Turkish drama star discharged from hospital after breaking jaw

Deniz Boy ISTANBUL

Necati Şaşmaz.

Turkish actor Necati Şaşmaz, the famed lead character in the popular television series “Kurtlar Vadisi” (The Valley of the Wolves), was discharged from hospital on Nov. 4, three days after a car crash on set.

Şaşmaz’s jaw was broken in two spots when the car he was driving while filming a scene crashed into a wall, after he broke on the wet and slippery road on Nov. 1. He underwent a medical operation in Istanbul on Nov. 3 in which the fractured bones were stabilized with metals.

Şaşmaz left hospital Nov. 4, after doctors announced that his general health was good enough to continue his treatment for six weeks at home. While leaving the hospital in a wheelchair, the actor was wearing the face mask that he wore in an episode that aired last season in which his character was injured while battling in Syria.

The Valley of the Wolves is popular in a number of countries as well as Turkey, particularly in the Arab world where Şaşmaz’s character is known as “Murat Alemdar.” Babies have been named after him and the Valley of the Wolves merchandise is familiar to Arab supermarkets with bags, notebooks and other products.