Anke Engelke
A sharp-witted German comedy institution who masterfully shifts between anarchic satire, empathetic acting, and razor-sharp political commentary.
Born 1965 (age 61)·German comedian and actress·Birthday: December 21·Generation X
Biography
Anke Engelke's voice is one of the most recognizable in Germany, a tool she deploys with breathtaking versatility. She first captured the national imagination as a chaotic, punkish figure on the cult sketch show 'RTL Samstag Nacht,' where her fearless, physical comedy broke molds. This foundation in live, unpredictable humor never left her, even as she expanded into serious dramatic acting, hosting major award shows, and providing the German voice for Marge Simpson. Engelke's comedy is deeply intelligent, often laced with biting social and political observation, delivered with a disarming smile. Whether hosting the annual 'Charity Night' event or delivering a monologue on a talk show, she commands attention with a unique blend of warmth, intelligence, and a willingness to be gloriously absurd. She represents a modern, multifaceted entertainer who refuses to be pigeonholed.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Anke was born in 1965, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anke Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Anke's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 60
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 61 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the prestigious German Grimme-Preis award multiple times for her television work.
- Has been the longtime German dubbing voice for Marge Simpson on 'The Simpsons.'
- Hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf alongside Stefan Raab and Judith Rakers.
- Received the German Comedy Award as Best Female Comedian multiple times.
Did You Know?
She is fluent in German, English, French, and Spanish.
Engelke lived in Montreal, Canada, for several years during her childhood.
She studied translation and worked as an interpreter before entering comedy.
She is a dedicated supporter of various charitable organizations, often hosting fundraising galas.
“Humor is the weapon of the disarmed.”
