Topsy Küppers

The recorded working language is German. The field of work recorded is acting, singing and dance. Distinctions recorded are Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Austrian Decoration for Science and Art and Berufstitel Professor.

• Name — Topsy Küppers • Born — 17 August 1931 • Birthplace — Aachen, Rhine Province, Prussia, Germany • Died — 14 June 2025 • Occupation — * Actress • writer • singer • director

Born in Aachen, Germany, the foundation stone for Küppers' career as an actress was laid by Ursula Staudte, who taught her according to the so-called Stanislawski principle. However, according to her own statement, the greatest influence was Trude Hesterberg, who taught her the chanson and its interpretation. Küppers then took her exams at the Bühnengenossenschaft, which had Gustaf Gründgens on its board of examiners. She worked on German stages and for German and Austrian television and from 1958 performed with her then husband Georg Kreisler in Munich, among other places. On 17 December 1976 she opened the Freie Bühne Wieden in Vienna with four cabaret programmes, which was "dedicated to the preservation of Jewish literature and Jewish authors - both deceased and contemporary". She voluntarily directed at the theatre until January 2001, during this time fighting against misogyny, anti-Semitism and fascism with musical-literary programmes such as Gehackte Zores, Weit von wo and Amoureuses, Scandaleuses, Heiteres und so Weiteres.

Küppers is Jewish through her father, who left the family when she was one year old. During World War II, she hid in the Netherlands alongside her mother and grandmother. "Topsy" is a nickname used by Küppers since childhood. Küppers kept her real first name secret throughout her entire life. In 1965, Küppers took Austrian citizenship. From her marriage to Georg Kreisler came her daughter Sandra Kreisler, who also works as a singer, speaker and actress, as well as a son. Kreisler and Topsy Küppers separated in the mid-1970s. Küppers was married in second marriage to Karlheinz (called Carlos) Springer († 2013). In early August 2013, Küppers was diagnosed with colon cancer, which she described as "My Yucky-one" ("Mein Ungustl" = Translation of an untranslatable word, which stems from the Austrian dialect expression for "gross", repulsive or "yucky") and which she dealt with in the identically titled 2014 book. Küppers died on 14 June 2025, at the age of 93.

• 1954: Guitars of Love • 1955: Three Girls from the Rhine • 1955: La Gondola (TV) • 1956: Die wilde Auguste • 1956: Küß mich noch einmal • 1956: Uns gefällt die Welt • 1956: Hotel Allotria • 1960: Der Liebesonkel (television recording from the Millowitsch-Theater) • 1961: Paganini (TV) • 1962: Gasparone (TV) • 1963: Berlin-Melodie (tv) • 1969: Ein Abend zu zweit (tv) • 1972: Außenseiter (tv)

Topsy Küppers is recorded as having received Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Austrian Decoration for Science and Art and Berufstitel Professor. Recognition and collections. Küppers received Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Austrian Decoration for Science and Art and Berufstitel Professor.