Evelyne Kraft (22 September 1951 – 13 January 2009) was a Swiss businesswoman and former actress. She was best known for her roles in the films Lady Dracula and The Mighty Peking Man.

Evelyne Kraft
Born(1951-09-22)22 September 1951
Died13 January 2009(2009-01-13) (aged 57)
NationalitySwiss
Other namesEvelyne Elgar
Occupation(s)businesswoman, former actress
Years active1972–1981
Children3

Background

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Born in Zürich, Switzerland on 22 September 1951, Kraft made her acting debut in 1972 as Evelyne Elgar alongside Anita Ekberg in the Italian horror film Casa d'appuntamento. This was followed by the role of a mechanic, Jacqueline, in Rudolf Zehetgruber's 1973 German comedy film Ein Käfer auf Extratour (1973) and other roles in Die Fabrikanten, The Maddest Car in the World, Crime After School, and The Fifth Commandment. Kraft also acted in the TV series Ein Fall für Männdli episode Die Verrückte. She gained fame for the portrayal of the title heroine in Franz Josef Gottlieb's 1977 West German film Lady Dracula.

She starred in two Hong Kong Shaw Brothers films, Deadly Angels and The Mighty Peking Man, both in 1977. Kraft played her last role in the 1981 Soviet-French-Swiss co-production Teheran 43 as Jill the false secretary, before retiring from acting.

She later married the heir to a real estate company and had three children. In 1995, she presided over her husband's construction timber company, with business and charity interests based in Nigeria. She also dedicated herself to animal welfare and global poverty concerns.[1]

She died due to sudden heart failure with her family by her side in Islisberg on 13 January 2009.[2]

Filmography

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Films

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Year Title Role Note
1972 Casa d'appuntamento Eleonora
1973 Ein Käfer auf Extratour Jacqueline 'Jac' Hegglin
1973 Die Fabrikanten Janine Schluep
1975 The Maddest Car in the World Schwester Engelmunda
1975 Crime After School Sabine
1977 Lady Dracula Comtesse Barbara von Weidenborn / Lady Dracula
1977 Deadly Angels Miss Eve
1977 The Mighty Peking Man Samantha Ah Wei
1977 Arrête ton char... bidasse! Karin
1978 The Fifth Commandment Evelyn Pages
1981 Teheran 43 False Secretary

Television

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Years Title Episode Role
1973 Ein Fall für Männdli Die Verrückte Maria Krespi
1976 Klimbim [de] Herself
1978 Am laufenden Band Herself
1978 Wie würden Sie entscheiden? Gitta und die guten Sitten Gitta

References

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  1. ^ Musetto, V. A. (1999-04-18). "GOING APE OVER EVELYNE". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  2. ^ "Giallo's, Germans & A Giant Gorilla – Remembering Evelyne Kraft (1951 – 2009) | Rediscovering Cult Movies & Forgotten Films | Tina Aumonts Eyes". Archived from the original on 2019-12-23. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
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