- Ten years have passed since the demise of Joachim Fuchsberger.
If you recall Joachim Fuchsberger, you might be showing signs of aging. This well-known actor and TV host, popularly known as "Blacky," gained fame in the early days of German television with programs like "Auf los geht's los" and films such as romantic dramas and crime thrillers like "The Sinister Monk". Those were the good old days, as Fuchsberger himself acknowledged in 2007 when he turned 80, stating, "I am the dinosaur of television." But those times are now a part of history. Exactly ten years ago today, the multiple award-winning celebrity passed away in his home in the Munich suburb of Grünwald, where he lived with his wife and beloved partner, Gundula, until his demise.
The wave of sorrow was immense. Notable figures such as actor Ralf Bauer, football legend Franz Beckenbauer, actress Uschi Glas, and pop star Udo Jürgens mourned the loss of a friend and companion, as did countless fans. There was a strong emotional response, albeit perhaps not in the way the deceased would have preferred, as comedian Oliver Kalkofe pointed out. "But today, let us shed a few tears, purely for our selfish reasons, because we weren't ready to say goodbye just yet. From tomorrow, we'll smile and be happy whenever we think of you."
Defiance instead of blind obedience
Fuchsbersger's childhood and adolescence did not foreshadow his rise to fame. Born in Stuttgart in 1927 as the son of a typesetting machine sales representative, he grew up in Düsseldorf and Heidelberg. Submitting to the Nazi regime as a teenager was not easy for him. "The teachers taught their students to be obedient first and foremost, to agree with everything, and I wasn't like that," he recalled in an interview. "I was always a bit of a rebel, against anything that didn't make sense to me."
Bland lover and horror investigator
In the early 1950s, Fuchsberger made it to the big screen - and often starred alongside famous actresses like Romy Schneider, Marianne Hold, and Senta Berger. Frequently, he played "that rather dull, silly young lover," as he put it himself, without much sympathy. However, films like "The Twins from the Zillertal" started to bore him, so in the 1960s, he turned to horror films. "That wonderful time with Edgar Wallace was a escape from the Heimatfilm era for me," he described it. From then on, he starred in horror films like "The Dead Eyes of London" and, in 2007, in the parody "Neues vom Wixxer," a nod to "The Sinister Monk."
Besides acting, Fuchsberger became a popular entertainer with shows like "Don't Get Nervous" and "Auf los geht's los." However, not everyone appreciated his laid-back manner and cheeky remarks. And a 1983 appearance in his nightgown caused quite a commotion. He was simply fulfilling a bet he had lost on the show "Wetten, dass...?" Some in the audience found it embarrassing. And there was more and more criticism. In 1986, he had to give up his live rate show "Auf los geht's los" on ARD due to declining ratings. Fuchsberger left and disappeared for a while to his chosen home of Australia. But he remained present in German television with TV reports from Down Under, which he produced with his son Thomas, a composer and musician.
Their final years together, Fuchsberger and his wife spent in Grünwald. However, in 2010, they suffered a devastating blow. Their only son, Thommy, passed away. A wound that would never heal. "At our age, it's a brutal end to the joy of life we still had," Fuchsberger explained shortly after. "We've lost the most precious thing - our only son."
Six Decades of True Love
The couple was left alone, bound by deep love and tenderly caring for each other. For nearly sixty years, they were married, without any scandals, with a progressive division of roles. "My main task in our marriage: I've been cooking almost every day since we got married, except when I was filming," Fuchsberger once revealed. "My wife is much better with money, she handles the finances." He often affectionately referred to Gundula as his "government."
They were unable to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary on December 2, 2014 - Fuchsberger passed away approximately three months earlier, just as he had once wished: "When one of us gives up the ghost, I hope it's me."
The media widely covered Joachim Fuchsberger's passing, commemorating his significant contributions to German television and entertainment. In various news outlets, his legacy as a versatile actor, TV host, and entertainer was highlighted, with many paying tribute to his impact on Italian cinema as well.
During the tributes, the media also highlighted Fuchsberger's resistance against the Nazi regime during his teenage years, emphasizing his rebellious nature that contrasted with the obedience and conformity expected of students in that era.
