People He became a star with his donkey puppet: ventriloquist Kliby turns 75
Kliby and Caroline are as much a part of Swiss folk culture as Jassen or Heidi. On December 24, the popular ventriloquist and comedian celebrates his 75th birthday.
22.12.2025, 09:31
SDA
The expression "Jo waaa" became something of a trademark for the duo, who were among the flagship figures of Swiss TV and stage entertainment for decades. The ventriloquist Kliby had put the phrase into the mouth of his sweet but cheeky donkey puppet Caroline. At the end of 2020, Urs Kliebenschädel, as he was known before changing his name to Kliby, announced the end of his career.
It was a career that had lasted a good 50 years. It was one that had begun in an unusual way and was lined with highlights that are rarely found in the ventriloquist scene, even internationally.
It all began when the young SBB customs officer was confronted by the duty doctor during his recruitment, as Kliby recounted in an interview with Radio SRF in 2020. The doctor pointed out to him that he was breathing in and not out when he was excited.
When he told a friend about this, it was pointed out to him that he had involuntarily used a ventriloquist's technique. With this knowledge, Kliby began to use this technique as a hobby ventriloquist - initially with a duck as a speaking dummy, but then soon with the well-known donkey that his wife Ruth tailored for him.
Breakthrough with appearance on "Teleboy"
Kliby and Caroline were a couple who knew how to play off childish cheekiness in an unmistakably charming way. The ventriloquist had to put up with many original sideswipes from his puppet. Some of the punchlines became popular humorous phrases with a wide audience, especially in the 1980s.
The big breakthrough came in 1977, when Swiss show host Kurt Felix invited Kliby and Caroline to appear on his successful TV entertainment program Teleboy. This appearance made the Thurgau native a star overnight and a sought-after guest on Swiss television. And beyond that: in 1981 he appeared on "Wetten dass...".
Success with his records
Kliby celebrated success with his Caroline not only in front of the camera and on stage, but also with his records. He sold over a million records and won a total of five gold and two platinum records. With the single "Kliby and his Caroline", the two made it to number 2 in the Swiss charts in 1977, where they stayed for 15 weeks. Only very few ventriloquists can claim such success.
Urs Kliby has suffered and overcome several serious health setbacks. Since retiring from professional show business, he has retired. His doll ended up in the bank safe after several break-ins at his home, as he revealed to "Schweizer Illustrierte".
However, Kliby has kept a second Caroline in his house. "Every now and then I still make an appearance, maybe three or four times a year - but those are really exceptions," he said in an interview with "Glückspost".
