German TV and movie actress Elisabeth Volkmann, who appeared in several Fassbinder pics, was found dead of natural causes on July 6 in her Munich apartment. She was 70.
Born in Essen, her working class parents disapproved of her acting ambitions, yet her stage jobs contributed to her family’s income from an early age. Following acting studies and an education to become a soprano, she acted in legit theater for several years.
Volkmann entered the film business via cheap sex comedies, appearing as a mature madame in roughly two dozen pics with titles such as “Housewife Report” during the 1970s.
She moved on to primetime TV with a steady role as the frivolous mother in long running comedy series “Klimbim.”
Her stylized diva looks — snow white skin, cherry red lips and red hair — helped her win roles in three of Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s later pics.
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Volkmann appeared on TV throughout the 80s and 90s, and gave her voice to Marge and her twin sisters in the German version of “The Simpsons.” She also retained some status as a B-movie icon, appearing in pics like drag queen comedy “Geierwally” or “Planet B – The Antman.”
— Christian Koehl
