Margrit Rainer born as Margrit Rosa Sandmeier (9 February 1914 – 10 February 1982) was a

Swiss Swiss may refer to: * the adjectival form of Switzerland * Swiss people Places * Swiss, Missouri * Swiss, North Carolina *Swiss, West Virginia * Swiss, Wisconsin Other uses *Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports *Swiss Internation ...

comedian, radio personality, and stage and film actress starring usually in Swiss German language cinema and television and stage productions.

Early life and education

Born and raised in Zürich-Oerlikon,

Canton of Zürich The canton of Zürich (german: Kanton Zürich ; rm, Chantun Turitg; french: Canton de Zurich; it, Canton Zurigo) is a Swiss canton in the northeastern part of the country. With a population of (as of ), it is the most populous canton in the ...

in Switzerland, to Elise née Boller and Johannes Rudolf, ''Margrit Rosa Sandmeier'' dreamed of a circus career. Her parents forced her to make an apprenticeshipt as a photo lab assistant, but she secretly took acting classes and singing lessons. At the age of 18, she married Fritz Pfister, a Swiss actor, and they emigrated to Ibiza, where they operated a chicken farm. But the marriage broke up and she returned to Switzerland. Rainer worked as a cashier at the Zürich hotel ''Hirschen'' in 1934, the venue of the

Cabaret Cornichon The Cabaret Cornichon (English: ''Gherkin cabaret'') was a Swiss cabaret company. It existed from 1934 to 1951 and was founded by Otto Weissert, Walter Lesch, Emil Hegetschweiler and Alois Carigiet. They were later joined by, among others, Max We ...

Theater, film and television and children's voice actress

After first appearances at the ''Schweizerisches Volkstheater'' in 1938, Rainer debuted as ''chinesische Mutter'' ("Chinese mother") at the

. Engagements at the ''Corso Theater Zürich'' and on occasion of the Swiss National Exhibition ''Landi'39'' at

Zürichhorn Zürichhorn is a river delta on Zürichsee's eastern shore in the lower basin of the lake. The area is part of the parks and quays in the Seefeld quarter of the city of Zürich in Switzerland. The gardens are one of the most popular recreational a ...

as ''Mäiti'' in the Swiss-German play "Steibruch", brought her artistic breakthrough. In the meanwhile, she also staged on the cabarets ''Resslirytti'' in Basel and ''Nebelhorn'' in Zürich, but from 1938 to 1950 she was a member of the ''Cornichon'' ensemble in Zürich where she met

Ruedi Walter Rudolf "Ruedi" Walter (born Hans Rudolf Häfeli, 10 December 1916 – 16 June 1990), was a Swiss comedian, actor and radio personality usually starring in Swiss German-language cinema and television and stage productions. Early life and educati ...

. She also played in various radio plays, among others in ''Regenpfeifer'' by Jürg Amstein and Artur Beul in 1948. After participation in the musical "Eusi chliini Stadt" at the opening of the

Theater am Hechtplatz The Theater am Hechtplatz is a theatre in the German-speaking Switzerland situated at Limmatquai in Zürich. Founded in 1959 as a Cabaret, it's owned and provided by the government of the city of Zürich. History To give a solid performance ven ...

in Zürich in 1959, Rainer staged there in the 1960s on a regular basis, so in several musicals such as "Bibi Balù" and "Golden Girl". In 1969 Rainer played at the ''Basler Theater'' the role of mother in the dialect version of Edward Bond's "Saved". Margrit Rainer's premiered in the 1951 Swiss film ''Wahrheit oder Schwindel''; her most popular films include Peter's mother in ''Heidi'' in 1951 and in 1955 in the

sequel A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...

, ''Polizischt Wäckerli'' in 1956, '' Die Käserei in der Vehfreude'' two years later, ''An heiligen Wassern'' (''Sacred Waters'') in 1960 and ''Demokrat Läppli'' starring Alfred Rasser in 1961, in 1971 '' Der Kapitän'' (''The Captain'') and ten years later ''

Der Erfinder ''The Inventor'' (german: Der Erfinder) is a 1981 Swiss-German comedy drama directed by Kurt Gloor. It was entered into the 31st Berlin International Film Festival. Cast * Bruno Ganz – Jakob Nüssli * Walo Lüönd – Otti * Verena Peter � ...

'' (''The Inventor''). In the Swiss television she appeared in 25 episodes of ''Ein Fall für Mändli'' alongside

and

Inigo Gallo Inigo Gallo (2 November 1932 – 15 December 2000) was a Swiss comedian, radio personality, and stage and film actor starring usually in Swiss German language cinema and television and stage productions. Life and work Born in Zürich, Canton ...

between 1973 and 1975. Beside the stage and television and film, from 1970 to 1982 she participated in a number of children's fairy tales and musicals directed by Jörg Schneider.

Margrit Rainer, Ruedi Walter and Inigo Gallo

Margrit Rainer first appeared with Ruedi Walter as cabaret duo in 1951, first among others in a dialect version of Jan de Hartog's "Das Himmelbett", then in numerous popular dialect farces. As "Ehepaar Ehrsam" (Ehrsam couple) in the popular satirical radio program "Spalebärg 77a" from 1955 to 1965 the duo Rainer-Walter became very popular; ''Spalbärg 77a'' was filmed in 1957, and in 1962 produced as a musical. Rainer and Walter played in numerous popular dialect plays and farces, and were during thirty years probably the most popular entertainment duo in Switzerland. At the

Schauspielhaus Zürich The Schauspielhaus Zürich ( en, Zürich playhouse) is one of the most prominent and important theatres in the German-speaking world. It is also known as "Pfauenbühne" (Peacock Stage). The large theatre has 750 seats. The also operates three s ...

, they had great success in "Die Kleine Niederdorf-Oper" (1951 and 1959) and in 1954 in "Der schwarze Hecht". Great touring successes were among others the dialect adaption of

Arthur Lovegrove Arthur Lovegrove (15 July 1913 – 7 November 1981) was a British actor and playwright. His comedy ''Goodnight Mrs Puffin'' starring Irene Handl, ran for 3 years in London's West End, from 1961. Filmography * '' Noose'' (1948) - Drummer ...

's "Goodnight, Mrs. Puffin!" in 1969, in 1977 "D'Mueter wott nur s'Bescht", and in 1980 "Potz Millione", both directed by Rainer's spouse

. Rainer, Gallo and Walter worked in a variety of dialect plays and musicals. Gallo directed, among other things his own Swiss German versions of farces like "Hurra, en Bueb!" "D'Mutter wott nur s'Bescht" and "Potz Millione", that became in 1980 a great success, touring with Rainer, Walter, Gallo and

Ines Torelli Ines or INES may refer to: People * Ines (name), a feminine given name, also written as Inés or Inês * Saint Ines or Agnes (), Roman virgin–martyr * Eda-Ines Etti (stage name: ''Ines''; born 1981), Estonian singer Places * Doña Ines, a volca ...

Personal life

Born in Zürich, Margrit Rainer was citizen of

Seengen Seengen is a municipality in the district of Lenzburg in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland. Geography Seengen lies in the Seetal valley to the north of Lake Hallwil. The municipality has an area, , of . Of this area, or 51.3% is used ...

, by first marriage of

Richterswil Richterswil (Swiss German: ''Richtischwiil'' ) is a municipality in the district of Horgen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland. History Richterswil is first mentioned in 1265 as ''Richtliswile''. During the 17th Century, a series of peasan ...

, and since 1975 also citizen of

Zürich Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...

. Margrit Rainer and

often was rumored to be a couple; indeed in the early days of their joint cooperation, but in 1959 the private paths of the film and stage partner separated. Margrit Rainer found in

a new partner who also frequently appeared on the side of Margrit Rainer and Ruedi Walter in films and the theater. Margrit Rainer died after a routine intervention: a cyst was removed in her abdomen, but she died a short time later from internal bleeding on 10 February 1982. She was buried at ''Enzenbühl'' cemetery in

Zürich-Weinegg Weinegg is a quarter in District 8 of Zürich. Geography and demographics Weinegg was formerly a part of Riesbach municipality, which was incorporated into Zürich in 1893. The quarter has a population of 4,951 distributed on an area of 1.72 km� ...

alongside Inigo Gallo and his wife from first marriage.

Aftermath

Margrit Rainer became very popular as she often played the role of the ''petty-bourgeois housewife and wife'', and was to the early 1980s the most popular Swiss folk actress, the "Mother of the Nation"; ''radiant and warm...but also complex, dark and broken. Only with this double meaning you will do her justice''. Adjacent to the ''Ruedi-Walter-Strasse'' in Zürich-Oerlikon where she was born, the ''Margrit-Rainer-Strasse'' was named after the popular actress. At the

Theater Rigiblick Theater Rigiblick or Theatersaal Rigiblick is a theatre in the German-speaking Switzerland situated in Zürich-Oberstrass. Built in 1901 as the restaurant ''Rigiblick'', the theater houses mainly guest performances, focussed on the dance theater. ...

, on occasion of the artist's 100th birthday, in September 2014 premiered ''Euse Rainer chönnt das au!'', a play respectively musical dedicated to Margrit Rainer, who's still popular although she died 32 years ago.

Filmography (selected works)

* 1981: ''Potz Millione'' (broadcast of the theater play) * 1981: ''

'' (''The Inventor'') * 1973–1975: ''Ein Fall für Männdli'' (Television series, 25 episodes) * 1972: ''Nid jetz, Schatz!'' (Television film) * 1972: ''Gute Abig, Signor Steiger'' (Television film) * 1971: '' Der Kapitän'' (''The Captain'') * 1969: ''Pfarrer Iseli'' * 1968: ''Sommersprossen'' (aka ''Beyond Control'', ''Sex and Violence Beyond Control'', aka ''What a Way to Die'') * 1968: ''Die sechs Kummerbuben'' * 1967: ''Polizist Wäckerli in Gefahr'' (''Policeman Waeckerli in Danger'') * 1966: ''Geld und Geist'' (''Money and Spirit'') * 1962: ''Der 42. Himmel'' (''The 42nd Heaven'') * 1962: ''Jakobli and Meyeli'' * 1962: ''Anne Bäbi Jowäger - II. Teil: Jakobli und Meyeli'' * 1961: ''Demokrat Läppli'' * 1960: ''An heiligen Wassern'' (''Sacred Waters'') * 1960: ''Anne Bäbi Jowäger - I. Teil: Wie Jakobli zu einer Frau kommt'' * 1959: ''Hinter den sieben Gleisen'' * 1958: '' Die Käserei in der Vehfreude'' (aka ''The Fear of Power'') * 1958: ''Zum goldenen Ochsen'' (''Golden Ox Inn'') * 1958: ''Der 10. Mai'' (''The Tenth of May'') * 1956: ''Oberstadtgass'' * 1956: ''Polizischt Wäckerli'' * 1955: '' Heidi und Peter'' (''Heidi and Peter'') * 1952: ''Heidi'' * 1952: '' Palace Hotel'' * 1951: ''Wahrheit oder Schwindel''

Awards

* 1978:

Prix Walo The Prix Walo is the most important award in Swiss show business. It is known as the " Swiss Oscar". Awards since 1994 Honorable - Walo - awards * 1983: Charly Fritsche * 1991: Eynar Grabowsky * 1992: Willi Schmidt, First Harmonic Brass Ba ...

* 1958: Movie award of the city of Zürich (''Filmpreis der Stadt Zürich'')

Literature

* Ernst Reinhardt: ''Ruedi Walter. Spuren eines Schauspielerlebens.'' Friedrich Reinhardt Verlag, Basel 1984, .

References

External links

* *
Margrit Rainer on the website of the Swiss national television SRF
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rainer, Margrit 1914 births 1982 deaths Swiss stage actresses Swiss film actresses 20th-century Swiss actresses Actors from Zürich Kabarettists Swiss radio actresses Swiss women comedians Swiss musical theatre actresses Swiss television actresses Swiss voice actresses 20th-century Swiss women singers People from Lenzburg District People from Richterswil 20th-century comedians