Ece İrtem: The Sudden Loss of a Turkish Actress Remembered for Kızılcık Şerbeti

The Turkish television world is mourning the sudden death of actress Ece İrtem, a performer whose career bridged music, theatre training, television drama and a lifelong passion for performance. Best known to many viewers for her role as Işıl in the hit Turkish drama Kızılcık Şerbeti, also known internationally as One Love, İrtem died at the age of 35 on June 15, 2026, just one day after her birthday.

Her death shocked fans, colleagues and the wider arts community, not only because of her young age but also because she had become a familiar presence on Turkish television through roles in popular series such as Yeni Gelin, Payitaht Abdülhamid, Kuruluş Osman, Mahkum and Kızılcık Şerbeti. According to the provided information, she was found unresponsive at her home, and early reports cited a heart attack as the suspected cause of death.

Following online speculation about the circumstances surrounding her passing, İrtem’s attorney, Uğur Gökkoyun, issued an official statement denying allegations of suicide and clarifying that the actress had suffered a sudden medical emergency while at home with her mother.

“Based on initial medical assessments, we believe the cause of death was a heart attack,” Gökkoyun stated.

He also noted that an official investigation was still underway and that the definitive cause of death would be made public once the final autopsy report was released.

A Sudden Death That Shook Turkish Television

Ece İrtem passed away around noon on June 15, one day after celebrating her 35th birthday. The timing of her death made the news especially painful for those who followed her career and admired her screen presence.

The provided reports state that İrtem was found lifeless in her room by her mother, who suffered a nervous breakdown after discovering that her daughter was still asleep around noon. Her body was taken to the Forensic Medicine Institute for autopsy.

Funeral arrangements were also reported shortly after her passing. İrtem’s body was expected to be handed over to her father, described as a retired prosecutor, the following morning. Unless there was a new change, she was to be laid to rest on Wednesday in İzmir, where her family and relatives live.

The sudden loss prompted an outpouring of condolences from fans, colleagues and members of the wider entertainment industry. For many viewers, İrtem was not only a television actress but a recognizable figure in Turkey’s fast-growing drama sector, where performers often become deeply connected to audiences through long-running series.

From Sivas to the Stage: Ece İrtem’s Early Life

Ece İrtem was born on June 14, 1991, in Sivas. Her artistic path began long before she became known to national television audiences. According to the provided information, she began acting at a young age, writing and performing her own skits for school plays.

That early creative instinct remained part of her identity throughout her life. Before television fame, İrtem’s background was shaped by performance, music and disciplined artistic training. She also started competitive running in primary school, suggesting an early life marked by both physical discipline and creative ambition.

Her education eventually took her to Yaşar University, where she studied in the Opera and Vocal Performance department. In 2014, she graduated third in her class, a distinction that reflected her commitment to formal artistic training.

During her time as a student, İrtem worked with several respected figures in music and performance, including soprano Aytül Büyüksaraç, İzmir State Opera and Ballet director, tenor Levent Gündüz, Paolo Susanni, Esra Mamaç, and mezzo-soprano Anna Chubuchenko.

That musical foundation mattered. Even as İrtem later became better known for television acting, her path was rooted in the discipline of voice, stage presence and classical performance. It gave her a broader artistic base than many viewers may have realized when watching her on screen.

Building a Career in Istanbul

After completing her university education, İrtem moved to Istanbul, the center of Turkey’s film and television industry. From 2014 to 2015, she studied acting at the Sadri Alışık Cultural Center, one of the respected training institutions associated with Turkish performing arts.

There, she trained with Kayhan Yıldızoğlu, Okday Korunan, Kadim Yaşar, and Tolga Çiftçi. This period helped her transition from music and early stage performance into professional screen acting.

The move to Istanbul marked an important turning point. Turkish television is highly competitive, with drama series often demanding long shooting schedules, emotional range and the ability to sustain audience interest across many episodes. İrtem’s training helped prepare her for that environment.

Over time, she became a familiar face in several popular productions. Her credits included Yeni Gelin, Payitaht Abdülhamid, Kuruluş Osman, and Mahkum. Each role contributed to her growing recognition and placed her within some of the most-watched genres in Turkish television, from historical drama to contemporary serial storytelling.

The Role That Brought Wider Recognition: Işıl in Kızılcık Şerbeti

Although Ece İrtem had already built a television career, she became especially well known for playing Işıl in Kızılcık Şerbeti, the hit drama also referred to as One Love.

The series has a major audience base and has become one of the most discussed Turkish dramas in recent years. İrtem’s character, Işıl, gave her a fresh point of connection with viewers. In the provided material, she is remembered most recently for her portrayal of Işıl, a role that placed her in the middle of a widely followed television narrative.

In one description of the character’s role, Işıl enters the story as a figure connected to new developments around Abdullah’s hotel and Kıvılcım’s circle. For viewers, the arrival of such a character often signals fresh conflict, changing alliances and emotional turning points—elements central to Turkish drama storytelling.

İrtem’s performance helped make Işıl memorable. Her presence in the series extended her visibility beyond earlier roles and introduced her to audiences who may have discovered her through Kızılcık Şerbeti rather than her earlier work.

A Career Marked by Versatility

Ece İrtem’s career was not defined by one genre. Her reported television credits show range across different types of productions.

In Yeni Gelin, she was part of a popular series that blended family dynamics and comedy-drama elements. In Payitaht Abdülhamid, she entered the world of historical television drama, a genre that has gained both domestic and international attention. Kuruluş Osman placed her near one of Turkey’s most prominent historical drama franchises, while Mahkum added a contemporary drama credit to her body of work.

That range suggests an actress capable of navigating different tones, settings and audience expectations. While many viewers remember her most clearly as Işıl, her broader filmography shows a performer steadily building a place in the industry.

Her background in opera and vocal performance also distinguished her from actors whose careers began solely in television. İrtem’s artistic training crossed disciplines, linking music, theatre and screen performance.

The Attorney’s Statement and the Importance of Clarity

The hours after a public figure’s death often bring confusion, speculation and rumor. In İrtem’s case, online claims about the circumstances of her passing spread quickly, prompting her attorney, Uğur Gökkoyun, to respond publicly.

Gökkoyun firmly denied allegations of suicide and said İrtem had suffered a sudden medical emergency while at home with her mother.

“Based on initial medical assessments, we believe the cause of death was a heart attack,” Gökkoyun stated.

He also emphasized that an official investigation was continuing and that the final cause of death would be released after the autopsy report.

This clarification was significant for two reasons. First, it pushed back against unverified claims circulating online. Second, it reinforced the need for care and accuracy when discussing the death of a public figure, especially when a family is grieving.

For fans and media audiences, the statement offered a clearer account while acknowledging that final medical confirmation was still pending.

Mourning Across the Arts Community

The death of a 35-year-old actress at a rising and visible point in her career naturally produced a strong reaction. The provided information notes that her unexpected passing sparked condolences from fans, colleagues and the wider arts community.

This response reflects the role television actors play in modern cultural life. Turkish dramas are watched not only domestically but also by audiences across the region and internationally. Actors become part of viewers’ weekly routines, family conversations and social media discussions.

İrtem’s death therefore resonated beyond the professional circles that knew her personally. For many viewers, she was associated with a character, a performance style and a screen presence that had become familiar. Her passing created a moment of collective grief among people who knew her through her work.

Why Ece İrtem’s Story Matters

Ece İrtem’s story is not only about a sudden death. It is also about the path of an artist who moved through different disciplines and steadily built a career in one of the world’s most active television industries.

Her journey began in Sivas, developed through music education in İzmir, continued with acting training in Istanbul and reached national audiences through Turkish drama series. Along the way, she carried early passions for acting, writing skits, school performance, competitive running and disciplined vocal training.

Her life reflects the many layers behind a screen performer’s success. Viewers may remember a character, a scene or a dramatic storyline, but behind that work is often years of training, movement between cities, personal discipline and repeated auditions or roles before wider recognition arrives.

İrtem’s death also highlights the emotional connection between audiences and television actors. In long-running dramas, characters become part of public conversation. When the actor behind such a character dies suddenly, the loss is felt not only as entertainment news but as a cultural moment.

A Final Farewell in İzmir

According to the provided funeral information, Ece İrtem was expected to be laid to rest in İzmir, where her family and relatives live. The detail is poignant because İzmir was also part of her artistic formation: she studied at Yaşar University and worked with notable figures connected to opera and performance.

In that sense, İzmir represents both a chapter of her beginnings and the place where loved ones were expected to say goodbye.

Her passing leaves behind a career remembered through television roles, artistic training and the affection of viewers who connected with her work. At 35, she was still young, still visible and still part of an industry that had more room for her talent.

Conclusion: Remembering Ece İrtem’s Legacy

Ece İrtem’s death at 35 has left Turkish television and its audience in mourning. Best known for her role as Işıl in Kızılcık Şerbeti, she was also a trained vocalist, a disciplined performer and an actress whose career included several major Turkish series.

Her sudden passing on June 15, 2026, just one day after her birthday, has intensified the sense of loss. While early assessments pointed to a heart attack, officials were still awaiting the final autopsy report, and her attorney moved quickly to deny false speculation surrounding her death.

What remains clear is the mark she left on Turkish entertainment. From Sivas to İzmir and Istanbul, from opera training to television drama, Ece İrtem built a career defined by commitment, versatility and presence. Her work will continue to be remembered by fans who knew her through the characters she brought to life, especially Işıl, the role that made her a familiar name to a wide audience.