Dieter Thomas Heck

Dieter Thomas Heck (born Carl-Dieter Heckscher; 29 December 1937 – 23 August 2018) was a German television presenter, singer and actor. He is known as the presenter of the popular TV program ZDF-Hitparade, featuring German Schlager music, from 1969 to 1984, reaching millions of people. As an actor, he starred in the TV play Das Millionenspiel in 1970.

Early life Heck was born in Flensburg, Germany and grew up in Hamburg. In April 1943, when he was five years old, he developed a stutter after being trapped under a staircase after a nighttime British bombing raid during World War II.

Filmography Heck played in several films, including: 1961: Schlagerparade 1961, film 1970: Das Millionenspiel 1984: Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany 1999: Saarländischer Verdienstorden, the Order of Merit of the State of Saarland 2000: Verdienstmedaille of Baden-Württemberg, the Order of Merit of the State of Baden-Württemberg 2001: The Goldene Feder, a special prize for charity work 2012: Deutscher Musikpreis

Literature Peter Lanz: Dieter Thomas Heck – Die Biographie, Edel Books. Hamburg 2011. .