Aziz Basmacı was born on June 9, 1910, into a Kapancı family in Ottoman Salonica. After relocating to Istanbul, he completed his education at Şişli Terakki High School.

While working in the textile trade to support himself, Basmacı took his first steps into professional theater with the play Para Delisi in 1928. His debut performance before an audience took place at the Cumhuriyet Gençler Mahfeli, marking the beginning of a vibrant artistic career.

Basmacı honed his craft through active participation in the theater branch of the Şişli Halkevi (People’s House), where he gained valuable stage experience. However, it was in 1945, after joining the Ses Opereti (Ses Operetta), that he rose to national fame. His iconic portrayals of characters like Salamon and Tilki Adam (The Fox Man) earned him widespread acclaim and solidified his status as a celebrated figure in Turkish theater.

Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Basmacı became a staple in the world of comedy and farce, performing in numerous theatrical productions and appearing in over 60 films. His versatility and comedic timing made him a beloved actor both on stage and screen.
After working with various theater groups, Basmacı co-founded the Aziz Basmacı – Kenan Büke Ensemble with fellow actor Kenan Büke, marking the final chapter of his theatrical career. His last major success came with the play Kart Horoz, which showcased his enduring talent. Unfortunately, severe overwork and exhaustion eventually forced him to withdraw from the art forms he cherished deeply.

The legend has it that this veteran actor of Turkish theater and cinema, no matter the role or character he played, would enter the stage shouting "a bunch of donkeys" (eşşoğlu eşşekler), receive the stage entrance applause, and then proceed with his "normal" performance.

On March 14, 1978, while traveling by train to Ankara to attend a court hearing related to a tax dispute, Aziz Basmacı suffered a fatal heart attack. He was laid to rest in Feriköy Cemetery in Istanbul.

Basmacı’s artistic legacy lives on through his sons, Yusuf Basmacı and Nejat Basmacı, who followed in their father’s footsteps to become actors themselves.