Marianne Koch turns 95 after careers in film and medicine

Film star and doctor Marianne Koch will turn 95 on August 19, BR reports. She began studying medicine before her film career, spent about 20 years as an international cinema star and later returned to university to become a doctor.

Koch grew up in Geiselgasteig, a Munich district where the Bavaria film studios were located. While studying medicine, she worked as an assistant in the studios’ copying department. She said she had not originally wanted to appear in front of the camera, but her calmness helped her stand out during auditions.

In 1955, Koch received the Filmband in Silber award for best supporting actress for her role in the film adaptation of Carl Zuckmayer’s Des Teufels General, alongside Curd Jürgens. She also worked with Hollywood star Gregory Peck and with major American, Italian and German directors.

Koch said her film career allowed her to see much of the world at a time when international travel was less common. She worked in places including South Africa, Hong Kong and Bangkok, where she said a degree of fearlessness was needed.

After successes including the Spaghetti Western For a Few Dollars More alongside Clint Eastwood, Koch ended her film career in the early 1970s. She said a major upheaval in her life, including the end of her marriage, led her to return to medicine.

She later hosted a talk show and remained on the television quiz show Was bin ich? for many years. From 2000, she became particularly known as an expert on the BR radio programme Notizbuch Gesundheitsgespräch, which she presented for 25 years.

Koch has said that communication between doctors and patients remains important despite increasing digitalisation. She also says she has no problem with her age.