Singer. She was a German cabaret singer, whose performance peak was mainly in the 1920s. Born Clara Wortmann, she was born the eleventh child of sixteen children of the owners of a tavern. With her family's financial problems, she abandoned college and turned to performing. After performing locally in 1903, she was first successful in a Berlin Burlesque playing the role of a genuine Berlin girl in 1906. With a unique rough voice, she hit the stage as a perky, red hair performer. Wearing men's attire and a short haircut, her true artistic talent bloomed with three songs in a satirical political musical revue, "Roland von Berlin" in 1907 and in the "Unter den Linden," making her a main attraction for years. Her repertoire included around 300 original songs with recordings following and appearances on the radio. With posters reading "Claire Waldoff, the Star of Berlin," she became the very symbol of Berlin during this era. After the Nazi Regime came to power, she was not allowed to perform as her lifestyle did not represent the role model of the Nazi woman. Jewish composers wrote many of the songs she sang. She retired in 1936 to upper Bavaria and performed only occasionally. By the end of the war, she had lost her money from performing and was living nearly penniless. She died from a stroke. Claire Waldoff has a star on the Walk of Fame of Cabaret in Mainz. Her long-time partner was Olga "Olly" von Roeder and the two are buried together.
Singer. She was a German cabaret singer, whose performance peak was mainly in the 1920s. Born Clara Wortmann, she was born the eleventh child of sixteen children of the owners of a tavern. With her family's financial problems, she abandoned college and turned to performing. After performing locally in 1903, she was first successful in a Berlin Burlesque playing the role of a genuine Berlin girl in 1906. With a unique rough voice, she hit the stage as a perky, red hair performer. Wearing men's attire and a short haircut, her true artistic talent bloomed with three songs in a satirical political musical revue, "Roland von Berlin" in 1907 and in the "Unter den Linden," making her a main attraction for years. Her repertoire included around 300 original songs with recordings following and appearances on the radio. With posters reading "Claire Waldoff, the Star of Berlin," she became the very symbol of Berlin during this era. After the Nazi Regime came to power, she was not allowed to perform as her lifestyle did not represent the role model of the Nazi woman. Jewish composers wrote many of the songs she sang. She retired in 1936 to upper Bavaria and performed only occasionally. By the end of the war, she had lost her money from performing and was living nearly penniless. She died from a stroke. Claire Waldoff has a star on the Walk of Fame of Cabaret in Mainz. Her long-time partner was Olga "Olly" von Roeder and the two are buried together.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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