Four years have elapsed since his demise.
Down-to-earth Tale of a Star who Lit Up our Screens: Willi Herren (1975-2021)
A cheerful visage grins from his gravestone: Willi Herren. This charismatic chap captivated TV viewers and sent the party crowd wild as a ballroom singer at Ballermann. His on-stage vibe was always genuine and laden with good energy. Sadly, he left us too soon at 45, on April 20, 2021.
Step by Step into the Spotlight
The small-screen heartthrob from the cult series "Lindenstraße" - where he performed from 1992 to 2007 - took a leap into reality TV during 2004, joining "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!". At the RTL campsite, he declared the end of his acting career. "I've transformed from a character actor to a circus clown," he told "Stern" later in an interview.
2005 saw the rise of his party-singer career. Following brief stints in "Lindenstraße", he graced other reality shows like "Promi Big Brother" (2017) and "Das Sommerhaus der Stars" (entered in 2019 with his then wife Jasmin Herren, 46). Despite the occasional jackal glimpses fans remembered from "Lindenstraße", he was adored as the wild party animal of Ballermann.
(Mis)understood Final Act
Herren's demise in 2021 came as a shock. On April 20, he was discovered lifeless in his Cologne-Mülheim apartment. The next day, he was still seen in "Promis unter Palmen" on Sat.1. The broadcast was halted. The cause of death remained undisclosed for a considerable time. Jasmin Herren shed light on the matter during her 2022 appearance in the same jungle camp, before millions of viewers. Contrary to rumors, drugs were not the culprit. Instead, Valium, a commonly prescribed anxiety reducer, took his life.**
"What's more detestable than all this nonsense is the Valium. Every doctor will prescribe that sh**, and that's what killed Willi," Jasmin Herren declared at the campfire, under the RTL cameras' gaze. Valium can lead to respiratory problems when combined with alcohol.
An Unrealized Love Story
The relationship between Jasmin Herren and Willi ended a few weeks prior to his death, which she announced on Instagram. However, she refuted this claim in the RTL jungle: "We were never separated." Even the trip to the lawyer for divorce was a ploy, she said, to protect herself. "Let's elope - we've always said that," the widow admitted. But the plan never came to fruition.
The boxer's son had two children with his long-term Italian girlfriend Mirella Fazzi. Son Stefano was born in 1994, and daughter Alessia arrived in 2002. The couple split shortly after Alessia's birth. Their chaotic family life was chronicled in "Die Herrens, Willis Wilde Welt", aired by RTLzwei from 2014 to 2016. Here, daughter Alessia gained her first TV experience, and has since ventured into the reality sector, following in her father's footsteps: "Promi Big Brother" (2020), "Das Sommerhaus der Stars" (2024), and a stint in the RTL jungle camp at the start of this year - much like her father, years ago.
Alessia posted a heartfelt Instagram message on Willi Herren's birthday:
After Willi Herren's funeral - which she organized despite stringent COVID regulations - she wrote:
Hopefully, she too will step into the limelight like her father did.
Alessia often shares visits to her father's grave with her two-year-old daughter Anisa-Amalia, who never got to meet her grandfather.
On June 17 - Willi Herren's 50th birthday - many of his famous companions will recall the entertainer. His gravestone bears another image of him, beaming at the adoring crowd, along with a poignant farewell message: "Bye, Ciao, and see you again soon."
- Entertainment Industry's Loss: Despite his departure in 2021, Willi Herren's influence in the entertainment industry continues to resonate, with his daughter Alessia following in his footsteps in reality TV.
- Graveyard Encounters: Alessia frequently pays visits to her father's grave with her two-year-old daughter Anisa-Amalia, who never had the chance to meet her grandfather, Willi Herren.
