Dieter Thomas Heck(bornCarl-Dieter Heckscher;29 December 1937 – 23 August 2018) was a German television presenter, singer and actor. He is known as the presenter of the popular TV programZDF-Hitparade,featuring GermanSchlager music,from 1969 to 1984, reaching millions of people. As an actor, he starred in the TV playDas Millionenspielin 1970.
Dieter Thomas Heck | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Carl-Dieter Heckscher 29 December 1937 |
| Died | 23 August 2018(aged 80) Berlin, Germany |
| Occupation(s) | Television presenter, singer and actor |
| Years active | 1959–2018 |
Early life
editHeck was born inFlensburg,Germany and grew up inHamburg.In April 1943, when he was five years old, he developed astutterafter being trapped under a staircase after a nighttime Britishbombing raidduringWorld War II.[1][2][3][4]The stutter went away after he received training in classical singing at age 16.[5][6][7]After completing "Mittelschule" (middle school) and a technical "Oberschule" (high school) he was trained as a "Technischer Kaufmann" (technical salesman) byBorgwardin Hamburg and worked afterwards as a salesman. He left the company after four years.[1]
Radio and television career
editIn 1959, Heck appeared onPeter Frankenfeldstalent showToi – Toi – Toi,singingHippe-di-hipp, mein Mädchen.[6]In 1961, he participated in the preliminary round of the Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson (nowEurovision Song Contest). After employment as a car salesman, Heck worked for a record company. He visited the radio stationSüdwestfunk(SWF) in Baden-Baden on 23 November 1963 and was asked to be interviewed because a scheduled guest did not show up. The moderator asked clumsy questions so Heck took over conducting the interview himself. As a result, Herbert Falk offered him the job of hosting a 90-minute "Sendung" (broadcast) every Saturday.[6]Heck then worked forRadio Luxemburgfrom 1965 to September 1966. It was customary there to use only a first name, and as "Dieter" was already taken, Heck asked readers of the youth magazineBravofor an alternative name. The readers chose "Thomas", and he has used it since.[5][7]He collaborated withFrank Elstnerand they became friends.[2]
He then worked forSR 1 Europawelleof theSaarländischer Rundfunk.He concentrated on GermanSchlager music,a topic not favored by other moderators.[8]His seriesDie Deutsche Schlagerparadewas so successful that it was partly recorded. In 1967, he was a co-founder of the awardGoldene Europafor German singers, which was first awarded in 1968.[2]
Heck's breakthrough came withZDF-Hitparade,a TV series for theZDFinMainz,based on the model of the Schlagerparade and staged by Truck Branss.[8][5][9]It was considered an influential music feature of the 1970s and 1980s.[2][10]He presented it 183 times between 1969 and 1984.[11][10]He showcased international performers, but they had to sing in German, including the LibaneseRicky Shayne,the GreekCosta Cordalis,Bata Illic,Mireille Mathieu,Mouth & McNeal,Karel Gott,Michael HolmandMarianne Rosenberg.[1]
Heck initiated the awardGoldene Stimmgabel.From 1982 to 1989, he was also moderator for the Südwestfunk in the seriesGute Laune aus SüdwestandVom Telefon zum Mikrofon.For the ZDF, he moderated4 gegen 4(1973),Die Pyramide(1978),Schwarz auf Weiß,Ihr Einsatz bitte – Made in Germany,Das ist ihr Leben(1994),Das große Los,Showpalast,Das Sommer-Hitfestival,Das Silvester-Hitfestivaland finallyMelodien für Millionen(Melodies for Millions), a gala for the benefit of theGerman Cancer Aid.[5]He retired from the ZDF in 2007.[2][10]He said then "It was my life to entertain people. That I succeeded makes me happy." ( "Mein Leben war es, Menschen zu unterhalten. Dass mir dies gelungen ist, macht mich glücklich" ).[10]Heck published his biography in 2011.[8]
As an actor, in 1970 he starred in the role of the presenter in the TV playDas Millionenspiel.[7][10][12]He played supporting roles in TV crime series, such asTatortin 1981,Rosenheim-Cops,Praxis Bülowbogen,andStuttgart Homicidein 2009.[10]
Personal life
edit
Heck married in 1962 and again in 1976. He had two sons and one daughter.[3]He died on 23 August 2018 in Berlin and he was buried at theStahnsdorf South-Western Cemetery.[10][13][14]
Filmography
editHeck played in several films, including:[15]
- 1961:Schlagerparade 1961,film
- 1970:Das Millionenspiel[16]
- 1971:Glückspilze
- 1971:Hurra bei uns geht´s rund
- 1972:Sternschnuppe
- 1973:Klimbim,TV series
- 1978:Café Wernicke,TV series
- 1981:Tatort–Beweisaufnahme
- 1983:Pankow '95
- 1987:Praxis Bülowbogen,TV series[16]
- 1991:Manta – Der Film
- 1992: Tatort –Stoevers Fall
- 1993:Salto Postale,sitcom
- 1994:HeimatgeschichtenTV series
- 1998:In aller FreundschaftTV series
- 1998:Und vor mir die Sterne
- 2008:Die Rosenheim-Cops[16]
- 2009:Stuttgart Homicide
- 2010:C.I.S. – Chaoten im Sondereinsatz
Radio and television shows
edit- 1966: Die deutsche Schlagerparade[17]
- 1969–1984:ZDF-Hitparade[17]
- 1978–1994:Die Pyramide[16]
- 1981–2007:Goldene Stimmgabel[16]
- 1988–2000:Deutsche Schlagerparade
- 1985–2007:Melodien für Millionen[16]
- 1991–1998: Musik liegt in der Luft[16]
- 1996–2000: Das große Los[16]
- 1994, 1997–1999: Die deutschen Schlagerfestspiele[16]
Awards
edit- 1971:Goldene Kamerain the categoryBeste Sendung für junge Leute(best feature for young people) forZDF-Hitparade[18]
- 1984:Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany[19]
- 1999:Saarländischer Verdienstorden,the Order of Merit of the State ofSaarland
- 2000:Verdienstmedaille of Baden-Württemberg,the Order of Merit of the State ofBaden-Württemberg
- 2001: The Goldene Feder, a special prize for charity work[16]
- 2003:Verdienstorden des Landes Rheinland-Pfalz,the Order of Merit of the State ofRhineland-Palatinate
- 2008:Echo Music Prizefor exceptional merits for music in German[16]
- 2009:Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany[20]
- 2012:Deutscher Musikpreis[13]
- 2017: Goldene Kamera lifetime achievement award[17]
References
edit- ^abcFeddersen, Jan (25 August 2018)."Der Nachkriegsdeutsche / Dieter Thomas Heck personifizierte die" ZDF-Hitparade "und war der Showmann der Wohlstandsjahre. Mit 80 Jahren ist er nun gestorben".TAZ(in German).Retrieved27 August2018.
- ^abcde"Dieter Thomas Heck".filmportal.de.Retrieved7 March2012.
- ^abZylka, Jenni (11 December 2011)."Dieter Thomas Heck" Zigarette und Bierglas, zack. Das war schon heavy "".Der Spiegel(in German). Spiegel Online.Retrieved9 March2012.
- ^Scheuring, Christoph (1995)."Der Parade-Deutsche".Der Spiegel(in German) (8): 78.Retrieved23 April2012.
- ^abcd"Vom Stotterer zum Schnellsprecher"(in German). Nord Bayern. 27 December 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2013.Retrieved11 March2012.
- ^abcHildebrandt, Antje (21 June 2007)."Ötzi konnte schlecht singen".Die Welt(in German). Welt Online.Retrieved10 March2012.
- ^abcThomann, Jörg (25 August 2018)."Zum Tod von Dieter Thomas Heck /er Schnellsprecher".FAZ(in German).Retrieved27 August2018.
- ^abcPreißner, Katja."Dieter Thomas Heck – Die Biografie"(in German). Saarländischer Rundfunk online.de. Archived fromthe originalon 12 February 2013.Retrieved9 March2012.
- ^"Juliane Werding – Wenn Du denkst Du denkst, dann denkst Du nur Du denkst".Half Heart Dude.Retrieved19 April2012.
- ^abcdefg"Fernsehlegende – ZDF-Moderator Dieter Thomas Heck gestorben"(in German).ZDF.25 August 2018.Retrieved27 August2018.
- ^Isert, Jörg (28 December 2007)."Der Dieter, der Thomas, der Heck".Stern(in German).Retrieved25 April2012.
- ^"Das Millionenspiel (1970)"(in German).Internet Movie Database.18 October 1970.Retrieved25 April2012.
- ^ab"DMV trauert um Dieter Thomas Heck".Deutscher Musikverleger-Verband(in German). 27 August 2018.Retrieved27 August2018.
- ^Mister Hitparade Dieter Thomas Heck ist totTagesschau, 24 August 2018
- ^Dieter Thomas HeckatIMDb
- ^abcdefghijkRiedmeier, Glenn (24 August 2018)."Dieter Thomas Heck ist tot".wunschliste.de(in German).Retrieved27 August2018.
- ^abc"Lebenswerk National: Dieter Thomas Heck".Goldene Kamera(in German).Retrieved4 March2017.
- ^Goldene Kamera 1971 – 6. Verleihung(in German) goldenekamera.de
- ^Dieter Thomas Heck erhält Bundesverdienstkreuz(in German) wunschliste.de
- ^Dieter Thomas Heck mit Bundesverdienstkreuz geehrtArchived2018-08-28 at theWayback Machine(in German) Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung, 30 June 2009
Literature
edit- Peter Lanz:Dieter Thomas Heck – Die Biographie,Edel Books. Hamburg 2011.ISBN978-3-8419-0101-9.
External links
edit
- Literature by and about Dieter Thomas Heckin theGerman National Librarycatalogue
- Katja Schwemmers:Dieter Thomas Heck: Manche werden schon einen Joint geraucht haben,Focus24 October 2011(in German)
- Dieter Thomas Heck: Sein Schlager-Königreich,Berliner Kurier18 October 2011(in German)
- Frank Patalong:Stigma Stottern / Wenn eine Wand im Mund steht,Der Spiegel22 October 2011(in German)
- Die berühmtesten Stotterer der Welt[permanent dead link],Rhein-Sieg-Anzeiger(in German)
- Dieter Thomas Heck und seine 40 Jahre ZDF(photos)Die Welt