Willy Millowitsch Monument

Existential anxiety and the German soul—how would this combination have pleased Willy? Probably not much, one might assume. Rather, his passion for humor, comedy, and the fun side, which he wrangled from life itself even during the arduous post-war years, radiated from every pore of his well-known expressions. Willy Millowitsch was the quintessential "Kölsche Jung" and a jack-of-all-trades when it came to comedies, an immortal Cologne icon.

The monument that the city of Cologne dedicated to its great artist was inspected by Willy Millowitsch himself in 1992, just as you do today—sitting on his park bench in the middle of the old town, weighing 700 kg, crafted in bronze.

Explicitly encouraged: Side by Side with Willy

Since 2014, the bronze Willy Millowitsch has been a popular photo spot at Willy-Millowitsch-Platz, having moved there from Eisenmarkt in front of the Hänneschen Theater on April 25, 2014. The approximately 900 sqm square is located between Apostelnstraße, Gertrudenstraße, and Breite Straße. The bench on which he, as a figure for eternity—correctly dressed and with his legs crossed, one arm on the backrest—has taken a seat, is part of the monument in the northern old town of Cologne and invites you to take a seat beside and a picture with him.

Just a few hundred meters away, the Cologne acting family ran their Millowitsch Theater from 1936 to 2018, with a history spanning more than 150 years. Willy Millowitsch, who led the theater until 1998 and was both director and main actor of numerous plays, is considered the most famous member of the Millowitsch dynasty. As a "Kölsche Original," he gained popularity far beyond the borders of Cologne—as a theater actor, on television, in cinema films, or as a pop and carnival singer. With performances in standard German—and, of course, in Kölsch.

Unforgettable: "Der Etappenhase"

Willy Millowitsch not only graced the stage but also appeared in over 125 films and on television. He celebrated his first successes on the stage of his father's theater "Colosseum" on Schildergasse. In 1953, Millowitsch played the lead role in the first live TV broadcast of a theater play, "Der Etappenhase," by Karl Bunje, bringing his theater national fame. Numerous other TV broadcasts of his comedies followed, becoming "Straßenfeger" (literally "street sweepers"), meaning they garnered extremely high ratings. Between 1990 and 1996, the WDR television network aired "Tatort" (Germanys most popular crime series) with him as the detective Klefisch.

In addition, Millowitsch was also a successful pop singer who signed a record deal with Ariola in 1960. After "Wenn dieses Lied ein Schlager wird" came the well-known "Heut' sind wir blau" and in November 1960, more than 900,000 copies of "Schnaps, das war sein letztes Wort" were sold. For many years, he was the most successful performer of Rhineland carnival songs, "Ich bin ene kölsche Jung," being firmly associated with his name.

Honored Cologne Citizen: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit and Honorary Citizenship

"People need to laugh again," said Konrad Adenauer, then mayor of Cologne, in 1945, when he allowed the reopening of the Millowitsch Theater, which had suffered little war damage and where Willy performed after returning from the front tour.

Together with his sister Lucy, Willy staged numerous plays, showcasing ideal casting for fiery couples. Willy Millowitsch's popularity as a "walking emblem of Cologne" is due to his fulfilled career as an artist and role as a German folk actor—and his contributions to "Kölsche Volkskultur" were recognized with numerous awards.

Thus, Millowitsch became an honorary citizen of Cologne in 1989 and was also awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit in 1994. The Cologne band "Höhner" dedicated a birthday song to him in 1989 titled "Willy, wat wär Kölle ohne dich." Since 2003, the Willy Millowitsch Medal has also been awarded annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to the "Kölsche Rede."

The most Kölsch of all Cologners

Willy Millowitsch came from a family of actors but never attended drama school. He failed at school, didn't graduate, but grew up in the world of Cologne's Volksbühne—and naturally grew into a star from there.

Willy Millowitsch passed away on September 20, 1999—his funeral mass was celebrated by the city in the Cathedral, exceptionally held by an auxiliary bishop for a non-clerical person. The WDR television network even broadcast the funeral procession live. With the monument, his memory remains alive. After all, we all must die someday. But not on all other days, right? Willy didn't say this—but Charles Bukowski did, but that's another story, from another end of the world. But perhaps Willy would have quietly grinned about it... what do you think?

The great man, who probably expressed Rhineland cheerfulness and Cologne way of life like no other, is, of course, buried in his cathedral city at the famous Melaten Cemetery - like many Cologne personalities from recent decades.