Marianne Koch (; born 19 August 1931) is a German actress of the 1950s and 1960s, best known for her appearances in

Spaghetti Western The Spaghetti Western is a broad subgenre of Western films produced in Europe. It emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's film-making style and international box-office success. The term was used by foreign critics because most o ...

s and adventure films of the 1960s. She later worked as a television host and as a physician.

Career

Between 1950 and 1971, Koch appeared in more than 65 films. She had numerous leading roles in the German cinema of the 1950s and 1960s. In the 1954 American thriller '' Night People'', she appeared in a supporting role alongside

Gregory Peck Eldred Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an American actor and one of the most popular film stars from the 1940s to the 1970s. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Peck the 12th-greatest male star of Classic Hollywood ...

. Koch also had major roles in the Hollywood films ''

Four Girls in Town ''Four Girls in Town'' is a 1957 American CinemaScope Technicolor drama film, directed by Jack Sher, about four girls trying to be movie stars. Plot When the leading lady drops out of a new film to be shot in New Orleans, studio head James Manni ...

'' and ''

Interlude Interlude may refer to: *a short play or, in general, any representation between parts of a larger stage production *''Entr'acte'', a piece of music performed between acts of a theatrical production *a section in a movement of a musical piece, se ...

'', both released in 1957. She remains perhaps best-known internationally for

Sergio Leone Sergio Leone (; 3 January 1929 – 30 April 1989) was an Italian film director, producer and screenwriter credited as the pioneer of the Spaghetti Western genre and widely regarded as one of the most influential directors in the history of cin ...

's 1964 production ''

A Fistful of Dollars ''A Fistful of Dollars'' ( it, Per un pugno di dollari, lit=For a Fistful of Dollars titled on-screen as ''Fistful of Dollars'') is a 1964 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone and starring Clint Eastwood in his first leading role, a ...

'', which showcased her with

Clint Eastwood Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the "Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "''Doll ...

as a civilian tormented by ruthless local gangsters, torn between her husband and child and the villains. In Germany, she was probably best-known for her many years of participation as one of the regular panelists in the highly popular TV game show ''Was bin ich?'', the German adaption of the American TV show ''

What's My Line? ''What's My Line?'' is a panel game show that originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, originally in black and white and later in color, with subsequent U.S. revivals. The game uses celebrity panelis ...

'', which ran from the 1950s until 1988 and achieved ratings of up to 75% at its peak. In 1971, she resumed the medical studies she had broken off in the early 1950s to become an actress. In 1974, she earned her degree and practiced medicine until 1997 as a specialist for internal medicine in Munich. Also in 1974, she was one of the initial hosts of Germany's pioneering talk show '' 3 nach 9'' (''Three After Nine''), for which she was awarded the ''

Grimme-Preis The Grimme-Preis ("Grimme Award"; prior to 2011: Adolf-Grimme-Preis) is one of the most prestigious German television awards. It is named after the first general director of Nordwestdeutscher Rundfunk, Adolf Grimme.Rudolf Schindler. In 1953, Koch married the physician Gerhard Freund (1922–2008), with whom she has two sons. The marriage ended in 1973 after Freund began an affair with

Miss World Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Miss Int ...

1956,

Petra Schürmann Petra Schürmann-Freund (; 15 September 1933 – 14 January 2010) was a German actress, model, TV announcer and beauty queen who won Miss World 1956. Biography Schürmann won the 1956 Miss World contest, representing West Germany. ...

, whom he later wed. Koch later began a relationship with the writer

Peter Hamm Peter Hamm (27 February 1937 – 22 July 2019) was a German poet, author, journalist, editor, and literary critic. He wrote several documentaries, including ones about Ingeborg Bachmann and Peter Handke. He wrote for the German weekly newsp ...

, which lasted from the mid-1970s until his death in 2019.

Films

* ''

The Man Who Wanted to Live Twice ''The Man Who Wanted to Live Twice'' (german: Der Mann, der zweimal leben wollte) is a 1950 West German drama film directed by Viktor Tourjansky and starring Rudolf Forster, Olga Tschechowa and Heidemarie Hatheyer. The future star Marianne Koch ...

'' (1950) – Katja Hesse * ' (1951) – Reporterin * ''

Dr. Holl ''Dr. Holl'' is a 1951 West German drama film directed by Rolf Hansen and starring Maria Schell, Dieter Borsche and Carl Wery. At the 1st Berlin International Film Festival it won the Certificate of Honour award. It was shot at the Bavaria St ...

'' (1951) – Anna * ''Geheimnis einer Ehe'' (1951) – Musi Camphausen * ''

My Friend the Thief ''My Friend the Thief'' (german: Mein Freund, der Dieb) is a 1951 West German comedy film directed by Helmut Weiss and starring Hans Söhnker, Vera Molnar and Hardy Krüger.Bock & Bergfelder p.451 It was shot at the Göttingen Studios. The film's ...

'' (1951) – Resl * ''

The Chaste Libertine ''The Chaste Libertine'' (german: Der keusche Lebemann) is a 1952 West German comedy film directed by Carl Boese and starring Georg Thomalla, Joe Stöckel and Grethe Weiser.Holmstrom p.209 It was based on a popular stage farce of the same tit ...

'' (1952) – Gerty Seibold * ''

Dark Clouds Over the Dachstein ''Dark Clouds Over the Dachstein'' (German: ''Wetterleuchten am Dachstein'') is a 1953 Austrian-German drama film directed by Anton Kutter and starring Gisela Fackeldey, Eduard Köck and Marianne Koch.Fritsche p.248 Cast * Gisela Fackeldey as ...

'' (1953) – Christl, die junge Magd * ''

Scandal at the Girls' School ''Scandal at the Girls' School'' (german: Skandal im Mädchenpensionat) is a 1953 West German comedy film directed by Erich Kobler and starring Walter Giller, Günther Lüders and Joachim Brennecke.Bock & Bergfelder p. 157 It was made at the Bav ...

'' (1953) – Marina von Leithen * '' The Monastery's Hunter'' (1953) – Gittli * '' The Poacher'' (1953) – Ursula * '' Love and Trumpets'' (1954) – Bettina von Brixen * '' Night People'' (1954) – Kathy Gerhardt * '' Hubertus Castle'' (1954) – Geislein * ' (1954) – Rosl * ''

Ludwig II Ludwig II (Ludwig Otto Friedrich Wilhelm; 25 August 1845 – 13 June 1886) was King of Bavaria from 1864 until his death in 1886. He is sometimes called the Swan King or ('the Fairy Tale King'). He also held the titles of Count Palatine of the ...

'' (1955) – Prinzessin Sophie * ''

Des Teufels General ''The Devil's General'' (german: Des Teufels General) is a 1955 black and white West German film based on the play of the same title by Carl Zuckmayer. The film features Curd Jürgens as General Harras, Marianne Koch, Viktor de Kowa, Karl John ...

'' (1955) – Dorothea 'Diddo' Geiss *''

The Blacksmith of St. Bartholomae ''The Blacksmith of St. Bartholomae'' (German: ''Der Schmied von St. Bartholomae'') is a 1955 West German drama film directed by Max Michel (director), Max Michel and starring Viktor Staal, Marianne Koch and Annie Rosar. Moeller p.258 It was shot ...

'' (1955) – Marianne * '' The Royal Waltz'' (1955) – Therese * ''

As Long as You Live ''As Long as You Live'' (german: Solange du lebst) is a 1955 West German war film directed by Harald Reinl and starring Adrian Hoven, Marianne Koch and Karin Dor. It is set during the Spanish Civil War, which is seen from a pro-Nationalist ...

'' (1955) – Teresa * ' (1955) – Christiane Neubert * ''

The Marriage of Doctor Danwitz ''The Marriage of Doctor Danwitz'' (german: Die Ehe des Dr. med. Danwitz) is a 1956 West German drama film directed by Arthur Maria Rabenalt and starring Marianne Koch, Karlheinz Böhm and Heidemarie Hatheyer. It was made at the Wandsbek Studio ...

'' (1956) – Edith Danwitz – Mannequin * '' If We All Were Angels'' (1956) – Elisabeth Kempenich * ''

'' (1957) – Ina Schiller * ''

Salzburg Stories ''Salzburg Stories'' (German: ''Salzburger Geschichten'') is a 1957 West German romantic comedy film directed by Kurt Hoffmann and starring Marianne Koch, Paul Hubschmid and Peter Mosbacher.Bock & Bergfelder p.253 It was shot at the Bavaria Studios ...

'' (1957) – Konstanze * ''

Der Stern von Afrika ''Der Stern von Afrika'' () is a 1957 black-and-white German war film portraying the combat career of a World War II Luftwaffe fighter pilot Hans-Joachim Marseille. The film stars Joachim Hansen and Marianne Koch and was directed by Alfred Weid ...

'' (1957) – Brigitte * ''

Vater sein dagegen sehr ''Vater sein dagegen sehr'' (English: "Being a father however, is hard") is a 1957 West German film directed by Kurt Meisel. Plot summary One day, writer Lutz Ventura receives news that his sister has died. She leaves behind two children, wh ...

'' (1957) – Margot Ventura geb. Sonnemann * ''

'' (1957) – Reni Fischer * '' The Fox of Paris'' (1957) – Yvonne * ''

The Italians They Are Crazy ''The Italians They Are Crazy'' (Italian: ''Gli italiani sono matti'') is a 1958 Italian-German comedy film directed by Duilio Coletti and Luis María Delgado and starring Victor McLaglen, Folco Lulli and Gabriella Pallotta Gabriella Pallotta ( ...

'' (1958) – Cristina * ' (1958) – Mingo Fabian * ' (1958) – Dr. Petra Jensen * ' (1959) – Carola Hauff * '' The Woman by the Dark Window'' (1960) – Luise Konradin * ' (1960) – Minna von Barnhelm * ' (1960) – Hilde von Hessenlohe * ''

Spotlight on a Murderer ''Spotlight on a Murderer'' (french: Pleins feux sur l'assassin ) is a 1961 French psychodrama/murder-mystery film directed by Georges Franju. It was released on Blu-ray and DVD by Arrow Films in August 2017 in the UK and USA regions in an open-ma ...

'' (1961) – Edwige * '' Blind Justice'' (1961) – Ingrid Hansen * ''

Napoleon II, the Eagle ''Napoleon II, the Eagle'' (French: ''Napoléon II, l'Aiglon'', in English ''Napoleon II, the eaglet (or young eagle)'') is a 1961 French historical drama film directed by Claude Boissol and starring Bernard Verley, Jean Marais and Danièle ...

'' (1961) – Kaiserin Marie Louise * ''

Die Fledermaus ' (, ''The Flittermouse'' or ''The Bat'', sometimes called ''The Revenge of the Bat'') is an operetta composed by Johann Strauss II to a German libretto by Karl Haffner and Richard Genée, which premiered in 1874. Background The original ...

'' (1962) – Rosalinde * ''

The Hot Port of Hong Kong ''The Hot Port of Hong Kong'' or ''Hong Kong Hot Harbor'' (German: ''Heißer Hafen Hongkong'') is a 1962 Italian-West German crime film directed by Jürgen Roland and starring Marianne Koch, Klausjürgen Wussow and Dominique Boschero.Bergfelder p. ...

'' (1962) – Joan Kent * ' (1962) – Jeannine Messmer * ''

The Devil's Agent ''The Devil's Agent'' (german: Im Namen des Teufels) is a 1962 drama film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Peter van Eyck, Marianne Koch, Christopher Lee and Macdonald Carey. It was a co-production between Britain, West Germany an ...

'' (1962) – Nora Gulden * ' (1963, TV miniseries) – Helen Baker * ''

The Black Panther of Ratana ''The Black Panther of Ratana'' (german: Der schwarze Panther von Ratana) is a 1963 West German-Italian adventure film directed by Jürgen Roland and starring Marianne Koch, Heinz Drache, and Horst Frank. The film's sets were designed by the a ...

'' (1963) – Dr. Marina Keller * ''

Death Drums Along the River ''Death Drums Along the River'' (titled ''Sanders'' in the USA) is a 1963 British-German international co-production, using the characters from Edgar Wallace's 1911 novel ''Sanders of the River'' and Zoltán Korda's 1935 film based on the nove ...

'' (1963) – Dr. Inge Jung * ''

The Last Ride to Santa Cruz ''The Last Ride to Santa Cruz'' (german: Der Letzte Ritt nach Santa Cruz) is a 1964 West German-Austrian Western film directed by Rolf Olsen and starring Edmund Purdom, Mario Adorf, and Marianne Koch. The film was shot at the Spandau Studios, ...

'' (1964) – Elizabeth Kelly * ''

The Monster of London City ''The Monster of London City'' (german: Das Ungeheuer von London-City) is a 1964 West German ''krimi'' crime film directed by Edwin Zbonek and starring Hansjörg Felmy, Marianne Koch, and Dietmar Schönherr.Reimer & Zachau p.160 The film's se ...

'' (1964) – Ann Morlay * ''

'' (1964) – Marisol * ''

Frozen Alive ''Frozen Alive'' is Obituary's first live DVD. It was recorded August 24, 2006 in Warsaw, Poland. It has songs from each of their albums through '' Frozen in Time''. It also contains an interview conducted a day before the show. Contents *Co ...

'' (1964) – Dr. Helen Wieland * ''

Trunk to Cairo ''Trunk to Cairo'' (German: ''Einer spielt falsch'') is a 1965 Israeli-West German international co-production spy film directed by Menahem Golan and starring Audie Murphy and George Sanders. It was distributed by American International Pictures. ...

'' (1965) – Helga Schlieben * ''

Coast of Skeletons ''Coast of Skeletons'' is a 1965 adventure film, directed by Robert Lynn and starring Richard Todd and Dale Robertson. It is a sequel to the 1963 film '' Death Drums Along the River'', and just as that film, it uses the characters from Edgar ...

'' (1965) – Helga * '' The Hell of Manitoba'' (1965) – Jade Grande * ''Jessy Does Not Forgive... He Kills!'' (1965) – Anna-Lisa * ''

Sandy the Seal ''Sandy the Seal'' is a 1965 British family film directed by Robert Lynn and starring Heinz Drache, Marianne Koch and Gert Van den Bergh. Produced and co-written by Harry Alan Towers, the film was shot in South Africa in Technicolor and Techn ...

'' (1965) – Karen Van Heerden (released in 1969) * ' (1966) – Bea Bordet * ''

Clint the Stranger ''Clint the Stranger'', also known as ''Clint the Nevada's Loner'', ''Nevada Clint'' and ''Clint, the Lonely Nevadan'' (in original Italian, ''Clint il solitario''), is a 1967 Italian Spaghetti Western starring George Martin (Spanish actor), Geo ...

'' (1967) – Julie Harrison * ' (1967, TV miniseries) – Mary Hotkins * ''

The Unnaturals ''The Unnaturals'' ( it, Contronatura, german: Schreie in der Nacht) is a gothic horror film directed and written by Antonio Margheriti. It is loosely based on Dino Buzzati's short story "Eppure bussano alla porta" from the collection '' The Se ...

'' (1969) – Mrs. Vivian Taylor * ' (1970–1971, TV series, 13 episodes) – Renate Albrecht * ''Reserl am Hofe'' (1984) – Narrator

References

External links and sources

* * *
Photos of the shooting of the film 'Solange du lebst'
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koch, Marianne 1931 births 20th-century German actresses 20th-century German physicians 20th-century women physicians Actresses from Munich German film actresses German television actresses German women physicians Living people Physicians from Munich Radio Bremen people Spaghetti Western actresses Western (genre) film actresses