Ertuğrul star Ayberk Pekcan passes away due to lung cancer

Turkish series Dirilis: Ertugrul star Ayberk Pekcan passed away on Monday (January 25).

According to Daily Sabah, Pekcan succumbed to lung cancer after battling the illness for a prolonged period of time. He was born in 1970 and had studied theatre in university.

The 51-year-old actor Turkish actor was known for playing the character of Artuk Bey in the popular series.

Pekcan had starred in many Turkish productions over the span of his career, including the popular Turkish series Valley of the Wolves (Kurtlar Vadisi).

Pekcan's Dirilis: Ertugrul co-stars Esra Bilgiç and Engin Altan Düzyatan took to Instagram to send their condolences and remember the actor.

Bilgiç shared how Pekchan's "valuable advice" helped her with her acting. "Today is a hard day," she wrote in her Instagram Stories. "I am saddened to lose my dear brother Ayberk. He was one of my elders who changed my perspective towards the acting profession through the valuable advice he gave me in Dirilis: Ertugrul, my first step into acting. He was a very intelligent [actor] who I had the chance to work with. He was a very funny and cheerful person. We would have such a blast. Our stomachs would hurt from laughing on set. Sending condolences to all his family and loved ones."

"Rest in peace Ayberk brother," posted Düzyatan on his Instagram Stories.

Ertugrul co-star Edip Zeydan sent prayers for Pekchan on his Instagram Stories as well. "Rest in peace my brother," he wrote.

Many Dirilis: Ertugrul fans in Pakistan offered prayers and expressed grief over the actor's demise.

"May Allah bless his family with patience. May he rest in peace," tweeted a netizen.

"Sad news for Ertugrul fans," shared one user.

"End of an era," read another tweet.

Our condolences to the actor's family in this difficult time.