Dirk Galuba departs 'Sturm der Liebe' after 21 years

Actor Dirk Galuba is leaving the long-running German telenovela 'Sturm der Liebe' after 21 years. Galuba, 86, has portrayed the central character Werner Saalfeld for 4,658 episodes.

In the series, Saalfeld is moving to Rome with his partner Mona Fischer, handing over the Fürstenhof hotel to successors Adam Saalfeld and Massimo Foghetti. While the departure marks the end of an era, Galuba noted that his exit is not permanent; he is expected to reappear in the upcoming 23rd season, which begins on November 4, to support his family characters.

Galuba stated that the decision to step back was driven by a desire for more personal freedom and time to spend with his wife, Enrica Casalino. He cited the high workload required for a daily series as a primary reason for seeking a change in pace to focus on his private life and other potential engagements.