Sturm der Liebe cast undergoes major changes as Dirk Galuba departs

The ARD telenovela ‘Sturm der Liebe’ is undergoing significant cast changes. Longtime actor Dirk Galuba, who has played Werner Saalfeld since the series began in 2005, will retire from the role. His final appearance is expected around October 23, 2026. Director Stefan Jonas described the departure as a highly emotional moment on set, noting that the entire cast was present for Galuba’s farewell speech.

Several other actors are also leaving the production. Krista Birkner will depart as Sophia Wagner in October, while Orlando Lenzen and Aurel Klug will exit as their characters, Elias Jakobi and Leo Neubach, move to Munich. Anthony Paul is also leaving the series as his character, Kilian Rudloff, concludes his storyline. Following these departures, only Antje Hagen and Sepp Schauer remain from the original cast.

To fill the void, the series is introducing new characters. Manuel Cortez is set to join the ensemble starting in November 2026, playing Fernando Oliveira, a passionate but pressured Michelin-starred chef. Roberto Capasso will also join the cast as Sinan Ceylan, the cousin of Lales, starting in early November.