Diether Krebs and Hildegard Krekel shared both a television marriage and a real-life romance, t-online – Essen reported.
The pair played Michael and Rita Graf starting in 1973. In the production, they portrayed the son-in-law and daughter of the conservative family patriarch Alfred Tetzlaff, a role handled by Heinz Schubert.
Before television brought them to a multi-million viewer audience, Krebs had focused primarily on theater work. He gathered early acting experience at the Humboldt-Gymnasium in Essen before attending the Folkwangschule in Essen-Werden, followed by engagements in Oberhausen and Bochum.
- Diether Krebs and Hildegard Krekel maintained a romantic relationship prior to and during their early television work together.
- Krekel directly influenced casting decisions by persuading producers to give Krebs his breakout role as Michael Graf.
- Krebs’s career later expanded into popular crime and comedy television before his death in January 2000 at age 52.
The relationship carried direct professional consequences for the actor born in Essen. Krekel convinced the production team to cast Krebs as Michael Graf, according to the Historical Portal of the city of Essen.
The clashes between the conservative father-figure Tetzlaff and his left-leaning son-in-law drove the program’s widespread recognition. Yet Krebs did not remain with the production for long, departing the series in 1974 after disagreements with the WDR.
Subsequent television projects brought him further success, including roles in “SOKO 5113” and the comedy program “Sketchup”. He also gained wide recognition for his recurring persona featuring a distinct pullover with the catchphrase “Ich bin der Martin, ne”.
The personal relationship between Krebs and Krekel did not last permanently. Krebs married Bettina Freifrau von Leoprechting in 1979, with whom he shared two sons.
| Career Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| Breakout Role | Michael Graf in “Ein Herz und eine Seele” (1973) |
| Subsequent Work | “SOKO 5113”, “Sketchup”, and solo comedy performances |
| Final Resting Place | Essen, Germany |
The actor died in January 2000 at the age of 52. His final resting place is located in his birthplace of Essen.
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- Historical Portal of the City of Essen
- t-online – Essen reporting archives
