Born on February 29, 1972, in the Eyüp district of Istanbul, Turkey, Nejat İşler is an actor known for his immersive roles and multifaceted talent. Coming from a family of workers, his father an employee and his grandfather a craftsman, İşler discovered his love for theatre in high school, joining the drama club to avoid classes and gain popularity.
İşler's journey to stardom was not straightforward. After high school, unable to enter university, he organized tea parties to earn money. As these endeavors did not go as planned, he found himself in debt and turned to selling t-shirts and later books, magazines, and records. Despite these struggles, İşler continued to pursue his passion for acting, enrolling in the Photography Department at Yıldız Technical University. However, he later left the program due to his military service obligations.
On World Theatre Day, İşler watched a free performance of 'Death of Danton,' a moment that sparked a pivotal question: 'Why am I not doing this?' This led him to audition for the Conservatory Department at Mimar Sinan University in 1991, where he gained admission and eventually graduated in 1995. During his time at the conservatory, he continued working in television and theatre, whilst maintaining his job of selling CDs and books at a street stall.
In 1995, after graduation, İşler co-founded 'Kahramanlar ve Soytarılar Kumpanyası' (The Heroes and Clowns Company) with his friends Aşkın Şenol and Bekir Köşker. While working on his own plays, he also authored three books: 'Tuhaf Şehir Hikayeleri' (Strange City Stories), 'Biz Zavallı Erkekler' (We Poor Men), and 'Yalnızlık Benim Gizli Sevgilim' (Loneliness is My Secret Love).
Nejat İşler gained widespread popularity with TV series such as 'Gülbeyaz' and 'Aliye.' His film career began in 1999 with 'Eylül Fırtınası' (September Storm) and continued with movies like 'Mustafa Hakkında Her Şey' (Everything About Mustafa) and 'Anlat İstanbul' (Telling Istanbul). Despite being nominated for best actor at the 41st Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, İşler remained humble, expressing that fame was not his aim, but rather the desire to do his best in his craft.
İşler has taken on a variety of challenging roles throughout his career, playing a unique serial killer named 'Ercüment Çözer' in 'Behzat Ç. Bir Ankara Polisiyesi' (Behzat Ç. An Ankara Detective Story) and contributing to music projects, like Duman's song 'Ah.' He also played the lead role in the 'Keşanlı Ali Destanı' TV series,
After overcoming his health challenges, İşler made a triumphant return to the screen in 2014 with his memorable performance in Nuri Bilge Ceylan's film 'Winter Sleep' that won the Palme d'Or at the 67th Cannes Film Festival. With this achievement, the film and İşler's performance earned considerable international attention.
'Saygı' is a spin-off of the critically acclaimed TV series 'Behzat Ç.' and is based on the character 'Ercüment Çözer,' once again played by İşler. Ercüment Çözer is a highly intelligent, psychologically complex, and dangerous serial killer who manipulates people and situations to his advantage.
Nejat İşler's most recent thriller, '10 Days of a Good Man,' delves into the thrilling escapades of a private investigator named Sadık, brought to life by İşler. The storyline revolves around Sadık's initiation into the menacing realms of mafias, human trafficking rings, and murderers, and the ensuing adventures he encounters.
Nejat İşler has recently re-emerged on the television scene with a series titled 'Aile'. This series has gained recognition due to its captivating narrative and commendable acting, and it has been enthusiastically welcomed by Nejat İşler's admirers.
Nejat İşler's compelling journey, both personally and professionally, serves as a testament to his resilience, adaptability, and enduring talent. From his early beginnings in the theater to his meteoric rise in Turkish cinema and television, he has consistently proved himself to be a versatile and dedicated actor. His performances have transcended cultural boundaries, earning him recognition and acclaim on an international scale.