Dirk Galuba to leave ‘Sturm der Liebe’ after 21 years

Actor Dirk Galuba has confirmed his departure from the long-running ARD telenovela ‘Sturm der Liebe’ after 21 years. Galuba, 86, has played the character Werner Saalfeld since the series began in 2005.

His final regular appearance is scheduled for October 23. Within the show's storyline, the character will leave the ‘Fürstenhof’ to start a new life in Rome with Mona Fischer. Galuba cited the high workload and intense filming schedule of a daily series as primary reasons for his decision, noting that he wishes to prioritize his personal life and spend more time with loved ones.

Despite leaving the daily production, Galuba does not intend to leave the series entirely. He plans to return for occasional guest appearances as needed by the production.