--- title: Zihni Göktay slug: zihni-goktay-71678 url: /detay/zihni-goktay-71678 type: biography language: English entity: primary: Zihni Göktay type: biography categories: - name: Performance Arts slug: sahne-sanatlari url: /kategori/sahne-sanatlari - name: Cinema And Television slug: sinema-ve-televizyon url: /kategori/sinema-ve-televizyon tags: - VoiceActing - PertevniyalHighSchool - VoiceActingArt - SeriesActing - TuluatTheater - TheaterWorker - TurkishTheater - CinemaArt - stageArts - TheaterArt - ActingArt - CinemaWorkers - TraditionalCulture - TraditionalArts - CultureAndArt - Acting - TurkishCinema - Cinema - Yeşilçam - Ankara author: Edanur Karakoç created_at: 2026-07-06T09:41:32.406127+03:00 updated_at: 2026-07-06T09:41:32.406137+03:00 image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2026/07/06/rkvzEN9LH5Rqqn7bXkmpCMq5rpZsOdVR.jpg --- # Zihni Göktay > Zihni Göktay is a Turkish theater, film, and television actor who performed in 72 roles across 36 years at the Istanbul City Theatres. ## KURE Information Cards ![](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2026/07/06/PIwaLYjHF2ZjjvkZvO3IhWDP8DbtNbe9.jpg) *Zihni Göktay* | Field | Value | |-------|-------| | Date of Birth | 1945-12-02 | | Place of Birth | Istanbul (Fatih) | | Date of Death | 2026-07-06 | | Place of Death | Istanbul | | Occupation | Theater, film and television actor,Voice actor | | Spouse | Sevinç Göktay | | Children | Zeynep Göktay,Ömer Göktay | ## Article Content **Zihni Göktay** (b. 2 December 1945, Istanbul – d. 6 July 2026, Istanbul) was a Turkish stage, film and television actor. His full name is **Abdullah Zihni Göktay**. He began his professional career in 1964 at Ankara Meydan Sahnesi, where he worked until 1973. From 1973 onward, Göktay served at **İstanbul Şehir Tiyatroları**, appearing in 72 plays over 36 years. He is regarded as one of the last representatives of the Turkish theatrical tradition of tuluat. Göktay passed away in Istanbul on **6 July 2026**. ### **Early Life** [Zihni Göktay](/en/detay/zihni-goktay-3fbe6/llms.txt) was born on **2 December 1945** in the Fatih district of Istanbul. He graduated from **Pertevniyal High School**. Between 1960 and 1964, Zihni Göktay continued his amateur theater activities with the **İstanbul University National Turkish Student Union (İ.M.T.B.) Youth Theater** and the theater branch of **Eminönü Halkevi**. After completing high school, he began his theater work at Eminönü Halkevi. He performed his military service in Temeltepe, Sivas. ### **Professional Theater Career** Göktay worked at **Ankara Meydan Sahnesi** from 1964 to 1973. From 1973 onward, he served at **İstanbul Şehir Tiyatroları** (Istanbul Municipal Theater), appearing in 72 plays over 36 years. Following Muammer Karaca and Nejat Uygur, he portrayed the character "Commissioner Cafer Sabbah" in the play **Cibali Karakolu**. He also performed for 28 years in the operetta **Lüküs Hayat**. ### **Theater Plays** The following plays are among those in which Zihni Göktay performed at **İstanbul Şehir Tiyatroları**. | Year | Play | Author | | - | Cibali Karakolu | - | | - | Hisse-i Şaiya (A Marriage Comedy) | - | | 1979 | Babanın Gorilleri | Adnan Giz | | 1983 | Figaro's Wedding | Pierre Beaumarchais | | 1983 | Twelve Angry Men | Reginald Rose | | 1985 | Lüküs Hayat | Ekrem Reşit Rey / Cemal Reşit Rey | | 1989 | The Birds | Aristophanes | | 1991 | Illustrated Ottoman History | Turgut Özakman | | 2000 | Brides of the Pink Mansion | Gülsün Siren | | 2001 | Sarıpınar 1914 | Turgut Özakman | | 2002 | Kanlı Nigar | Sadık Şendil | | 2025 | Gidiş Dönüş Moskova (Retro) | Aleksandr Galin | Other plays in which he performed include: Açgözlüler, Çalıkuşu, İp Oyunu, Yaşama Sevinci (Gümüş Düdük), İpekçi Merhum, Misafir, Çulsuzlar, Kralın Kısrağı, Merhaba Anneciğim, Devlet Baba, Genç Osman, Kalkınma Planı, Kısasa Kısas and 3. Selim (Kılıç ve Ney). ### **Radio Theater Work** Between 1978 and 1996, Zihni Göktay served as both director and actor in numerous productions at the **İstanbul Radio Radio Theater Branch**. ### **Voice Acting Work** Zihni Göktay provided voice acting for various films. In some silent films, he voiced the characters he portrayed. ### **Cinema and Television Career** #### **Cinema Films** | Year | Film | Role | | 1976 | Ruhi (Tellioğlu Ruhi) | | 1976 | Meraklı Köfteci | Deli kaleci ("Zühtü") | | 1984 | Fahriye Abla | Fahriye's uncle | | 1984 | Atla Gel Şaban | Halil | | 2003 | Hababam Sınıfı: Merhaba | Üçbuçuk Yusuf (literature teacher) | | 2004 | Hababam Sınıfı Askerde | Yusuf Hoca, Doctor Yusuf Yarbay | | 2005 | Hababam Sınıfı Üç Buçuk | Yusuf Yusuf | | 2005 | Döngel Karhanesi | Sabri | | 2008 | Çıngıraklı Top | Ahi | | 2009 | 7 Kocalı Hürmüz | Armenian Elder | | 2014 | Zaman Makinesi 1973 | Guest actor | | 2015 | Kara Bela | Father | | 2017 | Çalgı Çengi İkimiz (Çalgı Çengi 2) | Commissioner | | 2017 | Seni Gidi Seni | Hasan | | 2017 | Yaşamak Güzel Şey | Müfit's father | | 2020 | Seni Bulacam Oğlum! | - | | 2022 | Güven Bana | Müslüm Emmi | | 2023 | Oregon | Burhan | | 2025 | Ayakçı | - | ### **Television Films** He appeared in the television films **Beybaba** (TRT, 2003) and **Koltuk** (TRT, 2004). | Year | Series | Role | | 1986 | Kuruntu Ailesi | Bayram Efendi | | 1989 | Bizimkiler | Muvaffak Bey | | 1994 | Yazlıkçılar | Naci | | 1994 | Bekarlık Sultanlık mı? | - | | 1995 | Oğlum Adam Olacak | - | | 1997 | Komşu Komşu | - | | 1997 | Eltiler | - | | 2000 | Üvey Baba | Ethem | | 2000 | Ah Şu Komşular | - | | 2002 | Biz Size Aşık Olduk | Cemal | | 2002 | Koçum Benim | İsmail Bey (school principal) | | 2003 | Hadi Uç Bakalım | Şefik | | 2004 | Avrupa Yakası | Guest actor | | 2004 | Cennet Mahallesi | Ethem (Ethem from Göttingen) | | 2006 | Geçmiş Zaman Olur ki | - | | 2008 | Mert ile Gert | Poyraz | | 2009 | Ah Kalbim | Hakkı (Hakkı Bey) | | 2014 | Ulan İstanbul | Servet | ### **Personal Life** Göktay married Sevinç Göktay in 1978. The couple had a daughter, Zeynep (b. 1985), and a son, Ömer (b. 1980). His wife Sevinç Göktay passed away in January 2022. ### **Awards** - Suna Pekuysal Theater Awards (2012) – "Honorary Award" - Cibali Karakolu / Lions Theater Awards (2015) – "Theater Service of the Year Award" - Yeni Tiyatro Dergisi Emek ve Başarı Awards (2017) – "Emek Awards" - Sadri Alışık Theater Awards (2019) – "Honorary Award" ### **Death** Zihni Göktay fell ill on 6 July 2026 and was admitted to hospital where he received treatment in the intensive care unit. On the same day, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat and his daughter Zeynep Göktay Dilbaz announced through their shared posts that Göktay had passed away at the age of **80**. ## Academic Sources and References 1. Beyazperde. "Oyunculuk." Beyazperde. Accessed July 6, 2026. https://www.beyazperde.com/sanatcilar/sanatci-506664/filmografi/ 2. Beyazperde. “Zihni Göktay.” Beyazperde Haber. Accessed July 6, 2026. https://www.beyazperde.com/sanatcilar/sanatci-506664/news/ 3. Haberler.com. "Zihni Göktay Biyografisi." Accessed July 6, 2026. https://www.haberler.com/zihni-goktay/biyografisi/ 4. Hürriyet. “Zihni Göktay Kimdir, Kaç Yaşındaydı, Neden Vefat Etti? Oyuncu Zihni Göktay Neden Öldü, Hastalığı Neydi? Acı Haber Geldi! İşte Sanatçı Zihni Göktay'ın Biyografisi ve Hayatı!” Hürriyet. Accessed July 6, 2026. https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/galeri-zihni-goktay-kimdir-kac-yasindaydi-neden-vefat-etti-usta-oyuncu-zihni-goktay-neden-oldu-hastaligi-neydi-aci-haber-geldi-43230086 5. Sinemalar.com. "Zihni Göktay." Sinemalar.com. Accessed July 6, 2026. https://www.sinemalar.com/sanatci/39325/zihni-goktay 6. TRT Dinle. "Zihni Göktay." TRT Dinle. Accessed July 6, 2026. https://www.trtdinle.com/cast/zihni-goktay-20275189 7. İstanbul Büyükşehir Municipality City Theatres. "Zihni Göktay." İBB Şehir Tiyatroları. Accessed July 6, 2026. https://sehirtiyatrolari.ibb.istanbul/oyuncu/zihni-goktay