Rıza Kocaoğlu

Rıza Kocaoğlu (born March 19, 1979, İzmir) is a highly acclaimed Turkish theater, film, and television actor, widely praised for his chameleon-like acting style. Born into a family of Balkan immigrant descent from Thessaloniki, he graduated from the Theater Department of Dokuz Eylül University. His feature film debut in "Wish Me Luck" ("Bana Şans Dile") earned him a Best Actor award at the Şile Büyülü Fener Film Festival. He became a true legend of Turkish crime dramas due to his exceptional ability to portray deep, intense, and unconventional characters. He achieved global stardom as the ruthless assassin Temmuz in "Ezel," the loyal Ali in "Kuzey Güney," and most notably, the iconic Aliço—a brilliant scavenger with autism in the mega-hit "The Pit" ("Çukur"). He has won the prestigious Sadri Alışık Cinema Award. Fast Facts: He is the son of famous football referee İsmail Kocaoğlu. Rıza himself is a legendary, passionate leader of the Göztepe SK football club ultras. Marital Status: Single, no children. He has been in several high-profile relationships with prominent Turkish actresses.