In memoriam | Birol Ünel (1961 – 2020)

Birol Ünel died in Berlin on 3 September 2020, aged 59, at a Berlin hospital, after suffering from cancer. He also suffered from alcoholism.

Mavi Boncuk | Birol Ünel (18 August 1961 – 3 September 2020) was a German actor of Turkish descent. 

Ünel was born in Mersin in southern Turkey. In 1968 his family moved to Brinkum near Bremen in Germany. He studied acting at the Musikhochschule Hannover. After drama school he played various roles in Turkish and German productions.

He acted in a number of German and Turkish films, television, and theatrical productions. He was perhaps best known for his role as the alcoholic Cahit Tomruk in the 2004 drama film with his role as an alcoholic in the acclaimed German film  Gegen die Wand |  Head-On.