Biography

His father worked as a craftsman and his mother worked in retail. After leaving high school early and aborting his apprenticeship, the teenager worked as a hotel boy in luxury hotels in Berlin. He also kept his head above water as a salesman and decorator. In the artistic field, Frankenfeld tried his hand as a tap dancer and as a painter, whereby he was able to sell some of his pictures in 1938 and, thanks to the fame he had achieved, also found the opportunity to demonstrate his acting talent. On the occasion of a cabaret performance he performed, Frankenfeld was discovered by Willy Schaeffers, who hired him for his "Cabaret of Comedians". During the Second World War, Frankenfeld was taken prisoner by the Americans. It was then used to entertain the American occupation troops.

In 1948, the versatile entertainer hosted the first American-style quiz shows on German radio. In the following years, Frankenfeld designed his own entertainment programs for numerous broadcasters, which made him known to an increasing audience. Hans Joachim Kulenkampff was one of his first partners in those years. However, Frankenfeld's real breakthrough came on television, where he made his debut in 1952 with the show "Schöne Bescherung". This was followed by the quiz show "1:1 for you", which made him known throughout Germany. In 1956 Frankenfeld married the actress and singer Lonny Kellner, who brought a son into the family from her previous marriage. In the 1960s and 1970s, Frankenfeld became one of the most popular entertainers in German television culture through several other show series.

From 1964 to 1970, his show "Forget-Me-Not" brought in double-digit millions for "Aktion Sorgenkind". From 1975 he hosted the legendary series "Music is Trumpf". In addition to his TV appearances, Frankenfeld also proved himself on the theater stage: in 1968, for example, he shone in Max Frisch's "Biography" in Zurich. He collected his jokes in the book "Confessions of a Grandly Checkered Gentleman" (1969). You could already see him in the film "Wunschkonzert" in 1955. Frankenfeld has been honored several times for his achievements. In 1959 he was awarded the "Golden Screen" and in 1966 the "Golden Camera". In 1970 he received the Federal Cross of Merit for his commitment to "Aktion Sorgekind".

Peter Frankenfeld died on January 4, 1979 in Hamburg.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: Christian_Wolfgang_Barth