From Romy Schneider to Chancellor: the famous hairdresser Walz is dead

He was “the reigning master hairdresser of Berlin”, a firm favorite. Udo Walz is dead, his life was ready for a movie.

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Udo Walz was not just one Berlin hairdresser, he was a celebrity. He belonged to the social plane. And Walz was a media professional, always in a good mood: “What do you want to know?” He asked reporters when they caught him on his cell phone. Also in the background you could hear the typical noise of the living room: the hairdryer. Women from all over Germany traveled by bus to meet the teacher Kurfürstendamm to do hair.

Then on Friday came the news that not only makes fans and friends in Berlin sad: Udo Walz died at the age of 76. The newspaper “Bild” previously reported the hairdresser’s death, citing her husband. “Udo fell asleep peacefully at noon,” he said Carsten Thamm-Walz therefore. Walz suffered a diabetes shock two weeks ago and was then in a coma. According to the newspaper, it became known at the end of September that Walz was in a wheelchair.

Patricia Riekel, former head of “Bunten”, mourned her “best friend” on Friday. Walz was generous and generous, someone who took his time when people wanted a selfie. As a hairdresser he was a “great craftsman,” said Riekel of the German news agency. He was authentic, didn’t forget little people and took care of older women.

Walz had them all in front of the mirror: Romy Schneider, Marlene Dietrich, Claudia Schiffer, Maria Callas, Julia Roberts, Jodie Foster. It was for the change of Angela Merkels Head of hairdressing. Today, no stand-up comedian makes fun of the Chancellor’s hair.

It was said that, unlike Munich, Berlin did not have the Bussi company. The situation changed in the years following the transfer of the government and in the era of the ruler Mayor Klaus Wowereit changed. Walz was part of it: busy and always available for a chat. Or for the sayings you can embroider on your pillow: “Life is not a dress rehearsal. You only experience everything once.”

Barbara Becker and the head of “Bunte” Riekel were the best witnesses when Walz married his friend Carsten Thamm, 26 years his junior, in 2008. So the hairdresser was a conservative gay man: he thought men couldn’t marry. in the classic sense, but they could only become partners.

If anyone wanted to film the life of the star hairdresser, the story would be this: The son of a worker grows up in Waiblingen in Swabia. After an internship at the age of 14 and a three-year apprenticeship in Stuttgart, he went to St. Moritz in Switzerland. As the darling of the company, he was already famous for his upgrades by the age of 18, according to his life. In 1968 he opened his first salon in Berlin. Like many men, he was fleeing the Bundeswehr there.

Walz describes his career as perfect

In 1974 the entrepreneur expands and subsequently works for designers such as Wolfgang Joop, Jil Sander and Jean Paul GaultierWalz stars in television series and docu-soaps, advertises a diet product, hosts a talk show and publishes books. He once owned eight salons, two of them in Mallorca. The newspapers called him “Berlin Phenomenon” and “Master hairdresser governor”.

The “Swabian Cleverle” (roll over roll) could tell many anecdotes. He wrote two autobiographies at the same time. Walz traveled around the world with photographer FC Gundlach for fashion photos. Many of the hairstyles on Brigitte’s old titles bear her signature.

The beauties of the models of that time were a world apart for Walz: “Just the names! Promises as per Arabian Nights: Gloria, Bambi, Beschka, Gitta, Grit, Püppi, Candy, Micky or Dovima, not to forget the original German names , even more beautiful, in my opinion: Wilhelmina, Hildegard, Ingeborg. One woman more distinctive than the other “.

In 1970 a lady came to her salon in Berlin and had her dark hair dyed blond, even though her Walz advised against it. “Only later did I find out who I was in front of: Ulrike Meinhof. She was shown with dark hair on the wanted posters.”

Two actresses particularly impressed Walz: Inge Meysel and Romy Schneider. He once surprised Meysel on his 70th birthday in Capri. He liked her creed: “Go away! Live!” Romy Schneider used to come to his shop often while filming his latest film, especially on Saturdays, Walz said. “He appreciated being at peace and knowing there would be no photographers at the door.” A traditional quote from a tailor: “Blow it dry, Mr. Walz!”

Walz did not regret his career: “Everything is perfect. It should all be like this if I had a wish.” He didn’t like small talk: “Nobody talks to me. People know that I don’t speak and that I don’t care about Frau Maier’s poodle or what he takes for lunch.” He instructed his employees not to ask customers where they come from or what they do for a living: “It’s not allowed.” If so, the clientele should initiate the conversation.

Walz didn’t like to grumble. “I rest in myself,” he once said years ago. “I have a good life. I have a nice house, I have two dogs, I have a very good partner.” Not only will gossip journalists be missing in Berlin. (br / dpa)