Erick Kreutzberger is the celebrity parent of Mario Kreutzberger who’s substantially honored by his stage name Don Francisco. Erick is a holocaust survivor, and his son Mario ran his own TV game show called “Sabados Gigantes”.
Personal life of Erick Kreutzberger
On April 2, 1905, Erick Kreutzberger was welcomed into this world by his parents, Carolina Kreutzberger and Max Kreutzberger. Though his mother was a Chilean citizen, his father, however, migrated to Chile from Germany. Erick was born and raised in Santiago, Chile. He attended a local school. Kreutzberger completed his high school in 1941 and started working for his father’s import-export company.
Erick enlisted in the Chilean army and fought in World War II. Kreutzberger decided to return to Santiago after completing his military service and joined his father’s clothing company. He also began his own family after tying the knot with Blumenfeld Neufeld, later known as Anna Kreutzberger. Mario, Kreutzberger’s first son, was born in 1950.
Don Francisco, born Mario Kreutzberger, began his television career in the early 1960s as the host of a children’s show on Chilean television. He later hosted several other shows, including a talk show and a game show. He currently hosts the Chilean version of the popular American television show Saturday Night Live.
Don Francisco is credited with helping to modernize Chilean television. He is well known for his sense of humor and willingness to try out new formats and ideas.
All about Mario Kreutzberger & Don Francisco
Don Francisco is a Chilean television host, actor, and producer named Mario Luis Kreutzberger. He is best known for hosting Chile’s version of the talent show Sábado Gigante for 53 years.
Don Francisco was welcomed into this world by his parents on December 28, 1940. Mario Kreutzberger’s father was a German Jew who immigrated to Chile in the 1930s. Anna Blumenfeld, his mother, was a Chilean of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
Don Francisco started his career in his father’s clothing store. Later, he began working in television, hosting various shows before landing the hosting job on Sábado Gigante in 1962.
Don Francisco became a household name in Chile after the show became an instant hit. He would host the show, Sábado Gigante, for the next 53 years, until the final episode aired in 2015.
Don Francisco has appeared in a number of films and stage productions in addition to his work on television. He has received numerous honors for his work, including the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Philanthropic Works of Don Francisco
Don Francisco became well-known for his charitable work on Sábado Gigante. He established the Mario Kreutzberger Blumenfeld Foundation to assist children and families in need. He has also served as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador since 1989.
Don Francisco is no longer active on television, but he is still involved with his foundation and UNICEF. He is also an author, with his most recent book, Don Francisco: Memoirs of a Broadcast Legend, published in 2016.
Conclusion
Erick Kreutzberger passed away four days after celebrating his 95th birthday in Santiago on April 6, 2000. He was then survived by his wife, his four children, and his seven grandchildren. Kreutzberger’s wife soon followed her husband. Erick is currently buried in Santiago, Chile alongside his wife.
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