Kenan İmirzalıoğlu was born on 18 June 1974 in Üçem village, part of the Bala district of Ankara. He has participated in various projects in television, cinema, and hosting, building a career that began in modeling and transitioned into acting.

Family and Education

İmirzalıoğlu is the son of a family belonging to the Tabanlı Tribe of the Bozulus Turkmen. His father is Mustafa İmirzalıoğlu and his mother is Yıldız İmirzalıoğlu from the Keskin district of Kırıkkale. The youngest of three children, Kenan İmirzalıoğlu attended primary school in his birth village and completed middle and high school with his aunt in Ankara. He graduated from Çankaya Bahçelievler Deneme Lisesi and completed his university education in the Department of Mathematics at Istanbul Yıldız Technical University.

In 1997, he won first place in the Best Model of Turkey competition and subsequently became the first Turkish male model to win first place in the Best Model of the World competition, representing Türkiye. Following this success, he received offers from the television and film industries.

Acting Career

He made his acting debut in 1999 portraying the character Yusuf Miroğlu in the series “Deli Yürek.” He reprised the same role in the 2001 film adaptation of the series, “Deli Yürek: Bumerang Cehennemi.” Later, from 2003 to 2005, he played the character Ferit Çağlayan in the series “Alacakaranlık.”

In 2004, he appeared in the film “Yazı Tura,” for which he won the Best Male Actor award at the 2005 Altın Koza Film Festival. From 2005 to 2007, he starred as the lead in the series “Acı Hayat.” He appeared in the films “Son Osmanlı Yandım Ali” in 2006 and “Kabadayı” in 2007. In 2009, he played the lead role of Akrep Celal in the film “Ejder Kapanı.”

He starred as the lead in the series “Ezel,” which aired from 2009 to 2011. For his performance in this series, he won numerous awards in 2010, including the Altın Kelebek, İsmail Cem Television Awards, and the Sadri Alışık Jury Special Award. From 2012 to 2015, he portrayed the character Mahir Kara in the series “Karadayı,” for which he was named Best Male Actor at the 2013 Antalya Television Awards.

In 2017, he played the lead role in the film “Cingöz Recai,” in 2018 in the series “Mehmed: Bir Cihan Fatihi,” and in 2020 in the series “Alef.”

Hosting

Since 2019, he has been the host of the quiz show “Kim Milyoner Olmak İster?” broadcast on the atv channel.

Personal Life

Kenan İmirzalıoğlu married actress Sinem Kobal on 14 May 2016. The couple has two daughters, Lalin and Leyla.

Television Roles

– Deli Yürek (1999–2002): Yusuf Miroğlu – Hayat Bağları (2000): Himself – Alacakaranlık (2003–2005): Ferit Çağlayan – Acı Hayat (2005–2007): Mehmet Kosovalı – Ezel (2009–2011): Ezel Bayraktar – Karadayı (2012–2015): Mahir Kara – Mehmed: Bir Cihan Fatihi (2018): II. Mehmed – Alef (2020): Kemal

Film Roles

– Deli Yürek: Bumerang Cehennemi (2001): Yusuf Miroğlu – Yazı Tura (2004): Cevher – Son Osmanlı Yandım Ali (2006): Yandım Ali – Kabadayı (2007): Devran – Ejder Kapanı (2010): Akrep Celal – Uzun Hikâye (2012): Bulgaryalı Ali – Cingöz Recai (2017): Cingöz Recai

Hosting Work

– Kim Milyoner Olmak İster? (2019– )

Awards

– 2005: 12th Altın Koza Film Festival, Best Male Actor (Yazı Tura) – 2010: 15th Sadri Alışık Cinema Awards, Jury Special Award (Ejder Kapanı) – 2010: 1st İsmail Cem Television Awards, Best Male Actor (Ezel) – 2010: 37th Altın Kelebek Awards, Best Male Actor (Ezel) – 2013: 4th Antalya Television Awards, Best Male Actor (Karadayı)