Susanne Cramer (3 December 1936 – 7 January 1969) was a German film and television actress. She was born in Frankfurt, Germany, and died in Hollywood, California, of pneumonia, at age 32.[3]

Susanne Cramer
Cramer with Bill Bixby in My Favorite Martian (1965)
Born(1936-12-03)3 December 1936
Died7 January 1969(1969-01-07) (aged 32)
Hollywood, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
OccupationActress
Years active19561969
Spouses
  • (m. 1956; div. 1957)
  • (m. 1957; div. 1958)
  • Allan A. Buckhantz
    (m. 1961)
    [1]
  • (m. 1967)
    [2]
Children1

Biography

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At the age of 20, Cramer married the 37-year-old actor Hermann Nehlsen [de], who pushed her film ambitions. The marriage failed and the actress entered into a relationship with Claus Biederstaedt, whom she had met in 1956 while filming the literary adaptation Kleines Zelt und große Liebe. This relationship also failed; in February 1958, the Frankfurter Abendpost reported that the then 21-year-old actress had attempted suicide, which she denied.[4]

Cramer had a six-year career in American television, starting with a 1963 episode of The Dakotas, and ending with a 1969 episode of The Guns of Will Sonnett.

In between, she was in 24 other television roles. Among them were two appearances on The Rogues in 1964, two appearances on the Kraft Suspense Theater in 1965,[2] two appearances on Burke's Law in 1964–65, one appearance on My Favorite Martian in 1965, one appearance on Rat Patrol in 1967 and two appearances on The Man from U.N.C.L.E..

She also made appearances in 1964 and 1965 on two episodes of Perry Mason: "The Case of a Place Called Midnight" and as Gerta Palmer in "The Case of the Fugitive Fraulein".

Her sole appearance in a US film (barring an uncredited bit part in Dear Brigitte) was a small role in Bedtime Story, which starred Marlon Brando and David Niven.

Susanne Cramer fell ill two years later with Hong Kong flu, which was rampant in the U.S., and died at the age of just 32 in a private clinic — officially due to pneumonia. However, there are numerous rumors about her death, ranging from suicide to a medical malpractice. Her grave is located at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).[5]

Filmography

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Film
Year Title Role Notes
1956 Winter in the Woods Inge Sternitzke
1956 The Stolen Trousers Edith Martens
1956 Les Assassins du dimanche Gerda Brüchner
1956 Kleines Zelt und große Liebe Karin Faber
1957 Rot ist die Liebe Annemieken
1957 The Night of the Storm Gina
1957 Kindermädchen für Papa gesucht Sabine Friedberg
1957 Das Glück liegt auf der Straße Elfie
1957 Widower with Five Daughters Karin Scherzer
1957 The Daring Swimmer Gaby Marshall
1957 Holiday Island Antonietta
1958 Voyage to Italy, Complete with Love Ilse Knopf
1958 The Copper Ursula Brandt
1958 Der lachende Vagabund [de] Pia Hollebusch
1958 Schwarze Nylons – Heiße Nächte Karin
1959 Nick Knatterton’s Adventure Gloria Nylon
1960 Yo quiero vivir contigo Laura
1960 Mal drunter – mal drüber Mary
1961 Three Men in a Boat Betje Ackerboom
1961 Blind Justice Helga Dahms
1964 Bedtime Story Anna
1965 Dear Brigitte Blonde Doll (Upjohn's Girl) Uncredited
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1963 The Dakotas Maria Hoenig 1 episode
1965 Bonanza Hilda Brunner Episode: "Dead and Gone"
1964–1965 Burke's Law Elsa Werner / Cindy 2 episodes
1964–1965 Perry Mason Gerta Palmer / Greta Koning 2 episodes
1964–1967 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. "Mr. Smith" / Helga Deniken 2 episodes
1965 My Favorite Martian Kitty 1 episode
1965 Get Smart Tanya 1 episode
1966 Hogan's Heroes Eva 1 episode
1966 Jericho Marlene 1 episode
1967 Ironside Tina Masson 1 episode
1967 The Rat Patrol Gerta 1 episode
1968 Death Valley Days Britta Olaffson 1 episode
1969 The Guns of Will Sonnett Christine Anderson 1 episode, (final appearance)

References

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  1. ^ Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen
  2. ^ a b A contribution by Ingo Löchel
  3. ^ "Susanne Cramer | BFI". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2009-01-19. Retrieved 2017-07-07.
  4. ^ "Susanne Cramer". Der Spiegel (in German). 1958-02-25. ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
  5. ^ "schauspieler 121". knerger.de. Retrieved 2022-12-26.
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