Dates

• Existence: 1931 - 2009

Biography

Helmbrecht Hoppe was a German circus performer from a long tradition of circus performers. Helmbrecht was the son of Oskar Hoppe (1898-1969) and his third wife Augusta Holzmüller (1907-1981).

Although his paternal grandfather didn’t come from the circus world, his grandmother belonged to an old traveling family and his mother Augusta was the daughter of circus director Josef Holzmüller (1872-1947) and sister of Willy and Max Holzmüller, circus directors and renowned elephant trainers. His father Oskar was one of a handful of German circus entrepreneurs who returned to the business after the Second World War.

Helmbrecht was widely known for his comedy mule act, which become immensely popular in the British circus and variety circuit and also enjoyed popularity in the rest of Europe.

Helmbrecht died in 2009 aged 77 years old.