Markus Maria Profitable
“You don’t have Parkinson’s alone, the whole family has it”
Markus Maria Profitlich and Ingrid Einfeldt at the German Comedy Prize 2012.
© Imago Images / APress
Comedian Markus Maria Profitlich speaks in an interview about his Parkinson’s disease, which also affects his marriage.
Markus Maria Profitlich (61) spoke to the magazine “Bunte” about his life with Parkinson’s disease. The comedian also revealed what influence the disease has on his wife, actress Ingrid Einfeldt (60), and one of the two daughters who live with the couple.
The corona pandemic not only meant that he had to cancel performances on his anniversary tour, but also had an impact on his Parkinson’s disease. “Anything that means stress is not good. Parkinson’s needs a regular daily routine,” explains Profitlich. He swallowed 192 tablets a week and had to motivate himself again and again and fight himself out of the lows.
On good days he can get up easily without great pain, on bad days he drag himself through the day and hope that the pills work quickly. “That is sometimes very depressing. You actually plan to feed your family and be there for them, and instead sit around idly because you can’t do anything else because of the illness,” said the 61-year-old.
His wife stands by him
“You don’t have Parkinson’s alone, the whole family has it,” continues Profitlich. Because of his illness, he robs his wife of life, “which she could use differently. And my daughter too. I can’t always do what I feel like doing – and that annoys me totally.” His marriage is therefore “strained”. However, his wife stands by him and he is glad that he has this “gift from God”. Despite everything, the family is growing closer and closer, says Profitlich. “That’s a nice feeling.”