# Christine Kaufmann

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German-Austrian actress (1945–2017)

This article is about the actress. For the Montana state senator, see [Christine Kaufmann (politician)](/source/Christine_Kaufmann_(politician)).

Christine Kaufmann Kaufmann in 2014 Born Christine Maria Kaufmann (1945-01-11)11 January 1945 Lengdorf, Reichsgau Steiermark, Germany Died 28 March 2017(2017-03-28) (aged 72) Munich, Bavaria, Germany Occupations Actress, author, businesswoman Years active 1952–2017 Spouses Tony Curtis ​ ​ (m. 1963; div. 1968)​ Achim Lenz ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1976)​ Reno Eckstein ​ ​ (m. 1979; div. 1982)​ Klaus Zey ​ ​ (m. 1997; div. 2011)​ Children 2, including Allegra Curtis

**Christine Maria Kaufmann** (German: [\[kʁɪsˈtiːnə maˈʁiːa ˈkaʊfman\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Standard_German) [ⓘ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:De-Christine_Kaufmann.ogg); 11 January 1945 – 28 March 2017) was a German-Austrian[1] actress, author, and businesswoman. The daughter of a German father and a French mother, she won the [Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress](/source/Golden_Globe_Award_for_New_Star_of_the_Year_%E2%80%93_Actress) for *[Town Without Pity](/source/Town_Without_Pity)* in 1961, the first German to be so honoured.

## Life and career

Kaufmann was born in [Lengdorf](/source/Sankt_Martin_am_Grimming), [Styria](/source/Styria), [Austria](/source/Austria) (then part of [Nazi Germany](/source/Nazi_Germany)). Her mother, Geneviève Kaufmann (née Gavaert), was a French make-up artist; her father, Johannes Kaufmann, was a German [Luftwaffe](/source/Luftwaffe) officer and engineer.[2]

Kaufmann in *[Toto, Fabrizi and the Young People Today](/source/Toto%2C_Fabrizi_and_the_Young_People_Today)* (1960)

Growing up in [Munich](/source/Munich), Bavaria, Kaufmann became a [ballerina](/source/Ballerina) at the [Munich Opera](/source/Bavarian_State_Opera). She began her film career at the age of seven in *[The White Horse Inn](/source/The_White_Horse_Inn_(1952_film))* (1952) and appeared as a lead actress in *Der Schweigende Engel* the same year, but gained big attention with *[Rose-Girl Resli](/source/Rose-Girl_Resli)* in 1954. She achieved international recognition when she starred with [Steve Reeves](/source/Steve_Reeves) in *[The Last Days of Pompeii](/source/The_Last_Days_of_Pompeii_(1959_film))* (1959) and with [Kirk Douglas](/source/Kirk_Douglas) in *[Town Without Pity](/source/Town_Without_Pity)* (1961). The following year she appeared in *[Escape from East Berlin](/source/Escape_from_East_Berlin)* and with future husband [Tony Curtis](/source/Tony_Curtis) in *[Taras Bulba](/source/Taras_Bulba_(1962_film))*.

After her divorce from Curtis, Kaufmann resumed her career which she had interrupted during her marriage. Notable roles included the [Werner Fassbinder](/source/Rainer_Werner_Fassbinder) films *[Lili Marleen](/source/Lili_Marleen_(film))* and *[Lola](/source/Lola_(1981_film))*. She often worked with German director [Helmut Dietl](/source/Helmut_Dietl), in the satirical television series *[Monaco Franze](/source/Monaco_Franze_%E2%80%93_Der_ewige_Stenz)*. In 1987, she played a glamorous tattoo artist in the cult classic *[Bagdad Cafe](/source/Bagdad_Cafe)*, an offbeat comedy set in a desolate truck stop café and motel in the Mojave Desert. Her last role was Aunt Polly in the American film *[Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn](/source/Tom_Sawyer_%26_Huckleberry_Finn)* (2014), co-starring [Jake T. Austin](/source/Jake_T._Austin) and [Val Kilmer](/source/Val_Kilmer).

In her later years, Kaufmann was also a successful businesswoman; she promoted her own line of cosmetics products that sold well in Germany. From her 40s until her death, the media often called Kaufmann the "most beautiful grandmother in Germany".[3][4][5] She wrote several books about beauty and health, as well as two autobiographies.

## Personal life

At age 18 in 1963, Kaufmann married her *Taras Bulba* co-star [Tony Curtis](/source/Tony_Curtis). They had two daughters, [Alexandra Theodora Dido Curtis](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alexandra_Theodora_Dido_Curtis&action=edit&redlink=1) (b. 19 July 1964) and [Allegra Curtis](/source/Allegra_Curtis) (b. 11 July 1966). The couple divorced in 1968. Kaufmann married three more times: to television director Achim Lenz (1974–76), musician and actor Reno Eckstein (1979–1982) and illustrator Klaus Zey (1997–2011).[6] On German television, Kaufmann admitted to having an affair with [Warren Beatty](/source/Warren_Beatty).[7][8]

Kaufmann enjoyed traveling. She moved from one place to another frequently. She spoke three languages: German, English, and French.

Kaufmann died of [leukemia](/source/Leukemia) in Munich at age 72 on 28 March 2017, only a few days after she had been diagnosed with the disease.[9][10]

## Filmography

Kaufmann in 2015

### Film

Year Title Role Notes 1952 Im Weißen Rössl Uncredited 1953 Prosecutor Corda Berta Neidhart Salto Mortale Dascha The Monastery's Hunter Vronerl 1954 Rose-Girl Resli Resli The Silent Angel Angelika Helmer 1955 When the Alpine Roses Bloom Christine 1956 Ein Herz schlägt für Erika Erika Kayser Die Stimme der Sehnsucht [de] Eva 1957 The Winemaker of Langenlois Christl Widower with Five Daughters Ulla Scherzer 1958 Mädchen in Uniform Mia Die singenden Engel von Tirol [de] Evi Kramer Embezzled Heaven Doris 1959 First Love Silvia Everybody Loves Peter Kitty Steiner Winter Holidays Florence The Last Days of Pompeii Elena / Ione 1960 The Fabulous Fraud Christine Wilkens Toto, Fabrizi and the Young People Today Gabriella Cocozza Red Lips Baby The Last Pedestrian Christine Cornelius 1961 Constantine and the Cross Livia Town Without Pity Karin Steinhof Via Mala Sylvia Lauretz A Man Named Rocca Geneviève Adé The Phony American Inge 1962 Swordsman of Siena Serenella Arconti Escape from East Berlin Erika Jurgens Terror After Midnight Julie Elgin Taras Bulba Natalia Dubrov 1964 Wild and Wonderful Giselle Ponchon 1969 Love Birds La Contessa 1971 Murders in the Rue Morgue Madeleine Charron 1972 The Death of Maria Malibran [fr] 1973 Willow Springs [fr] Christine 1974 Goodbye with Mums 1975 By Hook or by Crook 1976 As of Tomorrow Vicky Goldflocken [fr] 1978 Red Rings of Fear Christina 1979 It Can Only Get Worse Violetta Schimpf 1980 Egon Schiele: Excess and Punishment Edith Harms 1981 Lili Marleen Miriam Lola Susi Day of the Idiots Ruth 1983 Das Gold der Liebe Patricias Mutter Uncredited The Roaring Fifties Natascha Ziemlich weit weg The Swing Mme. Lautenschlag Pankow '95 Laura Zart 1987 Bagdad Cafe Debby 1989 The Story Teller Clara Lilienthal Hard to Be a God Okana 1994 The Knickerbocker Gang: The Talking Grave Annie Kramer 1998 Caipiranha Karin Wolters The Sleeper Stationsleiterin 2002 Haider lebt – 1. April 2021 Newssprecherin 2011 Fahr zur Hölle Lilith 2014 Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn Aunt Polly (final film role)

### Television

Year Title Role Notes 1970 Bend Sinister Mariette TV film 1970 Wie ein Blitz [de] Diana Valesco TV miniseries 1971 Gestrickte Spuren Fanny Elßler TV film 1972 Der Kommissar Eva Raßner "Traum eines Wahnsinnigen" 1973 Immobilien Jasmin Strothmann TV film 1974 Die Fälle des Herrn Konstantin Gisela Pahl "Der gußeiserne Buddha", "Bankdirektor Alba" 1975 Burning Daylight [de] Margret 'Labiskwee' "Vierauge" 1977 Derrick Marion Kless "Hals in der Schlinge" 1978 The Singers Nina Huf TV film 1979 Le comte de Monte-Cristo Mme. Danglars TV miniseries 1979 Joséphine ou la comédie des ambitions Mme. Hosten-Lamothe TV miniseries 1979 Der ganz normale Wahnsinn Violetta Schimpf "Drittes Kapitel", "Zweites Kapitel", "Sechstes Kapitel" 1982 Wonderful, Wonderful Times Frau von Pachthofen TV film 1983 Monaco Franze Olga Behrens Main role 1983 Inflation im Paradies Laverne Schuhmann TV film 1987 Die Insel Margit TV film 1988 Julius Caesar Portia TV film 1990–1991 Wenn das die Nachbarn wüßten Kaufhausdirektorin TV series 1993 Glückliche Reise Felicitas von Feilitz "Ibiza" 1993 Missione d'amore Valery TV miniseries 1993 Das Double Jutta Eck TV film 1994 Verliebt, verlobt, verheiratet Maja Kunert TV series 1994 Birkenhof & Lerchenau Theres TV film 1995 Stubbe – Von Fall zu Fall Frau Jensen "Stubbe sieht rot" 1995 Weihnachten mit Willy Wuff II – Eine Mama für Lieschen Gräfin TV film 1996 Balko Frederike Kogel "Ein Toter zuwenig" 1997 Parkhotel Stern Oksana Olejewa "Entscheidungen" 1998 A.S. [de] Nadja Seewald "Das Tier" 1998 Höllische Nachbarn [de] Ingelore Merk TV film 1998 Für alle Fälle Stefanie Frau von Drossel "Goldene Regeln" 1999 Einsatz Hamburg Süd Frau Duenser "Trau keinem!" 2000 SOKO München Margit Finneisen "Das Rendezvous" 2003 Club der Träume – Türkei, Marmaris Adlaya TV film 2007 Die ProSieben Märchenstunde Tante Hortensie "Aschenputtel – Für eine Handvoll Tauben" 2008 Im Namen des Gesetzes Frau Meyer-Arndt "Dunkle Ahnung" 2008 Love Trip Home Marianne Forster TV film 2012 Heiter bis tödlich – Fuchs und Gans Diana Bootz "Eierdiebe" 2013 Stille [de] Adele Vio TV film 2013 Tiere bis unters Dach Frau von Werther "Die Millionenkatze"

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [„Christine Kaufmann über die Entführung ihrer Töchter](http://www.t-online.de/unterhaltung/tv/id_63707124/christine-kaufmann-ueber-die-entfuehrung-ihrer-toechter.html) in T-online (Retrieved at 28. March 2017)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Das Doppelleben der Christine Kaufmann"](http://www.rp-online.de/kultur/film/das-doppelleben-der-christine-kaufmann-aid-1.1610604) [The double life of Christine Kaufmann]. *RP Online* (in German). Frankfurt am Main. 2005. Retrieved 11 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Kaufmann, Christine (2012). ["Der Sex-Appeal der schönsten Großmutter Deutschlands"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150711190654/https://www.christinekaufmann.eu/blog/wellness/der-sex-appeal-der-schonsten-grosmutter-deutschlands/). *ChristineKaufmann*. Archived from [the original](https://www.christinekaufmann.eu/blog/wellness/der-sex-appeal-der-schonsten-grosmutter-deutschlands/) on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 11 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Kraft, Katja (2015). ["Christine Kaufmann – Deutschlands schönste Oma wird 70"](http://www.abendblatt.de/vermischtes/article136058843/Christine-Kaufmann-Deutschlands-schoenste-Oma-wird-70.html) [Christine Kaufmann – Germany's most beautiful grandmother turns 70]. *Hamburger Abendblatt* (in German). Hamburg. Retrieved 11 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Deutschlands berühmte Großmütter"](https://www.welt.de/print-wams/article143403/Eitel-erfahren-gut-Deutschlands-beruehmte-Grossmuetter.html) [Germany's famous grandmothers]. *Die Welt* (in German). Berlin. 11 June 2006. Retrieved 11 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Christine Kaufmann lost her battle with leukemia"](http://www.cosmopolis.ch/english/film/christine_kaufmann_e020000.htm). *www.cosmopolis.ch*. 28 March 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** *Lafer! Lichter! Lecker!* ZDF, 1 November 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** von Mutius, Franziska (2014). ["Christine Kaufmann schreibt Hollywood-Affären"](http://www.bild.de/regional/muenchen/christine-kaufmann/die-sex-beichte-36717250.bild.html) [Christine Kaufmann writes Hollywood affairs]. *Bild* (in German). Berlin. Retrieved 11 July 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Christine Kaufmann, Golden Globe-winning actress who was married to Tony Curtis, dies at 72"](http://latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-christine-kaufmann-20170328-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. 28 March 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Krebs-Drama um Schauspiel-Legende Christine Kaufmann"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180616103537/https://www.tz.de/stars/muenchnerin-soll-um-ihr-leben-ringen-leukaemie-drama-um-schauspiel-legende-christine-kaufmann-8008685.html). *www.tz.de* (in German). 24 March 2017. Archived from [the original](https://www.tz.de/stars/muenchnerin-soll-um-ihr-leben-ringen-leukaemie-drama-um-schauspiel-legende-christine-kaufmann-8008685.html) on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Christine Kaufmann](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Christine_Kaufmann).

- [Official Website](https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181325/http://www.christinekaufmann.eu/) at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (archived 2016-03-03)

- [Christine Kaufmann](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/177839480) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

- [Christine Kaufmann](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0442304/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

v t e Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actress Lois Maxwell (1948) No Award (1949) Mercedes McCambridge (1950) No Award (1951) Pier Angeli (1952) Colette Marchand (1953) Pat Crowley / Bella Darvi / Barbara Rush (1954) Shirley MacLaine / Kim Novak / Karen Sharpe (1955) Anita Ekberg / Victoria Shaw / Dana Wynter (1956) Carroll Baker / Jayne Mansfield / Natalie Wood (1957) Sandra Dee / Carolyn Jones / Diane Varsi (1958) Linda Cristal / Susan Kohner / Tina Louise (1959) Angie Dickinson / Janet Munro / Stella Stevens / Tuesday Weld (1960) Ina Balin / Nancy Kwan / Hayley Mills (1961) Ann-Margret / Jane Fonda / Christine Kaufmann (1962) Patty Duke / Sue Lyon / Rita Tushingham (1963) Ursula Andress / Tippi Hedren / Elke Sommer (1964) Mia Farrow / Celia Kaye / Mary Ann Mobley (1965) Elizabeth Hartman (1966) Camilla Sparv (1967) Katharine Ross (1968) Olivia Hussey (1969) Ali MacGraw (1970) Carrie Snodgress (1971) Twiggy (1972) Diana Ross (1973) Tatum O'Neal (1974) Susan Flannery (1975) Marilyn Hassett (1976) Jessica Lange (1977) No Award (1978) Irene Miracle (1979) Bette Midler (1980) Nastassja Kinski (1981) Pia Zadora (1982) Sandahl Bergman (1983)

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States France BnF data Italy Czech Republic Spain Israel Catalonia Artists MusicBrainz FID People Deutsche Biographie DDB Other IdRef Open Library Yale LUX

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Christine Kaufmann](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Kaufmann) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_Kaufmann?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.