- Gülsen Tuncer, Arsen Hanım of Aşk-ı Memnu, died on 17 September 2026, aged 81.
- Turkish media say she had been treated for stage 4 brain cancer.
- Co-star Nebahat Çehre said goodbye in an emotional Instagram post.
- She was laid to rest at Topkapı Kozlu Cemetery in Istanbul on 20 September.
Fans of one of the most-watched Turkish dramas ever made are mourning tonight. Gülsen Tuncer, the actress millions of Arab viewers knew as Arsen Hanım in Aşk-ı Memnu (Forbidden Love), passed away on Thursday, 17 September 2026. She was 81.
Egyptian news site Masrawy reported that she died after a health crisis. Turkish outlets, including NTV, Milliyet and Sözcü, said she had been fighting stage 4 brain cancer and died in the Istanbul hospital where she was being treated. Her death was first announced by the Republican Women's Association (Cumhuriyet Kadınları Derneği) and the Film-San Foundation.
🎭 Gülsen Tuncer at a Glance
💔 Nebahat Çehre's Heartbreaking Goodbye
Among the first to react was Nebahat Çehre, who starred alongside Tuncer in Aşk-ı Memnu as Firdevs Hanım. Sharing a photo of her late friend on Instagram, Çehre wrote that she was deeply sorry, and that it is painfully hard to say goodbye to people who walked the same road with you for so many years.
“Dear Gülsen, I will always remember our beautiful days.
The post quickly drew condolences from fans across Turkey and the Arab world — many of whom grew up watching the two women share the screen in one of Kanal D's biggest hits.
📺 Who Was "Arsen Hanım"?
Aşk-ı Memnu first aired in 2008 and became a phenomenon, breaking ratings records in Turkey before conquering screens across the Middle East. Its star-packed cast included Beren Saat, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, Hazal Kaya and Nebahat Çehre.
Tuncer played Arsen Ziyagil — known to fans as Arsen Hanım or Aunt Arsen. Turkish newspapers this week described the role as the one that "carved her into memory," turning a theatre veteran into a household name for a whole new generation of viewers.
🕰️ A Life on Stage and Screen
🕊️ Final Farewell in Istanbul
According to the Film-San Foundation, Tuncer's funeral prayer was held after the noon prayer at Şişli Mosque on Sunday, 20 September 2026. She was then buried at Topkapı Kozlu Cemetery.
Colleagues across Turkey's arts scene posted messages of condolence. The Republican Women's Association remembered her as an artist who left her mark through her talent, her elegance and her love for her country.
❓ Quick Answers
Who did Gülsen Tuncer play in Aşk-ı Memnu?
Arsen Ziyagil — better known as Arsen Hanım or Aunt Arsen.
How did Gülsen Tuncer die?
Turkish media reported she had been treated for stage 4 brain cancer. She died in hospital in Istanbul.
How old was Gülsen Tuncer?
She was 81. She was born on 20 October 1945 in Adana.
Where is she buried?
At Topkapı Kozlu Cemetery in Istanbul, after a funeral prayer at Şişli Mosque on 20 September 2026.
Gülsen Tuncer gave Turkish art more than half a century — on stage, on film and behind the camera. But for millions of viewers from Istanbul to Cairo, she will always be Arsen Hanım, a face from the golden age of Turkish drama that now belongs to memory.
This article is based on a report by Masrawy (مصراوي), one of Egypt's leading Arabic news websites.
Read the original report ↗
