Ludger Stratmann is dead. The cabaret artist and doctor from Bottrop died at the age of 73. TV viewers knew him as the landlord “Jupp Kwiatkowski”.
Essen / Cologne (dpa) – He was considered an icon of the Ruhr area and made many viewers laugh for decades: The doctor and Ruhrpott cabaret artist Ludger Stratmann died unexpectedly on Wednesday at the age of 73.
The doctor of medicine and comedian from Bottrop was known far beyond North Rhine-Westphalia and had been on various stages since the mid-1990s. His son Philipp Stratmann from the “Stratmanns Theater” told the German Press Agency on Thursday that his father had died “suddenly and surprisingly” with his family in his home in Bottrop.
First, the “WAZ” reported on the death on Wednesday evening, citing close family members. The director of Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Tom Buhrow, paid tribute to Stratmann, who worked for WDR for 15 years: “With his original cabaret, he successfully and inimitably brought Ruhr area sounds to us as a host in the heart of the district – also far beyond the national borders.” The Cologne broadcaster was “very sad and dismayed about his sudden death” on Thursday.
As a doctor, Stratmann had practiced for many years in Bottrop, but then hung up his doctor’s coat around 20 years ago and devoted himself entirely to his career as a comedian. In “Stratmanns – Jupps Kneipentheater im Pott” – a mix of talk, cabaret, comedy and staged scenes – he was seen on WDR until 2016. In around 150 episodes, he tapped beer with illustrious guests as host «Jupp» in his restaurant in Essen.
Stratmann, who was born in Verl, had appeared on several stages and was also known as “Dr. Stratmann »became popular. He was happy to present his program with typical elements from the Ruhr area.
He had received several honors. In 2017 Hannelore Kraft (SPD), then Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, awarded him the Order of Merit. In addition, the “Tegtmeier 2009” award from the city of Herne went to Ludger Stratmann. He was one of the most successful cabaret artists in Germany, and in the role of “Jupp Kwiatkowski” the general practitioner brought the Ruhr area onto the stages of the republic, the municipality had justified its decision.
Stratmann was also socially committed. In 2012 he auctioned paintings and prints under the motto “With art against cancer”, the proceeds going to the cancer foundation.
After the death of the cabaret artist, the WDR is changing its late-night TV program for the “Ruhr area icon” this Friday and Saturday. Concrete hints should follow.