Actress. She began her career in films as a child and graduated as a leading lady in numerous pictures in West Germany and Italy. For a period, she appeared in Hollywood pictures during her marriage to Tony Curtis (1963 to 1968). Born in Lengdorf, Steiermark, Austria (then occupied by the Nazis), she performed as a ballerina at the Munich Opera, before moving on to films at the age of seven. She distinguished herself when she received a Golden Globe Award for her first film, "Town Without Pity" (1961), in which she appeared opposite Kirk Douglas. While filming "Taras Bulba" (1962) at age 17, she met Tony Curtis and married him a year later. The marriage produced two daughters and ended in divorce in 1968. Kaufmann then returned to Germany and continued to make films. In addition, she operated her own cosmetic company. Christine Kaufmann died of leukemia in Munich at age 72 in 2017, only a few days after she had been diagnosed with the disease.
Actress. She began her career in films as a child and graduated as a leading lady in numerous pictures in West Germany and Italy. For a period, she appeared in Hollywood pictures during her marriage to Tony Curtis (1963 to 1968). Born in Lengdorf, Steiermark, Austria (then occupied by the Nazis), she performed as a ballerina at the Munich Opera, before moving on to films at the age of seven. She distinguished herself when she received a Golden Globe Award for her first film, "Town Without Pity" (1961), in which she appeared opposite Kirk Douglas. While filming "Taras Bulba" (1962) at age 17, she met Tony Curtis and married him a year later. The marriage produced two daughters and ended in divorce in 1968. Kaufmann then returned to Germany and continued to make films. In addition, she operated her own cosmetic company. Christine Kaufmann died of leukemia in Munich at age 72 in 2017, only a few days after she had been diagnosed with the disease.
Bio by: C.S.
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