Marianne Hold

Marianne Hold (15 May 1933 – 11 September 1994) was a German movie actress who became popular in the 1950s and 1960s for her numerous roles in the Heimatfilm genre—romantic comedy films set in rural, especially Alpine, areas. She served as the inspiration for the female characters created by manga artist Leiji Matsumoto. Born Marianne Weiss in Johannisburg, East Prussia (today Pisz, Poland), Hold had to flee with her mother when World War II was drawing to a close, and they settled in Innsbruck. Her father did not return from the war. When her mother married again Hold, after disagreements with her stepfather, went to Rome, Italy, where she took various jobs. Her brother Siegfried Hold went on to become a cinematographer.

In 1950 she was offered her first big role by Luis Trenker, and starred with him in Barrier to the North. Her breakthrough role was in Die Fischerin vom Bodensee in 1956. Many more Heimatfilme followed.

While filming Mission to Hell (1964) Hold met Czech-born actor Friedrich Strobel von Stein, alias Frederick Stafford, and married him. Their son, Roderick Stafford, was born in the same year. Hold then retired from the movie business.

She died of a heart attack in Lugano, Switzerland.