Kurt Felix

After his parents divorced, Felix lived with foster parents from the age of eleven. His interest in radio plays developed as a child. Early on he became the author of several articles, some of which were also broadcast. After finishing school with a high school diploma, he studied to become a teacher. From 1960 to 1965 he worked as a teacher at the primary and commercial school in Frauenfeld. Meanwhile, he worked part-time as a radio and television reporter. He also wrote plays and children's musicals. In 1965 he gave up his teaching profession. Felix became a program designer at Swiss television in the "Culture and Science" department. As an author and presenter, he also developed his own broadcast formats and trained as a television director. In 1973 he moved to the "Entertainment" department. Here he created the series "Teleboy", an entertaining game show with a hidden camera, which was awarded the "Prix Walo" in 1977. This Saturday evening series achieved the highest ratings in the history of Swiss television. In 1978 he was awarded the "Chaplin Prize" and the "Rose of Montreux". In 1980, Kurt Felix invented the series "Do you understand fun?", which he also moderated himself. In the same year he married the singer Paola, with whom he released "Do you understand fun?" from 1983. became the Saturday evening entertainment program and one of ARD's most successful programs. In 1985 he was awarded the "Rose of Montreux" again. For Swiss television he accompanied the major lottery show "Supertreffer" as a presenter and producer. Until 1990, Kurt Felix co-hosted the show "Do you understand fun?" with his wife, which became one of the most popular forerunners of the decade. In the same year, 1990, Felix received the German media award "Bambi". He ended his career as a presenter on his 50th birthday. From 1991 he worked as a consultant for various television companies. He has also had Italian citizenship since 1995. From 1995 to 2005 he was a weekly television columnist for "Schweizer Illustrierte". For his 60th birthday, SWR showed a 15-part television series called "Klassiker mit Kurt Felix", a look back at 20 years of "Do you understand fun?". In 2002, Felix developed the "Quiz Today", which was broadcast on Swiss television in the main evening program from autumn onwards. In 2003 he co-authored the book "50 Years of Swiss Television". In the same year he was awarded the honorary Bambi for his life's work. In 2003 Felix fell ill with cancer. After his successful treatment and recovery, he was appointed ambassador for the "Swiss Cancer League" in 2004. In 2006 Kurt Felix largely withdrew into his private life. He lived alternately in Switzerland and Italy. In 2011 he received the Swiss Television Prize for his life's work. Kurt Felix died on May 16, 2012 at the age of 71 from his long-term cancer in St. Gallen. On May 31, 2012, a public funeral service took place in the St. Laurenzenkirche in St. Gallen.