Levent Üzümcü (born 6 July 1972) is a Turkish actor, dissident and local politician in Şişli, Istanbul.
Biography Levent Üzümcü studied at Karşıyaka Aydoğdu Primary School and Eşref Paşa High School in İzmir. He trained in theatre first at the Anadolu University in Eskişehir and then at the Los Angeles Acting School. From 1996, he worked at the İstanbul City Theatre. He gained national fame playing Cem Onaran in the sitcom Avrupa Yakası. Additionally, he presented the Akıl Şampiyonu show on TürkMax.
In 2015, Üzümcü was dismissed from the Istanbul City Theater over statements critical of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
In 2019, he was elected as a member of the Şişli Municipal Council for the CHP (Republican People's Party) in the 2019 local elections, and served as Chairman of the Şişli Municipality Culture and Arts Commission from 2019 to 2023.
In 2024, he was appointed as the Artistic Director of the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality City Theatres and he will hold this position for a period of three years.
Üzümcü was married to psychological advisor Ebru Tuay from 1997 to 2016, and they have two children, Ada and Batu.
He was detained several times for criticizing the government and was placed under house arrest on 16 July 2026 after being charged with allegedly inciting public hatred and enmity in connection with a social media post. The charge concerned a tweet in which he wrote: "This country is being very poorly governed by a highly incompetent group; either we will get rid of these incompetents, or our descendants will curse our legacy."
Filmography Film Year Title Role 2005 Beyza'nın Kadınları Doruk Türker 2008 Umut Fatih 2009 Abimm Arif 2019 Merhaba Güzel Vatanım Mayakovski 2021 Kimya Television Year Title Role 1997 Bir Umut 1998 Küçük İbo Raşit 2000 Evdeki Yabancı Ali Ertan 2002 Biz Size Aşık Olduk Atilla 2002 Bayanlar Baylar Cemil 2003 Serseri Aşıklar Kenan 2004–2009 Avrupa Yakası Cem Onaran 2006 Kabuslar Evi 2010 Şen Yuva Münir 2011 Anneler ile Kızları Kerem 2012 Acayip Hikayeler 2012–2013 Harem Küçük Esat
Awards 20th Sadri Alışık Theatre and Cinema Actor Awards – Best Male Theatre Actor of the Year (Comedy, Musical Play, or Musical), for İstibdat Kumpanyası and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Bir Yaz Gecesi Rüyası)
51st Salihli Poetry Afternoons ("Salihli Şiir İkindileri") – Dionysos Award for Contribution to the Arts References
External links Official website