« In all friendship »: Dr. Heilmann does not think of the pension yet
When Thomas Rühmann is asked about the pension, he fends off in a friendly manner. « I can’t even think that, » says the actor, who is mainly because of his role as Dr. Roland Heilmann is known in the TV durative burner « in all friendship ».
For 27 years, more precisely since the first episode, he has been with the hospital series. An end to the format has not yet been in sight. Rühmann runs his “theater on the edge” on the eastern edge of Germany for just as long. He also makes music. « I just have no opportunity to shorten – and that’s a good feeling, » he says. It is encouraging to be able to grow in old age.
A rühmann can also become an artist
Rühmann was born into a large family with five sisters and a brother in Osterburg in the Altmark (Saxony-Anhalt). He grew up in Magdeburg. When he decided on acting training, his father said at the time: « Sure, one of the Rühmanns can also become an artist, » he says.
Would he also suggest an acting career to his 17-year-old son? « I don’t recommend that, but if he comes with such a thought, I would support him, » says Rühmann. If he hadn’t become an actor himself, he would probably have become a teacher.
I no longer say blue stain, but hematoma. So I learned something.
Thomas Rühmann
But now he looks at his life, especially satisfied. « I was very lucky, » says the actor. That the start of his theater and his commitment as a television doctor Dr. Suffering Heilmann was « a constellation that you couldn’t want better ». One has almost nothing to do with the other – and that is the very best for him.
Rühmann says that he can still remember his first day of shooting in the series. He came to the location, had no chair and just picked up a standing around. « Then a man came up to me and said: Thomas, that’s a mistake now. This is my chair! » The man was director Bernhard Stephan – and to take the director’s chair « an absolute breach of taboo ». « But Bernhard Stephan was not resentful. We then worked great together. »
Everyday life in the famous Sachsenklinik: Dr. Roland Heilmann (Thomas Rühmann) with his colleagues Dr. Kathrin Globisch (Andrea Kathrin Loewig, Mitte) and Dr. Maria Weber (Annett Renneberg). Photo: MDR / Saxonia Media / Rudolf Wernick
Almost nothing learned about medicine
Although he has been seen on TV as a doctor for so long, he has learned almost nothing about medicine over the years. He also rejects that because he finds it measured, says Rühmann. « Actors play relationships between characters, but they don’t play a job. » But he then makes a small restriction: « I no longer say blue stain, but hematoma. So I learned something. »
The fact that Rühmann wastes no thought of retirement is also due to the MDR. Again and again those responsible for the broadcaster have decided to continue « in all friendship ». Almost 1,100 episodes have been shown so far. And at least until August 2027 it continues, as Mitteldeutsche Rundfunk recently announced. For the seasons 29 and 30, a total of 78 new episodes are to be created.
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The actor wants to celebrate his milestone birthday properly – in his theater in Brandenburg, which is very close to the border with Poland. « I just invited all, family, friends, also Saxonia Media and the Central German Child Cancer Research Foundation. So many, many people. We make a wonderful May evening with perhaps open theater. We are sitting on stage with friends of friends. And we call: Rühmann 7.0. »
