Birgitta Anna Katharina Tolksdorf (born December 9, 1947, in Osnabrück, Lower Saxony),[1] who changed her name to Gittanna Tolksdorf,[1][2] is a German-American actress, best known in the United States for her role on the television soap opera Love of Life, playing Arlene Lovett from 1974 to 1980.

Early life and education

Tolksdorf was born in Osnabrück, Germany,[3][4][5] to Heinz Tolksdorf, a veterinarian, and his wife.[3] In 1952,[5] as a young child, she immigrated with her parents and five siblings[5][6] to the United States,[3][4] where they lived in Washington, Missouri.[3][7] After attending high school in Washington,[5][8] Tolksdorf studied music[3][4][7] and drama[8] at Fontbonne College, St. Louis,[3][4][7] and took part in the college choir and theatre productions.[3][9] She became a US citizen in 1963.[8]

Career

In 1974, Tolksdorf appeared in William Douglas Home's play The Secretary Bird[1] at the Fisher Theatre, Detroit, in the role of the secretary.[10][11] Later the same year, she was cast as Arlene Lovett in the soap opera Love of Life,[1][4][8] a role she continued to play until the series ended in early 1980.[12] She reportedly declined an offer to join The Young and the Restless in order to try out for theatre roles in New York.[13]

Personal life

She was married to Daniel Bannister, an attorney in Hermann, Missouri; he was born in 1958. They divorced in 2001

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Kaplan, Mike (1983). Variety international show business reference, 1983. Garland Pub. p. 299. ISBN 9780824090890. Retrieved 11 March 2019. TOLKSDORF, Gittana (Formerly known as Birgitta Tolksdorf): Act. b. Osnabruck, W Germany, Dec 9, 1947. ln stock and repertory. Thea inc: The Secretary Bird. TV inc: Love of Life.
  2. ↑ "Channel Chatter". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. 27 July 1979. p. 24L. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Birgitta Tolksdorf Is Featured in Column". Washington Citizen. Washington, Missouri. 18 November 1965. p. 3. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Scheuer, Steven H. (25 February 1977). "Soap Opera Scene - 'Fascinating Character'". Times Colonist. Victoria, BC. p. 16. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Denis, Paul (1976). Daytime TV's Star Directory. Popular Library. pp. 161–162. Retrieved 11 March 2019. BIRGITTA TOLKSDORF PERSONAL LIFE: Born in Osnabruck, West Germany, Birgitta came to the U.S. in 1952 with her parents and her five brothers and sisters. The family settled in Washington, Missouri, where Birgitta finished high school. ......
  6. ↑ Whitley, Dianna (June 1977). "Birgitta Tolksdorf - "A sharp mind is sexier than good looks!"". TV Day Stars: 34–35, 46. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 "Secretly Married to Ben, Courting David, Suspected of Burning Down the Country Club - It's all in a day's 'Love of Life' for Birgitta Tolksdorf". TV Guide: 24–25. 4 September 1976.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Your Daytime Television". The Interior Journal. Stanford, Kentucky. 17 March 1977. p. 7. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  9. ↑ "'Everyman' Play At Fontbonne". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. 14 November 1965. p. 4H. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  10. ↑ Bennett, Ray (14 August 1974). "Fairbanks breezes through slim comedy". The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. 60. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  11. ↑ DeVine, Lawrence (16 August 1974). "Doug Shines, But the 'Bird' Wilts". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. p. 4B. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  12. ↑ Goudas, John N. (20 January 1980). "Soap Opera Scene". The Dispatch. Moline, Illinois. p. A6. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  13. ↑ Reed, Jon-Michael (1 March 1980). "Behind the scenes: Life is a soap opera". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. p. 55. Retrieved 11 March 2019.

Birgitta Tolksdorf at IMDb 

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