Onur Tukel
Tukel at the 2018 Montclair Film Festival
Born (1972-08-05) August 5, 1972 (age 51)
Taylorsville, North Carolina
Occupation(s)Actor, director, editor, painter, producer, writer
Years active1997–present

Onur Tukel (born August 5, 1972) is a Turkish-American[1] actor, painter, and filmmaker. A notable figure in the New York City independent film community, Tukel's films often deal with issues of gender and relationships.

Career

In 1997, Tukel wrote and directed his first feature film House of Pancakes. His subsequent film, the vampire drama Drawing Blood, was completed in 1999. In a 2014 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Tukel recalled that Drawing Blood was "the only time [he] made money on a movie."[2] His next film, the comedy drama Ding-a-ling-Less, was completed in 2001. In 2005, Tukel (credited as Sergio Lapel) also wrote and directed the comedy The Pigs about a group of middle age men who arrange to have their wives murdered.

In 2012, Tukel wrote, produced, directed, and starred in the comedy drama film Richard's Wedding, which featured such other independent filmmakers as Josephine Decker, Lawrence Michael Levine, and Jennifer Prediger.[3] Despite an overall mixed critical response, the film was praised by David DeWitt of The New York Times as "a slice of the John Cassavetes, John Sayles and Richard Linklater life."[4]

Tukel's next film, the 2014 vampire horror comedy Summer of Blood, received a warmer response from critics.[5] In a positive review of the film, Eric Kohn of Indiewire praised Tukel as possessing "contemptible goofiness" and being "the broke, post-9/11 version of an early Woody Allen character."[6] More recently, Tukel wrote, directed, and starred in the comedy/horror film Applesauce, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 19, 2015.[7]

As an actor, Tukel has also appeared in the 2011 film Septien, Alex Karpovsky's 2012 romantic comedy Red Flag, and Ping Pong Summer in 2014.

Filmography

Year Film Credited Director Credited Producer Credited Writer Credited Actor Credited Role Notes
1997 House of Pancakes Yes Yes Yes Yes Man with Atlas
1999 Drawing Blood Yes Yes Yes
2001 Ding-a-ling-Less Yes Yes Yes Penis popsicle licker Credited as "Sergio Lapel"
2005 The Pigs Yes Yes Yes Yes Bickering Boy
2011 Septien Yes Yes Amos Rawlings
2012 Richard's Wedding Yes Yes Yes Yes Tuna
Red Flag Yes Henry
2014 Summer of Blood Yes Yes Yes Yes Erik Sparrow
Red Right Return Yes Jack
Ping Pong Summer Yes Boardwalk Artist
2015 Abby Singer/Songwriter Yes Yes Yes Onur
Applesauce Yes Yes Yes Ron
2016 Catfight Yes Yes
2017 Infinity Baby Yes
The Misogynists Yes Yes
2021 Scenes from an Empty Church Yes Yes Yes
That Cold Dead Look in Your Eyes Yes Yes Yes
Have a Nice Life Yes Conner
2022 The Third Saturday in October Yes Warden Haskins

References

  1. ^ "Onur Tukel" (in Turkish). Ekşi Sözlük. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  2. ^ Collis, Clark (October 10, 2014). "'Summer of Blood' star Onur Tukel talks laughs, gore, and topless scenes". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  3. ^ Scheib, Ronnie (May 30, 2012). "Review: 'Richard's Wedding'". Variety. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  4. ^ DeWitt, David (May 31, 2012). "When Friends Get Together and Riff: 'Richard's Wedding,' Written and Directed by Onur Tukel". The New York Times. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  5. ^ "Summer of Blood". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  6. ^ Kohn, Eric (April 19, 2014). "Tribeca Review: If Woody Allen Directed a Vampire Comedy, It Might Resemble Onur Tukel's Hilarious Urban Satire 'Summer of Blood'". Indiewire. Retrieved January 28, 2015.
  7. ^ Collis, Clark (April 13, 2015). "Tribeca 2015: Exclusive clip from Applesauce asks, 'What's the worst thing you've ever done?'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 23, 2015.

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