She self-styled herself on Facebook as a “jerk of all trades: comic, actor, bartender (best in ny) producer, creator,” but Poppi Kramer was so much more. She was a bartender at Henrietta Hudson, The Stonewall Inn and the Duplex Cabaret and Piano Bar, as well as an Emcee at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, with one of those larger-than-life personalities. Her life as a stand-up comedian included warm up for TV personalities Bill Cunningham and Regis Philbin, among others. As an actress, she was known for Evolution: Siren (2017), Slippery Slope (2006) and The Knights of Prosperity (2007).
Born on June 9, 1972 and raised in River Edge, NJ, Kramer studied acting at Ithica College and Ohio University and cut a wide swath through the New York City entertainment scene before her premature death on July 27, 2018.
Perhaps one of Kramer’s greatest successes was as a contestant on “The Biggest Loser” Season Three. Kramer won $50,000 in 2006 after shedding 117 pounds—more than half of what she weighed at the start. It was quite an achievement for the 5-foot tall Kramer. “I kept the weight off for about seven years,” she said. “I kept it off by keeping my calorie intake at about 1,800 and working out two and a half hours a day. That did quite a number on my body. For me, it was a struggle the entire time. Maintenance was definitely the hardest part.” Entering her 40s, a bout with anemia and minor surgery made the struggle harder. By 2014, she regained almost 80 percent of the weight lost. She consulted with a surgeon at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and decided to get bariatric surgery, which helped her lose 97 pounds and maintain her weight.
Poppi Kramer was only 46 when she died suddenly of a heart attack. She left a legacy of love. Those who knew her remember her as a warm, funny, outgoing person with an infectious laugh. More than that, she’s remembered as a caring, inspirational presence who never hesitated to give of herself to her fellow humans.
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