Rolf Schimpf scandal: Friends excluded from secret funeral!

Rolf Schimpf scandal: Friends excluded from secret funeral!

Rolf Schimpf, the popular TV star and legendary actor, has died at the age of 100 in a nursing home in Bavaria. Known for his role as Chief Inspector Leo Kress in the ZDF series “Der Alte”, Schimpf, who recently suffered from dementia, succumbed to a serious health crisis after a fall three weeks ago. The TV star not only leaves behind his distinctive role, but also a great wave of sadness among his former colleagues and friends. The anonymously planned funeral in particular caused unrest and disappointment, as many of Schimpf's friends and companions were not invited to say goodbye to him.

How oe24.at reports that Schimpf will be buried anonymously. Jutta Kammann, a friend and colleague, views this critically. She describes the secret funeral as a scandal and misses a worthy ceremony for such a deserving artist. Evelyn Opela-Ringelmann, widow of the producer of “Der Alte”, also expressed outrage. She calls for an appropriate celebration with music, flowers and speeches to honor Schimpf's life's work.

Silent mourning among friends

The confusion over the funeral date and the lack of invitations have caused concern among Schimpf's friends and colleagues. “Many who have worked with him for a long time are speechless and don’t know when and where the funeral will take place,” explains Opela-Ringelmann. Jutta Kammann is sad about the planned anonymized farewell and sees this as a lack of respect for Schimpf's decades-long contribution to the television landscape.

The organization of the funeral not only seems opaque, but also gives the impression that Schimpf's close relatives, especially his son Daniel Sigurdsson, are not involved in the preparations. Although Sigurdsson wants to travel to the funeral, he was not involved in the planning, while the actor's family doctor is said to be taking responsibility for it.

Memories of a great actor

Rolf Schimpf, who was born in Berlin on November 14, 1924, can look back on an impressive life's work. After a serious head injury in World War II, he initially began a commercial career before realizing his dream of acting. He played in numerous productions, including “Soko 5113” and “Mensch Bachmann”. With his role in “Der Alte” he became one of the most famous faces on German television.

ZDF has recognized his contribution to television culture in Germany, and program director Nadine Bilke expressed gratitude for his many years of work. Schimpf was active as chief inspector in 222 episodes for over 21 years and shaped the series, which achieved great international success.

Even in his old age, Schimpf was a person full of humor and charm. However, he had become lonely after the death of his wife Ilse in 2015 and the loss of many friends and relatives. This loneliness seemed to place additional strain on him as he lived in the final stages of his life.

With his death, Rolf Schimpf leaves a gap in the German television landscape. The controversy surrounding his funeral reflects the imbalance that often occurs when dealing with iconic figures. How colorful.de reports, many who valued him can now only hope that he will still receive the due respect and recognition that his life and career deserve. Memories of a person who not only shone in the role of inspector, but also remains anchored in the hearts of his fans.

Rolf Schimpf's entire environment mourns the loss of an outstanding actor whose legacy will continue to be anchored in German television history, while the debate about the appropriate way to say goodbye continues.