Edith Hancke (; 14 October 1928 – 4 June 2015) was a German
stage
Stage or stages may refer to:
Acting
* Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions
* Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage"
* ''The Stage'', a weekly British theatre newspaper
* Sta ...
,
film
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...
and
television actress
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), lite ...
.
Life and career
Edith Hancke, daughter of a bank clerk, grew up in Berlin-Charlottenburg. She received an education at the Lettehaus and, at the age of 20, attended Marlise Ludwig's acting school at Wilmersdorfer Wilhelmsaue. She received her first engagements at Berlin theaters beginning in 1948. She made guest appearances at the Renaissance Theater, the Deutsches Theater, the Schlosspark Theater, the Schillertheater, the Theater am Kurfürstendamm and the Berliner Komödie, among others.
Her real profession remained the theater. Several times she received the Golden Curtain, the award for the most popular actress in Berlin. Edith Hancke also performed for two years as a member of the cabaret Die Stachelschweine. She appeared in 150 episodes of the popular radio entertainment series Pension Spreewitz on RIAS. Even at the age of 72, she starred in the play Fenster zum Flur for one year. From 1981 to 1987, she was the narrator in the RIAS radio play series Damals war's - Geschichten aus dem alten Berlin. She thus succeeded the narrator Ewald Wenck, who died in 1981.
Through her work as a dubbing artist, Hancke's voice (which was the result of a botched tonsillectomy as a child)
can be heard in many foreign films, such as the Czechoslovakian musical feature film Limonaden-Joe (1964). From 1991 to 1994, Hancke dubbed Baby Sinclair in the U.S. series The Dinos, which became famous for the recurring exclamation "Not the mommy!". She had been married since 1972 to fellow actor Klaus Sonnenschein, whom she had met at the Theater Tribüne in 1970, in their third marriage and lived with him in their home in Holstein and in Berlin-Schlachtensee. In the TV film Schaumküsse (2009), Hancke and Sonnenschein made a joint appearance as a married couple, which was their last role as actors for both of them.
Selected filmography
* ''
The Beaver Coat
''The Beaver Coat'' (german: Der Biberpelz) is a satirical play by Gerhart Hauptmann premiered in Berlin in 1893.
The work is an example of a German naturalistic ''Diebskomödie'', or 'thief's comedy'. The drama takes place "somewhere in Berlin ...
'' (1949) - Adelheid Wolff
* ''
Bürgermeister Anna
''Bürgermeister Anna'' is an East German comedy film directed by Hans Müller. It was released in 1950.
Cast
* Eva Rimski as Anna Drews
* Reinhard Kolldehoff as Jupp Ucker
* Catja Görna as Ursel Ucker
* Klaus Becker as Hans Rapp
* Arno Pau ...
'' (1950) - Grete Drews
* ''
The Merry Wives of Windsor
''The Merry Wives of Windsor'' or ''Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare first published in 1602, though believed to have been written in or before 1597. The Windsor of the play's title is a ref ...
'' (1950) - Lehrling bei Reich (uncredited)
* ''
Modell Bianka
''Modell Bianka'' is an East German film
A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, ...
'' (1951) - Jungarbeiterin Inge Lang
* ''
We'll Talk About Love Later
''We'll Talk About Love Later'' (german: Von Liebe reden wir später) is a 1953 West German comedy film directed by Karl Anton and starring Gustav Fröhlich, Maria Holst and Liselotte Pulver.Bock & Bergfelder p. 340
It was shot at the Tempelhof S ...
'' (1953) - Frau Pingel
* ''
The Abduction of the Sabine Women'' (1954) - Fräulein Müller-Muthesius
* ''
Sky Without Stars
''Sky Without Stars'' (german: Himmel ohne Sterne) is a 1955 West German drama film directed by Helmut Käutner and starring Erik Schumann, Eva Kotthaus and Horst Buchholz.
The film's sets were designed by the art director Hans Berthel and R ...
'' (1955) - Frau am Kontrollpunkt
* ''
Your Life Guards
''Your Life Guards'' or ''Your Life Regiment'' (german: Ihr Leibregiment) is a 1955 West German romantic comedy film directed by Hans Deppe and starring Ingrid Andree, Gerhard Riedmann and Wolf Albach-Retty.Bliersbach p. 49
The film's sets were ...
'' (1955) - Zofe
* ''
Urlaub auf Ehrenwort'' (1955) - Erna
* ''
A Thousand Melodies
''A Thousand Melodies'' (german: Tausend Melodien) is a 1956 West German musical film directed by Hans Deppe and starring Martin Benrath, Gardy Granass and Helmuth Schneider.Koepnick p. 318
The film was shot at the Tempelhof Studios in West Ber ...
'' (1956)
* ''
The Captain from Köpenick'' (1956) - Sick girl
* ''
If We All Were Angels'' (1956) - Junge Animierdame
* ''Ein Mann muß nicht immer schön sein'' (1956) - Frl. Zimmermann, Sekretärin
* ''
Spring in Berlin
''Spring in Berlin'' (german: Frühling in Berlin) is a 1957 West German romantic comedy film directed by Arthur Maria Rabenalt and starring Sonja Ziemann, Gerhard Riedmann, and Gardy Granass. It was shot at the Tempelhof Studios in Berlin and ...
'' (1957) - Uschi Paulsen
* ''Madeleine Tel. 13 62 11'' (1958) - Edith - The Maid
* ''
Schmutziger Engel
''Schmutziger Engel'' (''Dirty Angel'') is a German film made in 1958, directed by Alfred Vohrer.
Cast
Censorship in Italy
When ''Schmutziger Angel'' was first released in Italy
Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ...
'' (1958) - Gerti
* ''Schwarzwälder Kirsch'' (1958) - Jette Palm
* ''
The Muzzle'' (1958) - Billa
* ''Ohne Mutter geht es nicht'' (1958) - Hausmädchen Elisabeth
* ''
My Ninety Nine Brides
''My Ninety Nine Brides'' (German: ''Meine 99 Bräute'') is a 1958 West German romantic comedy film directed by Alfred Vohrer and starring Claus Wilcke, Horst Frank and Wera Frydtberg.Bock & Bergfelder p.504
It was shot at the Tempelhof Studios in ...
'' (1958) - Ruth
* ''Kleine Leute mal ganz groß'' (1958) - Marie Maier
* ''
Court Martial
A court-martial or court martial (plural ''courts-martial'' or ''courts martial'', as "martial" is a postpositive adjective) is a military court or a trial conducted in such a court. A court-martial is empowered to determine the guilt of memb ...
'' (1959) - Frl. Wehner
* ''
Peter Shoots Down the Bird
''Peter Shoots Down the Bird'' (german: Peter schießt den Vogel ab) is a 1959 West German comedy film directed by Géza von Cziffra and starring Peter Alexander, Germaine Damar and Maria Sebaldt.
It was shot at the Spandau Studios in Berlin. Th ...
'' (1959) - Fräulein Lehmann
* ''
Of Course, the Motorists
''Of Course, the Motorists'' (german: Natürlich die Autofahrer) is a 1959 West German comedy film directed by Erich Engels and starring Heinz Erhardt, Maria Perschy and Erik Schumann.Hake p. 120
The film's sets were designed by the art director ...
'' (1959) - Autofahrerin
* ''Arzt aus Leidenschaft'' (1959) - Schwester Elvira
* ''Bumerang'' (1960) - Woman in train
* ''Als geheilt entlassen'' (1960) - Lore
* ''
I Learned That in Paris
''I Learned That in Paris'' (German: ''Das hab ich in Paris gelernt'') is a 1960 West German musical comedy film directed by Thomas Engel and starring Chris Howland, Christa Williams and Gisela Trowe.Bock & Bergfelder p.53
Cast
* Chris Howland a ...
'' (1960)
* ''Vertauschtes Leben'' (1961)
* ''Bei Pichler stimmt die Kasse nicht'' (1961) - Emma
* ''
The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi
''The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi'' (german: Die Ehe des Herrn Mississippi) is a 1961 Swiss-West German comedy film directed by Kurt Hoffmann and starring O.E. Hasse, Johanna von Koczian and Martin Held. It is based on the 1952 play with the ...
'' (1961) - Lukretia
* ''Am Sonntag will mein Süsser mit mir segeln gehn'' (1961) - Minna, die Köchin
* ''
The Strange Countess
''The Strange Countess'' (german: Die seltsame Gräfin) is a 1961 West German crime film directed by Josef von Báky and starring Lil Dagover, Joachim Fuchsberger and Marianne Hoppe. It is based on Edgar Wallace's 1925 novel of the same title, ...
'' (1961) - Lizzy Smith
* ''
Beloved Impostor'' (1961) - Stewardess
* ''So liebt und küsst man in Tirol'' (1961) - Ida Würzig
* ''Dicke Luft'' (1962) - Fräulein Weierlein
* ''Ohne Krimi geht die Mimi nie ins Bett'' (1962) - Mimi
* ''Universo di notte'' (1962) - Self - Host German Version
* ''
Breakfast in Bed
"Breakfast in Bed" is a soul–R&B song written by Muscle Shoals songwriters Eddie Hinton and Donnie Fritts for Dusty Springfield. It takes a knowing spin on the line "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me", the title of a song that had previously ...
'' (1963) - Mrs. Müller
* ''
Holiday in St. Tropez
''Holiday in St. Tropez'' is a 1964 West German comedy film directed by Ernst Hofbauer and starring Vivi Bach, Ann Smyrner, and Rudolf Prack
Rudolf Prack (2 August 1905 – 2 December 1981) was an Austrian film actor.
Selected filmography
* ...
'' (1964) - Friedericke Kussmaul
* ''
Don't Tell Me Any Stories
''Don't Tell Me Any Stories'' (german: Erzähl mir nichts, translation=''Tell Me Nothing'') is a 1964 West German comedy film directed by Dietrich Haugk and starring Heidelinde Weis, Karl Michael Vogler and Georg Thomalla.Bergfelder p.214
It wa ...
'' (1964) - 'Veilchen' (NSU Prinz) (voice)
* ''
Black Eagle of Santa Fe
''Black Eagle of Santa Fe'' (german: Die Schwarzen Adler von Santa Fe) is a 1965 West German and Italian international co-production western film directed by Alberto Cardone and Ernst Hofbauer.
Story
Ranch workers disguised as soldiers murder I ...
'' (1965) - Alice
* ''Tausend Takte Übermut'' (1965) - Ernestine Glücklich
* ''Das große Glück'' (1967) - Mrs. Kleinschmitt
* ''Mittsommernacht'' (1967) - Miss Nilsson
* ''Paradies der flotten Sünder'' (1968) - Grete
* ''Otto ist auf Frauen scharf'' (1968) - Garderobenfrau
* ''
Charley's Uncle
''Charley's Uncle'' (german: Charleys Onkel) is a 1969 West German comedy film directed by Werner Jacobs and starring Gila von Weitershausen, Karl Michael Vogler and Heidy Bohlen.Bock & Bergfelder, p. 252. The film was a loose adaptation of Br ...
'' (1969) - Helga
* ''
Heintje: A Heart Goes on a Journey'' (1969) - Lieschen
* ''
Why Did I Ever Say Yes Twice?'' (1969) - Hausmädchen
* ''
Our Willi Is the Best'' (1971) - Elsetraut Knöpfke
* ''
Old Barge, Young Love'' (1973) - Eleonore Strunz
* ''Unsere Tante ist das Letzte'' (1973) - Sieglinde Hirsekorn, Otto-Wilhelms Frau
* ''Meister Eder und sein Pumuckl'' (1982) - Frau Bauer
References
Bibliography
* Cowie, Peter. ''World Filmography: 1967''. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, 1977.
External links
*
1928 births
2015 deaths
German film actresses
German stage actresses
German television actresses
20th-century German actresses
21st-century German actresses
Actresses from Berlin
Rundfunk im amerikanischen Sektor people
Burials at the Waldfriedhof Zehlendorf
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