He moved along with his parents as a teenager from Balikesir to Istanbul, and enrolled in Galatasaray High School.

[3] Hakan began his artistic career in 1950 as an actor for the Ses Theatre and a contributor to literary magazines.

Making his debut in Evli mi bekar mi, a short comedy directed by Muhsin Ertugrul in 1951, and his feature film debut in 1953 in Köprüalti Çocuklari (Kids Under the Bridge), he has made over 170 appearances in film to date, although his career was at its most productive throughout the 1950s and 1960s through to 1976.

Hakan appeared as Colonel Ahmed Elçi along with Tony Curtis and Charles Bronson in the 1970-movie You Can't Win 'Em All directed by Peter Collinson.

[7] He was interred at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery following a memorial ceremony held at Istanbul University's Faculty of Science,[6] and the religious funeral in Afet Yolal Mosque in Levent.