Wedekind, Tilly (1885-1970)

Tilly Wedekind was born in Graz and started her career in Cologne and Vienna. In 1905 she played the part of Lulu in Frank Wedekind's "Die Büchse der Pandora" ("Pandora'x Box"). She started an affair with Wedekind, but after he insulted her in Berlin she jumped into the Spree. She was saved and Wedekind, who was twenty years her senior, proposed to her. After their marriage she no longer appeared in plays by others because of his jealous nature and she only acted together with Wedekind in his plays. She and Wedekind had two daughters, Pamela and Kadidja.

In 1916 they acted together for the last time. In 1917 she tried to commit suicide but survived. Before they could divorce Wedekind died in 1918. After his death she had affairs with other men, among them Gottfried Benn. Benn was a great love to her, but he conducted an affair with another woman at the same time.

During the Second World War she stayed in Germany and Gustav Gründgens and Emily Göring helped her to some work. After the war Kadidja blamed her sister and her mother that they had been cowards during the nazi period.

Family
• Daughter: Wedekind, Pamela
• Husband: Wedekind, Frank

Related persons
• was the lover of Albers, Hans
• was the lover of Benn, Gottfried
• was a friend of Orloff, Ida

Events
1905/5/29: Private performance in Vienna of Frank Wedekind's "Die Büchse der Pandora"
The play was first performed at 1 Feb 1904 at the Intime Theater in Nürnberg, but banned by the German censors afterwards. Karl Kraus organised a private performance at the Trianon Theatre in Vienna. Tilly Newes played Lulu and Albert Heine played Schigolg and was the director. Adele Sandrock had the part of Gräfin Geschwitz, Ida Orloff was Kadidja di Santa Croce and Karl Kraus was Kungu Pote. Wedekind himself played the murderer Jack.
1929/3/28: Performance of Frank Wedekind's "Der Maquis von Keith" in honour of the recently deceased Albert Steinrück
It took place at the Schauspielhaus at the Gendarmemarkt in Belrin. Director was Leopold Jessner and Heinrich Mann speeched. Among the participating actors were Heinrich George, Werner Krauss, Carola Neher, Tilla Durieux, Jakob Tiedtke, Conrad Veidt, Max Pallenberg, Elisabeth Bergner, Paul Wegener, Hans Albers, Käthe Dorsch and Veit Harlan.

Sources
• Scheibmayr, Erich, Letzte Heimat, Persönlichkeiten in Münchner Friedhöfen 1784-1984, Scheibmayr Verlag, München, 1985
• Internet Movie Database
• Title unknown
• Regnier, Anatol, Du af deinem höchtsten Dach, Tilly Wedekind und ihre Töchter, BTB Verlag, 2005