Radio HERFORD
8/11/2026
Munich - In the 50s and 60s, Marianne Koch was a screen star. She stood in front of the camera with greats such as Clint Eastwood and Curd Jürgens. But she left Hollywood and the film industry for medicine. As a doctor, presenter and author, she continued her career in her home country. Shortly before her 95th birthday (19.8.), Marianne Koch publishes a new book: "Mutig Sein!" (Courageous Being!) - Memories of Adventurous 95 Years" (publication date: 13.8.).
Marianne Koch says she is relaxed about getting older. She can do that too - as fit as she is. So it sounds a bit of an understatement when she says she can "still walk and think quite well". Nevertheless, it is a "strange feeling to get so old," says the Munich native. "Although: my grandmother and my mother also lived to be 94 years old."
How would she like to spend her special day? "Cozy. With my family and my little dog," she tells the German Press Agency in an interview. Marianne Koch has lived on Lake Starnberg for more than 50 years.
In the entertaining and almost 150-page new book, the physician looks back on her life and takes stock. She lets readers look into her private photo album and shows pictures from her childhood. "It's not really a comprehensive retrospective. They are funny, but also serious episodes from my very diverse and interesting life. I was very lucky - and that's why the prevailing feeling is gratitude."
Acting started as a part-time job
Marianne Koch's diverse life includes a detour into the glittering world of international film. It was not her plan to earn money with acting when she graduated from high school in Munich in 1949.
Marianne Koch began studying medicine - she started her career in film on the side, with smaller roles during the semester break. After graduating from the Physikum in 1952, she interrupted her studies to concentrate on film. Without any acting lessons, she became an idol of the economic miracle years for millions of moviegoers.
Marianne Koch stood in front of the camera alongside Curd Jürgens, Heinz Rühmann, O.W. Fischer and Gregory Peck. She enchanted the audience with charm.
She made her breakthrough in Helmut Käutner's "Ludwig II" in 1955. She played Princess Sophie, the sister of Sisi (Ruth Leuwerik). For her performance in "The Devil's General" she was awarded the Federal Film Prize.
Around 70 feature films followed until 1970. In the Sergio Leone classic "For a Fistful of Dollars", she even starred alongside Hollywood star Clint Eastwood.
In her new book, she talks about the time that included traveling around the world, immersing herself in different cultures and also an invitation to the former Thai royal couple Bhumibol and Sirikit.
Return to university
[After leaving the acting industry, Marianne Koch made a career as a doctor, presenter and author.]
The glamour of the film world did not bring her fulfillment. In 1973, Koch - now the mother of two sons - returned to the university and completed her studies with a doctorate a few years later.
In 1985, she opened an internal medicine practice in Munich. Looking back, she sees acting as just a long-term episode in her life and has not regretted saying goodbye to film "for a second".
Koch owes her great popularity among German TV audiences in particular to the ARD guessing game "What am I?" with host Robert Lembke. Since the 60s, she had been just as much a part of the show with unerring questions as the pig in which the five-mark pieces for the candidates clattered at that time.
Marianne Koch also hosted the talk show "3 nach 9" produced by Radio Bremen for eight years, for which she was awarded a Grimme Prize in 1976.
[Marianne Koch (right) was part of the TV guessing team of presenter Robert Lemke (standing) together with Guido Baumann, Annette von Arentin and Hans Sachs (from left).]
Passionate physician
But her passion was and is medicine. She has written several guidebooks, for example on the immune system and getting older. For 25 years, Marianne Koch was also part of the team of the "Health Consultation Hour" on Bayerischer Rundfunk. A year ago, she said goodbye to the show and her listeners at her own request.
Until 2011, she was president of the German Pain League for 14 years and is still associated with it as honorary president. In 2019, Koch was awarded the Paracelsus Medal, the highest award of the German Medical Association, for her commitment.
Koch always set a good example when it came to health issues. What are your most important tips for staying fit in old age? Balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, protein and calcium; sufficient sleep; a positive attitude towards age; Interest in the world and desire for new things as well as many social contacts.
Koch counts interest and openness to new things among her
strengths: "I think I have always had a strong interest and feeling for
other people, which certainly also benefited me in my profession as a
doctor," says Koch looking back. "I was always curious, always liked
to learn and try new things. Yes, I was brave too." Her mother taught her
this characteristic: "Dare to do it!", her mother said. "Even if
something goes wrong." And so we come full circle to the title of Koch's
latest book: "Mutig Sein!” (Courageous Being!).
[Happy 95th
birthday!]
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