Wolfgang Hepp says goodbye: The Fallers without Hermann Faller!

Wolfgang Hepp says goodbye: The Fallers without Hermann Faller!

A big farewell is imminent: Wolfgang Hepp, who has played Hermann Faller in the popular SWR series “The Fallers” for a whopping 31 years, is retiring for health reasons. The 84-year-old will celebrate his emotional farewell in episode 1299 entitled “Cooking Duel”, which will be broadcast in April 2026. Hepp, who was born in Singen am Hohentwiel, has captured the hearts of numerous viewers with his role, as tagesschau.de reports.

In his long career, Hepp had engagements at well-known theaters, including the Ulm Theater, the Kassel State Theater and the Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus. Fans were also able to experience him as Detective Wolf in the SWR crime scene. The role of Hermann Faller was written specifically for him in 1994 and the series has been telling the life of a fictional Black Forest farming family since September 1994. SWR director Kai Gniffke acknowledges Hepp's formative contribution to the series and is looking forward to continuing “The Fallers” with a new generation of actors in order to appeal to a younger audience.

An iconic face of the series

Wolfgang Hepp, who was born on January 28, 1941, can look back on an impressive body of work. He has thrilled audiences with his acting presence over the years. The series is filmed not only in the picturesque Black Forest, but also in the SWR studios in Baden-Baden. During his career, Hepp also made guest appearances in renowned series such as “For Heaven's Sake”, “SOKO Vienna” and “A Case for Two”, which made him a familiar face on German television.

It is impressive that the name Wolfgang, which comes from the old German words “wolf” and “gang”, stands for so many great personalities. Saint Wolfgang von Regensburg is just one of the best-known bearers of this traditional name, which is now very popular not only in Germany, but also in Austria and Switzerland. Vivid names such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Wolfgang Becker testify to the cultural depth associated with this name, as wikipedia.org notes.

A look into the past

The stories presented by Wolfgang Hepp are part of a long tradition rooted in German culture. Memories of past concerts and live events can also be found in archives operated by companies like Wolfgang’s. Founded in 2003, this company preserves important concert memorabilia and has the largest vintage magazine inventory in the world. Historical photographs and posters from decades past document an era in which concerts came to life for two dollar tickets and photographers had direct access to artists, as described on wolfgangs.com.

Wolfgang Hepp will undoubtedly leave a big hole in the hearts of viewers when he celebrates his departure. His performance touched the lives of many people, and the Black Forest will be a little poorer not only because of its picturesque landscape, but also because it will lose one of its defining faces.