![Rex Gildo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/30/Rex_Gildo.png)
Rex Gildo (formerly Alexander Gildo, born Ludwig Franz Hirtreiter; 2 July 1936 – 26 October 1999) was a German singer of
Schlager ballads
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads derive from the medieval French ''chanson balladée'' or '' ballade'', which were originally "dance songs". Ballads were particularly characteristic of the popular poetry and ...
who reached the height of his popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, selling over 25 million records and starring in film and television roles.
Early life
Gildo was born Ludwig Franz Hirtreiter in
Straubing, Bavaria; in the mid-1950s he adopted the stage name Alexander Gildo, later shortening it to Rex Gildo. He claimed for many years to have been a member of the
Regensburger Domspatzen
The Regensburger Domspatzen (literally: Regensburg Cathedral Sparrows) is the cathedral choir at the Regensburg Cathedral in Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany. The boys' choir dates back to 975, and consists of boys and young men only. They perform i ...
choir before attending acting school; however, a documentary on German television a decade after his death in 2009 revealed that in fact he had worked in a decorating apprenticeship before he met Fred Miekley, who would become his manager/longtime companion.
Career
Gildo's first performance was with the
Munich Kammerspiele
The Munich Kammerspiele (German: Münchner Kammerspiele) is a state-funded German-language theater company based at the ''Schauspielhaus'' on Maximilianstrasse in the Bavarian capital. The company currently has three venues: the main stage of ...
theatre group in 1956, but he quickly moved into television and film, as well as performing as a singer, most famously
duet
A duet is a musical composition for two performers in which the performers have equal importance to the piece, often a composition involving two singers or two pianists. It differs from a harmony, as the performers take turns performing a solo ...
ting with Danish singer
Gitte Haenning as "Gitte & Rex". His most popular songs, such as ''
Speedy Gonzales
Speedy Gonzales is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of cartoons. He is portrayed as "The Fastest Mouse in all Mexico" with his major traits being the ability to run extremely fas ...
'' (1962), ''Goodbye Susanna'' (1965) and ''Fiesta Mexicana'' (1972), were popular during the 1960s and 1970s in Germany. His music and films sold well there but less so abroad. He also starred in his own television program, ''Gestatten – Rex Gildo''.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Gildo's popularity decreased.
[
] His appearances were mainly at
folk festival
A folk festival celebrates traditional folk crafts and folk music. This list includes folk festivals worldwide, except those with only a partial focus on folk music or arts. Folk festivals may also feature folk dance or ethnic foods.
Handicra ...
s, shopping centres and other similar venues; he was also reported to have problems with alcoholism. His final performance, on the day of his suicide attempt, was in front of more than 3000 people at a furniture shop outside
Frankfurt
Frankfurt, officially Frankfurt am Main (; Hessian: , "Frank ford on the Main"), is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Its 791,000 inhabitants as of 2022 make it the fifth-most populous city in Germany. Located on its na ...
.
Personal life and death
In 1974, Gildo married his cousin Marion Ohlsen in a "
Lavender marriage
A lavender marriage is a male–female mixed-orientation marriage, undertaken as a marriage of convenience to conceal the socially stigmatised sexual orientation of one or both partners. The term dates from the early 20th century and is used al ...
". The couple had no children and separated in 1990. After his death it was published that he was gay and had a relationship with Dave Klingeberg, his secretary, and with whom he lived for 7 years.
Gildo died in 1999, aged 63, having spent three days in an artificially-induced coma after attempting suicide by jumping from the window of his apartment building. He was said to have been suffering
psychological
Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Psychology includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomena, including feelings and thoughts. It is an academic discipline of immense scope, crossing the boundaries between t ...
problems.
Discography
*''Das Ende der Liebe (Tell Laura I love You)/Minnetonka Mädi'' (1959)
*''Sieben Wochen nach Bombay'' (1960)
*''Yes My Darling'' (1960), together with
Conny Froboess
Cornelia Froboess (; born 28 October 1943) is a German actress and a teen idol of the 1950s and early 1960s. During that time, Froboess appeared in many West Germany, West German and Austrian musical films, especially after the rock and roll wave ...
*''Speedy Gonzales'' (1962)
*''Zwei blaue Vergißmeinnicht'' (1963)
*''Vom Stadtpark die Laternen'' (1963), together with
Gitte Haenning
*''Zwei auf einer Bank'' (1964), together with Gitte Haenning
*''Jetzt dreht die Welt sich nur um dich'' (1964), together with Gitte Haenning
*''Hokuspokus'' (1964), together with Gitte Haenning
*''Dein Glück ist mein Glück'' (1965), together with Gitte Haenning
*''Goodbye Susanna'' (1965)
*''Augen wie zwei Sterne'' (1966)
*''Der Mond hat seine Schuldigkeit getan'' (1967)
*''Komm, Laß Uns Tanzen'' (1967)
*''Schlager-Rendezvous Mit Rex Gildo'' (1967)
*''Ein Ring aus Gold'' (1968)
*''Rex Gildo's Disco Club With Jo Ment's Happy Sound – 28 Party Hits For Dancing '' (1968)
*''Dondolo'' (1969)
*''Rex'' (1969)
*''Memories'' (1971)
*''Fiesta Mexicana'' (1972)
*''Der Sommer ist vorbei'' (1973)
*''Marie der letzte Tanz'' (1974)
*''Der letzte Sirtaki'' (1975)
*''Küsse von dir'' (1976, German version of
Save Your Kisses for Me
"Save Your Kisses for Me" was the winning song of the Eurovision Song Contest 1976, performed for the by Brotherhood of Man in The Hague, Netherlands. The lyrics and music were written by Tony Hiller, Lee Sheriden, and Martin Lee, the latter two ...
)
*''Love Is in the Air'' (1978)
*''Sally komm wieder'' (1978)
*''Saragossa'' (1979)
*''Holly ho Havanna'' (1979)
*''La Bandita'' (1980)
*''Wenn ich je deine Liebe verlier'' (1981)
*''Und sie hieß Julie'' (1983)
*''Und plötzlich ist es wieder da'' (1983)
*''Dir fehlt Liebe'' (1984)
*''Rendezvous auf spanisch'' (1984)
*''Mamma mia'' (1985)
*''Du ich lieb Dich'' (1985)
*''Was ist schon eine Nacht'' (1986)
*''Mexicanische Nacht'' (1989)
*''Margarita'' (1991)
Selected filmography
*''Immer wenn der Tag beginnt'' (1957), as Max Clement
*''
Schmutziger Engel'' (1958), as Peter Utesch
*' (1958), as Gerd Weidner
* ''
Hula-Hopp, Conny
''Hula-Hopp, Conny'' is a 1959 West German musical comedy film directed by Heinz Paul and starring Cornelia Froboess, Rudolf Vogel and Susi Nicoletti.Bock & Berfelder p.137 It was shot at the Bavaria Studios in Munich. The film's sets were design ...
'' (1959), as Billy Newman
*' (1959), as Rex
*''
My Niece Doesn't Do That
''My Niece Doesn't Do That'' (german: Meine Nichte tut das nicht) is a 1960 Austrian comedy film directed by Franz Josef Gottlieb and starring Cornelia Froboess, Fred Bertelmann, and Margit Nünke.Von Dassanowsky p. 184
The film's art direction ...
'' (1960), as Robert
*''Am Sonntag will mein Süßer mit mir segeln gehn'' (1961), as Tommy
*''
Dance with Me Into the Morning'' (1962), as Stefan Breuer
* ''
Café Oriental
''Café Oriental'' is a 1962 German musical comedy film directed by Rudolf Schündler and starring Elke Sommer, Jerome Courtland, Trude Herr, and Bill Ramsey.
The film's sets were designed by the art directors Paul Markwitz and Wilhelm Vorwe ...
'' (1962), as Himself
* ''
Don't Fool with Me
''Don't Fool with Me'' (German: ''Sing, aber spiel nicht mit mir'') is a 1963 Austrian musical comedy film directed by Kurt Nachmann and starring Adrian Hoven, Wera Frydtberg and Paul Hörbiger.Von Dassanowsky p.186
It was shot at the Sieveri ...
'' (1963), as Billie Bill
*' (1963), as Rolf
*''
Apartmentzauber
''Apartmentzauber'' is a 1963 West German film directed by Helmuth M. Backhaus.
The film is also known as ''Apartment-Zauber'' (alternative spelling).
Plot
According to his parents' wishes, Karl Fischer should marry the young Almut Behring ...
'' (1963), as Karl Fischer
* ''
The World Revolves Around You
''The World Revolves Around You'' (German: ''Jetzt dreht die Welt sich nur um dich'') is a 1964 Austrian musical film directed by Wolfgang Liebeneiner and starring Gitte Hænning, Rex Gildo and Claus Biederstaedt.Von Dassanowsky p.186
It was ...
'' (1964), as Martin Fischer
*' (1965), as Rick Tanner
*''
What Is the Matter with Willi?
''What Is the Matter with Willi?'' (german: Was ist denn bloß mit Willi los) is a 1970 German comedy film directed by Werner Jacobs and starring Heinz Erhardt, Ralf Wolter and Ruth Stephan. A tax inspector tries to reform the Ministry of Financ ...
'' (1970), as Frankie Kuhländer
*' (1973), as Martin Klamm
As himself
*''
Hit Parade 1960
''Hit Parade 1960'' (german: Schlagerparade 1960) is a 1960 West German musical film directed by Franz Marischka and starring Renate Ewert, Werner Fullerer and Hilde Nocker.Parish p.109
Cast
* Renate Ewert as Susanne Grosser
* Vivi Bach as Ull ...
'' (1960)
*''
Marina
A marina (from Spanish , Portuguese and Italian : ''marina'', "coast" or "shore") is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.
A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships o ...
'' (1960)
*' (1960)
*' (1961)
*''
Café Oriental
''Café Oriental'' is a 1962 German musical comedy film directed by Rudolf Schündler and starring Elke Sommer, Jerome Courtland, Trude Herr, and Bill Ramsey.
The film's sets were designed by the art directors Paul Markwitz and Wilhelm Vorwe ...
'' (1962)
*''
Our Crazy Nieces
''Our Crazy Nieces'' (german: Unsere tollen Nichten) is a 1963 Austrian comedy film directed by Rolf Olsen and starring Gunther Philipp, Vivi Bach, and Paul Hörbiger. It was the second part in a trilogy of films which began with ''Our Crazy Au ...
'' (1963)
*''Maskenball bei Scotland Yard'' (1963)
*' (1968)
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gildo, Rex
1936 births
20th-century German male singers
German male television actors
German male film actors
People from Straubing
Schlager musicians
Suicides by jumping in Germany
Burials at the Ostfriedhof (Munich)
20th-century German male actors
LGBT singers from Germany
1999 suicides
1999 deaths
20th-century LGBT people