Max Kolpe, born Max Kolpenitzky on June 19, 1905, in Königsberg, East Prussia (now Kaliningrad, Russia), was an American writer, scriptwriter, and lyricist of Russian-German descent. He was born into a Russian Jewish family and was stateless at birth due to the political situation at the time. In 1914, his family fled to the West at the start of World War I. Kolpe became involved in the Berlin arts scene in 1928, founding the cabaret "Anti" with Erik Ode. During the 1930s, he fled to Paris, and his parents tragically perished in concentration camps during World War II.

Kolpe became an American citizen on August 14, 1953, but moved to Munich in 1958, where he spent the rest of his life. He was a prolific writer, contributing to the Münchner Lach- und Schießgesellschaft, a cabaret theatre, and he maintained a lifelong friendship with director Billy Wilder, for whom he wrote five screenplays. Kolpe lived in Los Angeles for a time, residing in the guest house behind Wilder's Beverly Hills home until 1957.

As a lyricist, Max Kolpe was known for German adaptations of popular songs and musicals, including works for Marlene Dietrich and the German version of "West Side Story." His filmography includes contributions to German, French, and English-language films, such as "Germany, Year Zero" (1948) and "Once a Thief" (1950). Max Kolpe passed away on January 2, 1998, in Munich, Germany.