# Burak Deniz

Burak Deniz (born 17 February 1991) is a Turkish actor and model who works in films and television. He is known for portraying Murat Sarsılmaz in the popular rom-com Aşk Laftan Anlamaz, Barış Aktan in the drama series Bizim Hikaye and Kenan Öztürk in the murder mystery drama Bambaşka Biri.
In 2021, he went on to appear as Celal Kün in hit series Maraşlı, followed by playing Asaf in Disney+ series The Ignorant Angels (2022) and Maran in the Netflix series Şahmaran (2023). Deniz is also known for playing Ozan in the films Arada (2018) and Semih in Netflix original Kal (2022).

## Early life

Deniz was born on 17 February 1991, in Istanbul, and grew up in İzmit. He graduated from İzmit 50 Yıl Cumhuriyet Primary School, and Gazi High School. He studied History of Art at the Çanakkale 18 Mart University. He attended acting workshops while he was still in high school, and was discovered by the casting director Gökçe Doruk Erten who helped him start his career.

## Career
### Early beginnings (2011–2015)

Deniz began his career with the series Kolej Günlüğü, where he played the role of Onur. In 2012, he starred as Tarık in Sultan. In 2013, he portrayed Burak Topçuoğlu in the series Kaçak. In 2015, Deniz essayed Aras in the series Medcezir. It is an adaptation of the American television series The O.C..
In 2015, Deniz starred as Toprak in the series Tatlı Küçük Yalancılar which is inspired by American TV show Pretty Little Liars. It also co-starred Şükrü Özyıldız, Bensu Soral, Büşra Develi, Melisa Şenolsun, Dilan Çiçek Deniz and Beste Kökdemir. In 2016, he played Mert in Gecenin Kraliçesi alongside Meryem Uzerli and Murat Yıldırım.

### Aşk Laftan Anlamaz and rise to fame (2016–2019)

From 2016 to 2017, he portrayed the role of Murat Sarsılmaz opposite Hande Erçel in the widely popular rom-com series Aşk Laftan Anlamaz. Set in Istanbul, the show follows a workplace romance at a multinational fashion company, Sarte. Deniz's character, Murat is the crown prince of the textile empire. The series became an international phenomenon and won the leading duo several awards.
In 2017, he starred as Barış Aktan alongside Hazal Kaya in the series Bizim Hikaye. It is an adaptation of the UK series, Shameless. In 2018, he made his film debut with Arada, which is about a punk singer wanting to leave Turkey who ends up in a nightmarish, hallucinatory trip through Istanbul.

### Variation, web series, and more (2020–present)

In 2020, Deniz starred as Kadir Bilmez in the web series Yarım Kalan Aşklar opposite Dilan Çiçek Deniz. It revolves around Ozan, a journalist who loses his life in an accident, only to get resurrected in a new body. He then starred as Celal "Maraşlı" Kün in the series Maraşlı opposite Alina Boz.
In 2023, Deniz reunited with Erçel for the crime drama series Bambaşka Biri. He portrayed Kenan Öztürk, a popular journalist grappling with the effects of dissociative personality disorder. His alter-ego Doğan Kaya is an avenging murderer. The series topped commercial demographics and became most watched in all categories.
In 2024, he starred in Bir Gece Masali as Mahir Yılmaz opposite Su Burcu Yazgı Coşkun.

## Filmography
### Television

| Year | Show | Role | Network |
| 2011 | Kolej Günlüğü | Onur | Teve2 |
| 2012 | Sultan | Tarik | Kanal D |
| 2012 | Böyle Bitmesin | Fedat | TRT 1 |
| 2013–2015 | Kaçak | Burak Topcuoğlu | ATV |
| 2013–2015 | Medcezir | Aras | Star TV |
| 2015 | Tatlı Küçük Yalancılar | Toprak | Star TV |
| 2016 | Gecenin Kraliçesi | Mert | Star TV |
| 2016–2017 | Aşk Laftan Anlamaz | Murat Sarsılmaz | Show TV |
| 2017–2019 | Bizim Hikaye | Barış Aktan | Fox |
| 2021 | Maraşlı | Celal "Maraşlı" Kün | ATV |
| 2023–2024 | Bambaşka Biri | Kenan Öztürk Doğan Kaya | Fox |
| 2024 | Bir Gece Masali | Mahir Yılmaz | ATV |

### Films

| Year | Title | Role | Platform |
| 2018 | Arada | Ozan | — |
| 2022 | Kal | Semih | Netflix Turkey |
| 2025 | Umami | Chef Sina | Disney+ |

### Web series

| Year | Title | Role | Network |
| 2020 | Yarım Kalan Aşklar | Mehmet Kadir Bilmez | BluTV |
| 2022 | The Ignorant Angels | Asaf | Disney+ |
| 2023– | Şahmaran | Maran Yaloğlu | Netflix Turkey |

### Music videos

| Year | Song | Singer | Ref |
| 2017 | Bizim Hikaye | Çağatay Akman | |
| 2018 | Bir Beyaz Orkide | Cihan Mürtezaoğlu | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Show | Result |
| 2018 | GQ Awards | Man of the Year | — | Won |
| 2023 | Distinctive International Arab Festivals Awards | Best International Actor | Bambaşka Biri | Won |
| 2023 | Golden Butterfly Awards | Best Actor | Bambaşka Biri | Nominated |
| 2023 | Golden Butterfly Awards | Best Couple (With Hande Erçel) | Bambaşka Biri | Nominated |
| 2023 | Eurexpo Festiculture | Most Popular Actor of the Year | Bambaşka Biri | Won |
| 2024 | GQ Awards | Screen Star of the Year | — | Won |