Famous People Born In Cologne

Kim Petras is a German singer-songwriter currently based in USA. She was assigned male at birth and underwent medical gender transition as a teenager. Interested in music from a young age, she began recording music as a teenager. Her debut single topped several viral music charts on Spotify. Since then, she has released many hit albums and singles. 

Nico was a German musician, singer, and songwriter. Her work continues to serve as an inspiration to several musicians like Björk, Morrissey, and the English rock band The Cure. In 2017, Susanna Nicchiarelli directed Nico's biographical film titled Nico, 1988. Also an actress, Nico appeared in many films, including Andy Warhol's experimental underground film Chelsea Girls.

German politician, Konrad Adenauer, served as the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1963. He was also the co-founder and the first leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). He played a key role in leading his country from the ruins of World War II to becoming a  prosperous nation.

Sixteenth-century German scholar Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa was known for his expertise in philosophy and the occult. He also taught at the universities of Pavia and Dôle. His De occulta philosophia suggested magic as a way to reach God. He was eventually branded a heretic and imprisoned.

Stefan Kapicic is a Serbian actor who achieved popularity in 2016 when he portrayed Colossus in the American film, Deadpool. He also reprised his role as Colossus in the film's 2018 sequel. Stefan Kapičić is also a voice actor; he has voiced important characters in the Serbian version of Pokémon, The Good Dinosaur, and Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties.

Max Bruch composed his first song at 9 for his mother’s birthday and then earned a scholarship after creating a symphony at the tender age of 14. He worked extensively with the choral societies of Germany and is remembered for his iconic Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor.

Though Helmut Kentler initially wished to study theology, he was pushed into studying electrical engineering by his father. A homosexual himself, he later mastered psychology and became a pioneering sexual scientist. He was later criticized for placing homeless children under the care of pedophilic men as part of an experiment.

Carl Bosch was a German engineer and chemist. He is credited with founding IG Farben, which went on to become one of the largest chemical companies in the world. He is also credited with developing the Haber–Bosch process, which is used even today for the production of ammonia. Carl Bosch was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1931.

German singer Angela Gossow is best known to fans as the lead vocalist of the Swedish death metal band Arch Enemy. She is one of the few female singers who use death grunts as part of their performances. An atheist and a vegan, she is quite vocal about her opinions.

Wilma Elles is a German actress and model. She took acting, guitar, and dance classes and actively participated in school plays as a child. She began acting in her late teens and appeared in numerous German TV shows and films. She also played the lead character in a Turkish TV show despite not knowing the language well. 

Nobel Prize-winning German author Heinrich Böll refused to join the Nazi youth wing and became a bookseller’s apprentice instead. However, he fought for the German Army later. He is best remembered for his works such as The Clown and The Silent Angel, revolving around themes of war.

Born to Belgian migrants who had moved to Germany and then to the Netherlands, because of their Mennonite origins, Joost van den Vondel grew up to be one of the most celebrated Dutch authors and dramatists. He not only translated Greek tragedies such as Electra, but also penned masterpieces such as Lucifer.

Roman Catholic Centre Party leader and two-time German chancellor Wilhelm Marx was a jurist and the founder of the Catholic Schools Organization. Best known for accepting the Dawes Plan for World War I reparations, he was charged with the Volksvereinsprozeß during the Nazi regime.

Initially a dermatologist, German doctor Herta Oberheuser later became Nazi leader Heinrich Himmler's personal physician. She was later part of gruesome and torturous medical experiments on Polish inmates at the Ravensbrück concentration camp. She was the only female doctor accused in the Nuremberg Doctors' Trial. Her license was revoked eventually.

While he initially tried his luck in law school, Stefan Raab, the son of a butcher, later dropped out and focused on an entertainment career. Now a renowned comedian, musician, TV producer, and host, he is known for his association with the Eurovision contest. He also owns the production company Raab TV.

Bianca Heinicke is a German fashion and beauty YouTuber. She launched her channel BibisBeautyPalace in 2012 and has since then accumulated millions of subscribers and billions of views. Her videos focus on hair, makeup, fashion, travel, and lifestyle. She also runs her own cosmetics brand called Bilou. She is married to fellow German YouTuber Julian Claßen. 

Andreas Mies is a German tennis player best known for his performance in doubles events. Mies has won two Grand Slam doubles titles along with Kevin Krawietz; they won the 2019 and 2020 French Open titles. Andreas Mies has also won four titles on the ATP Tour and has been representing his country in the Davis Cup since 2019.