Dieter Thomas Heck(1937-2018)
- Actor
- Writer
He grew up in Hamburg in middle-class circumstances. After completing middle school and a technical high school, he initially completed a commercial apprenticeship in the automotive industry. At this time he was already taking singing lessons in Hamburg. He started his professional life as a car salesman from 1957 to 1961. Shortly afterwards he found his way into broadcasting through the SWF in Baden-Baden. In Peter Frankenfeld's TV youth show "toi-toi-toi" he was able to attract attention for the first time as singer "Dieter Heck". In 1962 he sang in the preliminary round of the Eurovision de la Chanson, but was defeated by Conny Froboess with "Two Little Italians". From 1964 to 1966 he became a disc jockey for Radio Luxembourg. In 1966 he moved to Europawelle Saar in Saarbrücken and started there with the program "Die Deutsche Schlagerparade", which quickly developed into one of the most popular radio programs.
To avoid confusion with a colleague, he moderated under the double name Dieter "Thomas" Heck. In 1967 he was awarded the "Golden Arrow". Together with Dr. Reimund Hess from Saarländischer Rundfunk founded the "Golden Europe" award for successful German artists. His breakthrough came from January 1969 when he moderated the show "ZDF-Hitparade". In a very short time, this music program became the most successful format on German television, with international stars also appearing as guests. In particular, Heck's quick moderation, in which he read out the people involved in the recording, became unique on German television. In 1970 he received the "Golden Camera" from HÖRZU magazine. In 1973, Heck's TV puzzle game "4 against 4" started. His autobiography with the title: "My life is like the hit parade" was published in 1974.
In October 1976, Dieter Thomas Heck married Ragnhild Möller. Her daughter Saskia Fee Isabel comes from this connection. Heck had two sons, Rolf-Nils and Thomas-Kim, from his first marriage with his wife Edda. From 1978 he hosted the quiz show "The Pyramid". From 1981 onwards, the presentation of "The Day of the German Schlager" followed. The concept included the idea of promoting and honoring German-speaking performers and authors who were awarded the "Golden Tuning Fork". In the following years, the award developed into the most recognized prize of its kind. From 1983 onwards, it was broadcast by ARD under the title "The Golden Tuning Fork". In addition to his television appearances such as in "A Heart for Children", Dieter Thomas Heck repeatedly took on radio tasks, such as the programs "From the Telephone to the Microphone", "Good Mood from Südwest" for Südwestfunk from 1983 onwards or the program "For 13 years" for Bayerischer Rundfunk. Happy weekend".
In 1984, Heck was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit. In December 1984, after 184 recordings, the "ZDF Hit Parade" series ended. In 1985, Heck started the big ZDF show "Melodies for Millions", with which he supports the German Cancer Aid. The TV show "Superhitparade" (a gala evening in aid of German World Hunger Aid) and the program "Showpalast" on ZDF followed every year. He started another quiz show in April 1987 with "Your Stake Please". The program "Black on White" also started in the same year. In 1986, Dieter Thomas Heck acquired the baroque Aubach Castle in Lauf in the Black Forest. Dieter Thomas Heck continued to present "Music is in the Air" and "This is your life" on ZDF until 1997. He also moderated the program "The Big Los" for Aktion Sorgenkind (now Aktion Mensch). Since 1999, Heck has also produced and moderated the "Sommerhitfestival" on ZDF.
Heck produced, among other things, with his production company DITO Multimedia Production-GmbH from the beginning of 1988 to the end of 2000 the "Deutsche Schlagerparade" for the third ARD programs, as well as the "Schlagerparade der Volksmusik", which has been broadcast on the first ARD program since 1996 , the "Golden Tuning Fork" and the "German Schlager Festival". He also appeared several times as an actor. Dieter Thomas Heck was seen, among other things, in the 1970 television film "The Million Game", in "Tatort" (1981) and in the TV series "Café Wernicke" (1981 to 1983) and "Praxis Bülowbogen" (1988). by Günter Pfitzmann. His publications as a singer include albums such as "It's Midnight John" and "My Very Personal Wish Concert - Evergreens". His second autobiographical book entitled: "The sound makes the music" followed in 1987.
In 1999, Heck was honored with the Saarland Order of Merit and in 2000 with the Baden-Württemberg Medal of Merit for his social donations. Privately, Heck has been involved in the Grit-Jordan-Verein e.V., which he founded, since 2000. In 2008, he was awarded the "Echo Special Prize" for outstanding contributions to German-language music. In 2009, Dieter Thomas Heck received the award Bundesverdienstkreuz 1st class of the Federal Republic of Germany. In 2014 and 2017 he was awarded the Hans Rosenthal Honorary Prize and the Golden Camera for his life's work. His last appearance on a TV show was "Our Greatest Hits" in 2016, hosted by Johannes B. Kerner.
Dieter Thomas Heck died on August 23, 2018 at the age of 80 in a Berlin hospital.
To avoid confusion with a colleague, he moderated under the double name Dieter "Thomas" Heck. In 1967 he was awarded the "Golden Arrow". Together with Dr. Reimund Hess from Saarländischer Rundfunk founded the "Golden Europe" award for successful German artists. His breakthrough came from January 1969 when he moderated the show "ZDF-Hitparade". In a very short time, this music program became the most successful format on German television, with international stars also appearing as guests. In particular, Heck's quick moderation, in which he read out the people involved in the recording, became unique on German television. In 1970 he received the "Golden Camera" from HÖRZU magazine. In 1973, Heck's TV puzzle game "4 against 4" started. His autobiography with the title: "My life is like the hit parade" was published in 1974.
In October 1976, Dieter Thomas Heck married Ragnhild Möller. Her daughter Saskia Fee Isabel comes from this connection. Heck had two sons, Rolf-Nils and Thomas-Kim, from his first marriage with his wife Edda. From 1978 he hosted the quiz show "The Pyramid". From 1981 onwards, the presentation of "The Day of the German Schlager" followed. The concept included the idea of promoting and honoring German-speaking performers and authors who were awarded the "Golden Tuning Fork". In the following years, the award developed into the most recognized prize of its kind. From 1983 onwards, it was broadcast by ARD under the title "The Golden Tuning Fork". In addition to his television appearances such as in "A Heart for Children", Dieter Thomas Heck repeatedly took on radio tasks, such as the programs "From the Telephone to the Microphone", "Good Mood from Südwest" for Südwestfunk from 1983 onwards or the program "For 13 years" for Bayerischer Rundfunk. Happy weekend".
In 1984, Heck was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit. In December 1984, after 184 recordings, the "ZDF Hit Parade" series ended. In 1985, Heck started the big ZDF show "Melodies for Millions", with which he supports the German Cancer Aid. The TV show "Superhitparade" (a gala evening in aid of German World Hunger Aid) and the program "Showpalast" on ZDF followed every year. He started another quiz show in April 1987 with "Your Stake Please". The program "Black on White" also started in the same year. In 1986, Dieter Thomas Heck acquired the baroque Aubach Castle in Lauf in the Black Forest. Dieter Thomas Heck continued to present "Music is in the Air" and "This is your life" on ZDF until 1997. He also moderated the program "The Big Los" for Aktion Sorgenkind (now Aktion Mensch). Since 1999, Heck has also produced and moderated the "Sommerhitfestival" on ZDF.
Heck produced, among other things, with his production company DITO Multimedia Production-GmbH from the beginning of 1988 to the end of 2000 the "Deutsche Schlagerparade" for the third ARD programs, as well as the "Schlagerparade der Volksmusik", which has been broadcast on the first ARD program since 1996 , the "Golden Tuning Fork" and the "German Schlager Festival". He also appeared several times as an actor. Dieter Thomas Heck was seen, among other things, in the 1970 television film "The Million Game", in "Tatort" (1981) and in the TV series "Café Wernicke" (1981 to 1983) and "Praxis Bülowbogen" (1988). by Günter Pfitzmann. His publications as a singer include albums such as "It's Midnight John" and "My Very Personal Wish Concert - Evergreens". His second autobiographical book entitled: "The sound makes the music" followed in 1987.
In 1999, Heck was honored with the Saarland Order of Merit and in 2000 with the Baden-Württemberg Medal of Merit for his social donations. Privately, Heck has been involved in the Grit-Jordan-Verein e.V., which he founded, since 2000. In 2008, he was awarded the "Echo Special Prize" for outstanding contributions to German-language music. In 2009, Dieter Thomas Heck received the award Bundesverdienstkreuz 1st class of the Federal Republic of Germany. In 2014 and 2017 he was awarded the Hans Rosenthal Honorary Prize and the Golden Camera for his life's work. His last appearance on a TV show was "Our Greatest Hits" in 2016, hosted by Johannes B. Kerner.
Dieter Thomas Heck died on August 23, 2018 at the age of 80 in a Berlin hospital.
