On November 24, 1990, Helga Feddersen died of cancer in Hamburg. She is remembered by many as the "Ulknudel of the nation". But the comedian was also a highly professional actress and author - and survived many strokes of fate.
by Nicola Millies
Born in Hamburg on March 14, 1930, the daughter of a merchant for seaman's equipment, Helga Feddersen dreamed of becoming an actress at an early age. The pretty "Deern" takes lessons and made her debut at the "Theater im Zimmer" in Hamburg at the age of only 19.
Tumor and surgery force you to rethink
As successful as her career begins, Helga Feddersen's life takes a dramatic turn. In 1955 a tumor was discovered on her. During the operation, the parotid gland is injured so badly that the actress suffers a permanent facial disfigurement.
She was unable to perform for a long time, but gained new courage and began in 1957 as a prompter and assistant director at NDR. The first offers for roles follow and Helga Feddersen recognizes a talent that no plastic surgery or acting lessons can give her:she can make people laugh. In addition to serious roles such as in "Buddenbrooks" (1959), she played her way into the hearts and minds of her fans as Frank Zander's sketch and moderation partner in the music show "Plattenküche".
Hamburger Deern with talent for comic roles
Together with Dieter Hallervorden, Helga Feddersen made it into the German top ten in 1978 with "Du, die Wanne ist voll".Dieter Hallervorden is also very fond of the North German "Ulknudel". In addition to many sketches, he created the surprise hit "Du, die Wanne ist voll" (a hit parody of "You're the One That I Want" from the musical "Grease") in 1978, which even made it into the German Top Ten creates.
Her first husband, the former NDR dramaturg Götz Kozuszek, to whom she was married from 1962 until his death in 1985, discovered Helga Feddersen's talent as a writer. She wrote the screenplays for "Bismarck from behind or We never close", "Helga and the northern lights" and "Tales from home".
Helga Feddersen:A star in her own theater
Helga Feddersen in her prime role as "Pearl Anna" on the theater stage.In October 1983, she made a long-cherished wish come true and, together with her boyfriend and then partner Olli Maier, founded the small "Theater am Holstenwall" in Hamburg in a former ballroom. There she performed the comedy "Die Perle Anna" more than 400 times in front of an enthusiastic audience and also made the stage known beyond the city limits.
Fighting the disease again
Summer 1990:A few months before her death, Helga Feddersen and her boyfriend Olli Maier retired to their Frisian house on Föhr.But luck just does not want to be faithful to the actress. In 1987 Helga Feddersen fell ill again. A malignant tumor in her right eye forces her to give up acting. In June 1990, the 60-year-old had to undergo another tumor operation. But the disease has progressed too far. Helga Feddersen gives up her household and moves with her partner to her Frisian house on the North Sea island of Foehr. The happy days there are short-lived. On November 24, 1990, Helga Feddersen died of cancer.
VIDEO: HELGA - The two faces of Feddersen (88 min)
At the request of her husband Olli Maier, whom she married a few days before her death, she was buried in his hometown of Stuttgart. In Hamburg, the Helga-Feddersen-Twiete in Altona has been reminiscent of the great folk actress since 2016.