As of: March 25, 2024, 4:37 p.m
By: Felicitas Bogner
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In 2006 Wepper filmed with Otti Fischer (right) for “The Bull of Tölz” on Marktstrasse.
© khw/archive
The actor Fritz Wepper also left some traces in Bad Tölz.
He had a connection to the city especially through his leading role in the anti-war film “Die Brücke”.
Bad Tölz - The news of the death of the famous actor Fritz Wepper also causes consternation in the district.
Through his role as “Albert Mutz” in the anti-war film “Die Brücke” – the novel was written by the former Tölzer-Kurier editorial director Gregor Dorfmeister (†) – he had a strong connection to Tölz.
Fritz Wepper died after a long illness - many memories in the Tölzer Land
Gregor Dorfmeister's son Frank met the TV star twice.
“Of course, 'The Bridge' shaped my youth.
But I was still a small child when we filmed in 1959.” Frank Dorfmeister Wepper only met personally at his father’s funeral in 2018. “He came with a funeral wreath.
I give him credit for that.” Dorfmeister remembers that Wepper was already frail at that time.
Fritz Wepper played the main role in the anti-war film “Die Brücke” – based on the novel by Gregor Dorfmeister
“He also seemed stressed at our second meeting at the opening of the Dorfmeister monument in front of the Kurier.” Wepper talked a lot with Dorfmeister about health issues.
But we got along well straight away and had deep conversations.
“At the student film screening of 'Die Brücke' in the Capitol cinema, we passed the balls to each other quite unexpectedly during the subsequent question and answer session.” Both Frank Dorfmeister and the third mayor of Tölz, Christof Botzenhart, say: Wepper was very reserved and modest .
In no way, Botzenhart emphasizes, did he let the big star out.
Fritz Wepper (left) and Andreas Wiedemann unveiled the monument in 2019, pictured on the right: Christof Botzenhart.
Arp/Archive © arp
On the contrary: Frank Dorfmeister has the feeling that there was always a “mutually respectful view of each other” between his father Gregor and Fritz Wepper.
“They often met and exchanged ideas during filming.” Dorfmeister considers it a “great achievement” how Wepper embodied his father’s character in the anti-war film.
“I could easily identify with my father.”
Fritz Wepper: 2019 trip to the war cemetery in Pulawy
During his conversations with Wepper, Botzenhart also felt that “the war issue triggered a personal concern for him and touched him very much.”
No wonder: After all, the father of the well-known actor brothers Fritz and Elmar († 2023) Wepper did not return from the First World War.
He was considered missing.
Flo Völler, district representative of the German War Graves Commission, also met Wepper at the memorial inauguration.
“He told me that he wanted to visit the war cemetery in Pulawy with his daughter.”
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His father is probably buried there.
“He spoke with all his heart and soul about the topic.” Völler then brokered contacts at the state level of the Volksbund.
“In 2019, Fritz Wepper visited the memorial site with the Volksbund.” Völler experienced him as an “absolutely friendly person”.
“Not only is a great actor lost, but also an important contemporary witness.”
Hans Zacher on the death of Fritz Wepper: “It was a relief for him now”
The former German ice hockey player and coach Hans Zach knew the TV star through the “Royal Fishing Children's Aid”.
“We met through fishing a good ten years ago and got along really well,” says the Tölzer.
They have already been fishing together in Canada, Oman and various places around the world.
“He was a reliable, funny and good guy.” Most recently, Zacher visited the sick Wepper from time to time on his bike rides at his house on Lake Tegernsee.
“He was really happy about that.” In the end, he felt really bad physically, says Zach.
“It was certainly a relief for him now.”
(feb)
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