haldun Dormen’s contributions to Turkish theater are countless. I am very sad because I have lost so much. I lost my past. I lost my teacher. I lost my director, my co-star. I lost my writer. I lost my friend. I lost the person I had fun with, confided in, and sought advice from. Most importantly, I lost the person who brought me happiness.”
Source: dha.com.tr
