When it comes to his comedic talents, Hape Kerkeling (58) had the full support of his teachers when he was still at school. “There was never any talk of art without a living,” he told the German Press Agency in an interview.
As a high school student in his hometown of Recklinghausen, he was awarded his first prize as a young talent, namely the ScharfrichterBeil cabaret prize in Passau. Would his teachers have been more impressed by the Math Olympiad or Youth Research than a cabaret award? “Not in life!” says Kerkeling.
On December 6th, the Executioner’s Hatchet will be awarded for the 40th time. As the first prize winner, Kerkeling takes a seat on the jury in the executioner’s house for the anniversary edition and is looking forward to this journey into the past: “I have been able to practice my profession for 40 years. This fills me with gratitude and humility. I am very happy to be returning to Passau .” He considers the executioner’s hatchet to be his most important prize, because it is his first prize.
Hape Kerkeling is one of the most successful TV entertainers in German-speaking countries. His best-known formats included the comedy shows “Total Normal” and “The World Laughs About It”. With his performances – “I am Beatrix”, “Hurz” or as “Horst Schlämmer” – he wrote entertainment history. He also wrote the best-selling book of 2006, “I’m gone.” Hape Kerkeling was awarded the Golden Camera and the Adolf Grimme Prize, among other awards. He lives with his husband in Cologne.
