Willi gentlemen
Entertainer through and through
Willi Herren at the presentation of his food truck in mid-April.
© imago images / STAR-MEDIA
Willi Herren started with “Lindenstrasse”, then conquered Mallorca and increased the entertainment value of every reality TV format.
He was a “Lindenstrasse” primeval rock and a Ballermann-Rampensau, but the best known was Willi Herren (1975-2021) for his personality, with which he gave every reality TV format a little extra spice: passionate, straightforward and guaranteed entertaining . Willi Herren understood that the audience wanted to see something when they were already looking into the tube. And he clearly enjoyed adding an extra dose of emotionality.
Eventually he came from acting. Herren became known as Oliver “Olli” Klatt from “Lindenstrasse”, the ARD series that was discontinued in 2020. Herren had played there regularly from 1992 to 2007 – until the engagement ended because of Herren’s drug problems. “I was kicked out. I was no longer bearable for ‘Lindenstrasse’ because of my cocaine consumption,” said men ruefully in 2012 at “Markus Lanz”. At least RTL viewers had known about his drug problems for a long time at this point: in 2008, he had his withdrawal accompanied by the camera. Entertainment – even on the verge of a nervous breakdown.
A welcome guest in any reality format
From then on, Germany no longer accompanied Olli Klatt, the good-humored petty criminal, but Willi Herren, the good-humored problem entertainer who became the darling of reality TV: jungle camp, “Celebrity Big Brother”, “Summer House of Stars”, “Kampf der Realitystars “- Gentlemen, with his warm entertainer qualities, was always a welcome protagonist in the trash world. He was recently featured in “Celebrities under Palms”, where he last raised his voice against the homophobic statements made by a candidate.
Herren also regularly ensured a good mood on the Ballermann, won three Ballermann awards for his party skills on stage. But the drug problems came back. In 2018, after a dispute with his wife Jasmin Herren (42), he again admitted to a rehab clinic. According to reality TV, the relationship seemed to have survived the crisis: In 2020 the couple took part in the program “Temptation Island” and withstood every attempt at seduction from outside.
Bankruptcy, separation – but he kept grinning
But the Corona year was a particularly difficult one for men: In May of last year, the entertainer had to file for bankruptcy, and around 300 appearances were lost due to the pandemic on Mallorca, it said. In March 2021, Jasmin Herren made the separation from Willi public on Instagram, people in his family are said to have made life difficult for her. Nevertheless, the Cologne tried to get up again. Just last week he presented his new food truck for potato pancakes – as always and despite everything with a big smile on his face.
On April 20, the 45-year-old father of two died in his apartment in Cologne. Only a short time later, Sat.1 announced that the current program “Promis unter Palmen” with men would no longer be broadcast. The fun is over.