Erkan Kolçak Köstendil

Erkan Kolçak Köstendil (born January 16, 1983, Bursa) is a highly versatile Turkish actor, director, screenwriter, and author. In his youth, he pursued football seriously, playing as a goalkeeper for Bursaspor. He later shifted to arts, graduating with a degree in Drama from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. He first gained notice as Carlos in the comedy series Ulan İstanbul. However, he achieved monumental global stardom with his iconic, multi-layered portrayal of Vartolu Sadettin (Salih Koçovalı) in the hit phenomenon Çukur (2017–2021). He also stood out as Şahin Giray in Muhteşem Yüzyıl: Kösem and starred in Sivas. His self-directed short films, including Suma, have won awards at multiple international film festivals. Fast Facts: He wrote and performed a critically acclaimed one-man play, 12 Hours, touring across Europe. He also played as a real-life goalkeeper for Amsterdam Gençlerbirliği in the Netherlands. Marital Status: Married to famous actress Cansu Tosun since 2018. They have a son named Marsel.