Fritz Wepper's Holiday Spirit Persists Amidst Struggles
In a recent interview from his hospital bed, Fritz Wepper shared some positive news. The iconic actor, who had once battled sepsis, reported feeling "better under the circumstances," although he admitted to a sudden relapse. The illness, he noted, had appeared seemingly out of the blue, as he was previously in great health.
The emotional blow of losing his brother Elmar at the end of October undeniably affected him. The sudden finality of death, Wepper revealed, proved to be the most challenging aspect. Despite his ongoing hospital stay, he was optimistic about spending some of Christmas Eve at home.
A joyous reunion awaits Fritz Wepper with his daughter Sophie and the extended family of his first wife, Angela, who passed away in 2019. On Christmas Day, he would be spending time with his current wife, Susanne Kellermann, and their twelve-year-old daughter, Filippa.
A Partner's Worries and Resilience
Susanne, too, opened up to the press, sharing her experiences supporting her husband during this trying period. She acknowledged that her husband was a true master of coping and adapting, but she confessed that the recent turn of events had pushed him to his limits.
Wepper's health had been initially "very serious." The sheer frequency of near-death encounters and the fear surrounding each one drained her—and Fritz—mentally. Yet, her presence at his bedside brought him renewed strength, offering him an energy boost and rekindling his spirits for the holiday.
A Rollercoaster Journey
Looking back on Fritz Wepper's past year, it has been nothing short of a medical roller coaster. At the beginning of 2021, news broke that he had skin cancer, which had already progressed to metastatic form. Following the removal of a tumor in his abdomen through surgery, Wepper then contracted coronavirus, leading to another lengthy hospitalization.
In Memoriam: Fritz Wepper
Unfortunately, during the final drafting of this article, Fritz Wepper passed away on February 10, 2025, at the age of 82, after enduring a prolonged illness following life-threatening sepsis. Although he would not celebrate Christmas in the company of his beloved family this year, fans and well-wishers everywhere remember him affectionately as an unforgettable talent and kind-hearted soul.
Sources:
[1] Bild (25.12.2023) [2] Bild (07.02.2025) [3] Bild (10.02.2025)
