Dirk Galuba leaves "Sturm der Liebe" after 21 years – this is how he reacts

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Dirk Galuba leaves "Sturm der Liebe" after 21 years – this is how he reacts.

If you've been tuning into "Sturm der Liebe" for years, you probably know his face as well as your neighbor's: Werner Saalfeld, grumpy, warm-hearted, irreplaceable. Now Dirk Galuba is saying goodbye to the role that has shaped his life for 21 years. The 86-year-old speaks openly about why this step comes at exactly the right time for him.

He is stepping back from the daily filming routine – this is confirmed by both FOCUS online and Bunte. "Werner Saalfeld will not disappear entirely, however," FOCUS online clarifies. So it's not an abrupt cut, but a transition that the actor and the show's creators are shaping together. Reassuring news for fans, and apparently exactly the solution that fits Galuba's age and plans.

What exactly he says, what plans he has, and how the character will continue – you can read that in the original reports. We summarize what has emerged from the two stories so far and explain why 21 years in a daily-produced series is anything but a given.

What's known so far about the departure

Both sources agree on the timeframe: 21 years, more than two decades, Dirk Galuba has been part of the daily filming of "Sturm der Liebe". FOCUS online writes of "21 years" in the "daily filming routine," Bunte of "more than two decades" in the "daily filming schedule." At their core, both reports tell the same story: An era is coming to an end – and the farewell comes with dignity.

According to FOCUS online, one thing is also clear: Werner Saalfeld will not be written out of the series overnight. Exactly what the gentle transition will look like – whether guest appearances, specials, or a changed role – has not been detailed in the available reports. Both magazines emphasize, however, that the exit is being deliberately shaped and is not sudden.

What Galuba says about his decision

Galuba himself has spoken to FOCUS online. He explains there why this farewell "suits him" – a word that reveals a lot: it's not about coercion or exhaustion, but a decision that fits his life. Bunte adds that the 86-year-old also talks about the reasons for his withdrawal in the conversation and reveals what he is "particularly looking forward to in the future."

What concrete plans these are cannot be deduced from the reports so far. The detailed original reports provide more on this – both magazines accompany the farewell with evident appreciation for an actor who gave a role a face for over two decades.

Why 21 years of daily filming is so rare

Few German TV shows are produced daily – and few actors stay in the same role for so long. Anyone who follows "Sturm der Liebe" knows: Galuba was part of the story from the beginning. The fact that he is now shaping the farewell himself and isn't caught off guard by the director speaks to amicable conversations behind the scenes.

For you, that means: you can prepare for a farewell without the character being taken away from you overnight. How exactly this transition is implemented in the script is covered in detail by FOCUS online and Bunte in their in-depth reports – there you'll also find Galuba's words in their original form.

More on Galuba's statement and his plans can be read at FOCUS online and Bunte.