Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Marika Rökk

Role / Field:

Iconic German-Austrian operetta singer, dancer, and actress of Hungarian descent.

Born:

1913-11-03

Died:

2004-05-16

Century / Era:

1913s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Marika Rökk (German: [ma.ˈʁiː.ka ˈʁœk] ; born Marie Karoline Rökk, 3 November 1913 – 16 May 2004) was a German-Austrian dancer, singer and actress of Hungarian descent who gained prominence in German films in the Nazi era. She resumed her career in 1947 and was one of Europe's most famous operetta singers, performing onstage until 1986. Marie Karoline Rökk was born in 1913 in Cairo, Egypt, the daughter of Hungarian architect and contractor Eduard Rökk and his wife, Maria Karoline Charlotte (born Karoly) Rökk. She spent her childhood in Budapest, but in 1924 her family moved to Paris where her father had been contractually engaged.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Here she learned to dance and starred with the Hoffmann Girls at the Moulin Rouge cabaret. After a tour that led her to Broadway she continued her dance training in the United States, where she worked with Ned Wayburn. In 1929 she returned to Europe and the next year acted in her first film, Why Sailors Leave Home, a British comedy directed by Monty Banks, starring Leslie Fuller. She made her real breakthrough when the Universum Film AG (UFA) attempted to create a German film star to rival Hollywood's top musical star actresses Eleanor...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Albert Camus — Contemporary (Born in 1913) (1913): Philosopher and writer known for Absurdism, The Stranger, and The Plague.
• Albert Ellis — Contemporary (Born in 1913) (1913): Pioneering figure in psychotherapy, founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
• Alfred Russel Wallace — Contemporary (Died in 1913) (1913): Naturalist and explorer who independently conceived the theory of evolution.
• A. A. K. Niazi — Contemporary (Died in 2004) (2004): Pakistani general who commanded Eastern Command during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
• Alicia Markova — Contemporary (Died in 2004) (2004): Pioneering British ballerina, choreographer, and founder of major ballet institutions.
• Ancel Keys — Contemporary (Died in 2004) (2004): Pioneering physiologist who studied diet's influence on health, notably fat replacement.
• Adolf Dassler — Shared historical date (11-03 · Born) (1900): Pioneering German cobbler and inventor who founded the sportswear giant Adidas.
• Aleksandr Lyapunov — Shared historical date (11-03 · Died) (1918): Pioneering Russian mathematician known for stability theory in dynamical systems.
• A. Philip Randolph — Shared historical date (05-16 · Died) (1979): Pioneer labor unionist and civil rights activist who fought for racial equality.
• Alija Sirotanović — Shared historical date (05-16 · Died) (1990): Famous Yugoslav coal miner and model worker, recognized as a Hero of Socialist Labour.
• 1913 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1913
• November 3 (11-03) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 3
• 2004 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2004
• May 16 (05-16) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on May 16

Frequently Asked Questions about Marika Rökk