TV Legend Peter Rapp Passed Away at 81

In more than 60 years of television work, Peter Rapp earned a status as a cult presenter with his quick wit and humor. Now the native Viennese has died at the age of 81, as Rapp's journalistic home, the "Wiener Bezirksblatt," confirmed to the APA. Born on February 14, 1944, he joined Ö3 as a radio announcer in 1967 and became the presenter of the youth pop show "Spotlight" a year later, which he led until 1978.

This marks the end of a career with numerous highs and some lows that significantly shaped the history of Austrian television in recent decades.

Peter Rapp has died

Peter Rapp was born on February 14, 1944, in Vienna. His musical talent emerged early on, as he was a Vienna Boys' Choir member as a boy. After high school, Rapp volunteered for military service for 15 months and reached the rank of corporal. He then pursued a journalistic career, working for the daily newspapers "Krone" and "Express." Meanwhile, he devoted himself to his passion for the stage and performed as a rock 'n' roll singer. He was also seen as a tour guide, chauffeur, or film extra.

His television debut followed in 1963 - also as a singer in the show "Leute von Heute." Shortly thereafter, he appeared as a cabaret artist in the show "Teenagerparty," moderated by Willy Kralik. However, the decisive step in his career came in 1967 when Rapp joined Ö3 as a radio announcer. Just a year later, he became the presenter of the youth pop show "Spotlight," which he led until 1978.

Cult formats "Hoppala" and "Wer A sagt"

After interim engagements with ARD, ZDF, and Europawelle Saar, the cult formats "Hoppala," "Die große Chance," and "Wer A sagt" followed, which made Rapp a well-known TV face throughout Austria. "I always liked the show that was the last to have great success," Peter Rapp pragmatically stated in an APA interview in 2019. He also did not regret any engagement afterward: "My job is to moderate, and I wasn't picky about it."

Peter Rapp's life also had its lows. For example, he made headlines in the 1990s when financial difficulties forced him into private bankruptcy. Yet Rapp never left the screen. The long-running "Millionenrad" began in 1990 and continued as the "Brieflos-Show" until the end of 2018 after the currency changeover to the euro. With Martina Rupp, he hosted the prime-time show "Champion" (1997 to 2000), and until 2011, he was also the face of the "Licht ins Dunkel" gala on ORF. Two years later, Rapp was finally awarded a Romy as the most popular presenter in the "Show" category - by no means the first prize he was able to take home.

Peter Rapp was also active as a voice actor

He also made a name for himself as a voice actor, being part of the animated feature film "Mr. Peabody & Sherman" (2014). The year before, he suffered a heart attack, the effects of which only briefly kept the entertainer off the screen. By the fall of 2013, he was again part of the ORF show "Die große Chance" - a format he had already helped shape in its first edition in the 1980s.

In recent years, things became a bit quieter around the ORF veteran, although Peter Rapp remained present in the public eye almost until the end. He was an advertising ambassador for affordable funerals and in 2020 received his own ORF nostalgia show "Als wäre es gestern gewesen," which aired several times a year. Additionally, the all-rounder had been a columnist for the "Wiener Bezirksblatt" since 2008. Now, Peter Rapp has bid farewell to his audience forever.

Reactions to the Death of Peter Rapp

Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen:

"Few people manage to have always been there. As 'Austria's showmaster,' Peter Rapp was one of them. His spontaneity, naturalness, and sense of humor delighted millions of Austrians on TV and radio. That remains unforgettable."

Minister of Culture Andreas Babler (SPÖ):

"Peter Rapp was far more than just a presenter - he was a master of entertainment, a critical mind with integrity, a person with heart and wit. With his distinctive voice and fine sense for the audience, he left a lasting mark on Austrian television - always with a wink, but also with depth."

ORF Director General Roland Weißmann:

"There are only a few names so inextricably linked with ORF as Peter Rapp. And there is probably no one who has embodied the concept of the ORF showmaster for as long as he did. Peter Rapp was likely the last universal entertainer of television and will therefore be all the more missed by ORF and its audience."

Mayor of Vienna Michael Ludwig (SPÖ):

"No television host and entertainer has shaped the entertainment sector in our country as significantly as he did." (...) "Peter Rapp not only celebrated successes but also had to endure setbacks, both professional and personal. But he was a resilient man! He always picked himself up with a lot of discipline and embarked on new, unexpected successes. Presumably, his unique Viennese charm helped him - he was a modern dear Augustin!"

Governor of Lower Austria Johanna Mikl-Leitner (ÖVP):

"Peter Rapp knew how to entertain people like few others - authentic, direct, and with a wink. His name was always a guarantee for quality, wit, and good humor. I will miss Peter Rapp very much, I was personally very connected to him. His death leaves a big gap."

Vienna's Deputy Mayor Bettina Emmerling (NEOS):

Peter Rapp "was not only a host but a storyteller, bridge builder, and figure of identification. With shows like Spotlight or Wurlitzer, he was the voice of the youth long before Spotify - direct, charming, always in tune with the times." His death is a "great loss for the cultural memory of our country."

Vienna City Councillor Karl Mahrer (ÖVP):

"With Peter Rapp, we are losing not only an outstanding host but above all a person who built bridges with heart and humor."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.