Overview

Gülriz Sururi (24 July 1929 – 31 December 2018) was a prominent Turkish actress and author who worked across stage, television and publishing. Over several decades she became a familiar public figure in Turkey, combining dramatic performance with television presenting and literary activity. She is remembered for her contributions to theatre life and for bringing an intimate, domestic subject—cooking—to television audiences.

Life and career

Born in Istanbul, Sururi trained and worked as a stage actress before expanding into other media. She was associated with private theatre production and at times managed theatrical activity as an owner or partner, helping to sustain repertory work outside state institutions. Her stage career established her reputation as a versatile performer, and later gave her a platform to move into television and writing.

Theatre, television and books

In the 1990s Sururi became widely known to television viewers as the host of a cooking programme titled A La Luna, which ran for several years on the national broadcaster TRT. The show presented recipes, conversation and a domestic style of presentation that contrasted with her earlier public persona as a stage actress. Alongside broadcasting she wrote and published books, drawing on her experience in the arts and on personal memory; she is often described simply as an author in biographical summaries.

Awards and public recognition

  • In 1966 she was named "The Woman of the Year" by the Turkish Women's Association, a recognition of her public role and influence.
  • Her career combined creative work and public visibility during a period of change in Turkish cultural life, and she remained a recognizable figure through later decades.

Legacy and notable facts

Sururi's trajectory—from theatre stages to television screens and print—illustrates the varied careers of mid-20th-century performers who moved between artistic and popular media. Her co-ownership of theatrical ventures contributed to the scene of independent stage production, while her television work introduced a broad audience to a domestic, conversational style of programming.

Death

Gülriz Sururi died in Istanbul on 31 December 2018 from bile duct cancer at the age of 89. Obituaries and tributes at the time emphasized her long involvement in Turkish cultural life, her work as an actress and presenter, and the memories of audiences who followed both her stage roles and her television programmes.