“Literally. I know that my Heinzi is incredibly strong. But now he is fighting the fight of his life,” said Annika Kärsten-Hoenig to “Bild” (Sunday). “His entire aorta has to be replaced. This is of course associated with a high risk,” she explained. Hoenig is in an artificial coma.
Hoenig starred in the 1980s hit “Das Boot”. He is also known from television series by director Dieter Wedel from the 90s (“The Great Bellheim”, “The Shadow Man”, “The King of St. Pauli”). Most recently he took part in the RTL jungle camp as a candidate.
Appeal for donations to pay for surgery
Hoenig’s management had announced that things were “very critical” for the actor, “as he is in the intensive care unit with an acute heart problem.” The management called Siegelring launched a call for donations to “support Heinz and his family in covering the costs of the upcoming, vital heart operation,” as it said on Instagram. Hoenig has no health insurance.
Annika Kärsten-Hoenig told “Bild”: “Yes, Heinz certainly earned a lot of money in his great career. But an artist has to use these fees to finance everything, including the insurance. But if the orders don’t come through, and at some point the insurance will have to be paid monthly costs more than the small pension that Heinz gets? Well, what do you do hoping to stay healthy.”
In response to a dpa request, management did not provide any further information about the actor’s health on Friday. “Mr Hoenig’s family urgently needs peace and privacy during this challenging time,” it said.
Hoenig was born in Bavaria and grew up in Lower Saxony. Years ago, the actor moved to Blankenburg in the Harz Mountains in Saxony-Anhalt with his wife Annika, who is 34 years his junior. A few years ago he became a father again. The couple has two small children.
