Gülsen Tuncer, known from Aşk-ı Memnu, dies at 81
The Film-San foundation said Tuncer had been treated for a stage-four brain tumor and later suffered organ and respiratory complications.
Turkish actress Gülsen Tuncer, beloved across the Balkans for her portrayal of Aunt Arsen Ziyagil in the hit series Aşk-ı Memnu, has died at the age of 81. The Film-San foundation announced her passing and said she had been battling a serious illness.
Legacy built across stage and screen
Tuncer was born in 1945 in Adana and trained at the Drama Department of the City Conservatory in Istanbul. Her professional career began in 1968 with the play "Zilli Zarife," launching a span of more than five decades during which she appeared in hundreds of theatrical and screen productions.
According to the announcement, she had been fighting a brain tumor that had reached the fourth stage. Her condition later worsened due to organ failure and respiratory problems.
Beyond acting, Tuncer worked as an assistant director on roughly 40 film projects, wrote song lyrics, contributed to scenography, and for many years taught acting and theatre history. Her résumé includes over 300 theatre and film credits and roles in television productions such as Mrs. Fazilet and Her Daughters.
For viewers across the region, she remained most recognizable as the dignified and warm Arsen in Aşk-ı Memnu — a character that cemented her status with audiences in North Macedonia and beyond.
Photo: press material from the event
