German comedian Fips Asmussen died at the age of 82

Hamburg’s Fips Asmussen has been one of Germany’s best known solo entertainers since the 1970s. As has only now become known, he died on Sunday at the age of 82.

His jokes filled stages, books, music tapes, records and CDs. 7.5 million records alone were sold. His gags often got to the point quickly, like this: “I looked in the mirror this morning and said: ‘I don’t know you, but I’ll shave you anyway.'” Because the sayings were so catchy, they often went in the vernacular over.

Asmussen dropped the sailor outfit as a trademark over the years. Even in old age, the wild, curly hair and his North German accent remained his trademarks.

Asmussen originally worked in advertising. At the end of the 1960s he bought the cabaret bar “Violette Zwiebel” in Hamburg. There he was the host and entertained the audience. That was the beginning of a great stage career. With stars like Roy Black and Heino he appeared in German clubs in the USA. Asmussen last lived in Querfurt in Saxony-Anhalt. (apa / dpa)

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