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At 15, Harald Juhnke was conscripted into military service during World War II. After the war, he enrolled in drama school. At 24, he made his stage debut in Berlin. Three years later, he landed his first film role in "Three Girls Are Spinning." In 1953, Juhnke married dancer Sybil Werden; they stayed together until 1962 and had two children, son Peer and daughter Barbara, who tragically died at 14 months. Juhnke then took on numerous film roles that solidified his success. In 1972, he married his second wife, Susanne, who bore him a son, Oliver. In 1979, Juhnke achieved his final breakthrough on German television as the host of the show "Music is Trumpf," which he led until 1982. His accomplishments earned him the "Golden Camera" award in 1981. In 1983, he began hosting the popular program "How about Revue today?".
Starting in 1984, unfavorable press about Juhnke's alcoholism and related excesses began to surface, though he continued to excel artistically. In 1992, he celebrated major success with a leading role in the film "Schtonk," portraying journalist Pit Kummer in a story about Adolf Hitler's forged diaries. The film garnered numerous international accolades, including the German Film Prize in Gold and an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Film. That same year, Juhnke received both the German Film Prize and the Bambi award. Throughout the 1990s, media coverage of his personal and health struggles grew increasingly harsh. As his alcohol dependency worsened, public incidents escalated, including an episode around 1996 where he became violent toward a reporter in Berlin.
In 1996, he was honored with the "TeleStar" and another "Golden Camera" for his artistic work. That year, Juhnke also delivered one of his most acclaimed performances in the TV film "The Captain of Köpenick." In January 1997, he made headlines for missing a talk show appearance due to excessive drinking. The following month, he was dismissed from Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) after making thoughtless racist remarks publicly. Critics called for a ban on his television appearances, labeling him "unsustainable." After further alcohol-related incidents, Juhnke sought treatment and stayed in a clinic from 1997 to 2000, temporarily overcoming his addiction. However, after 2000, he relapsed.
Between 2000 and 2001, multiple hospital and spa stays revealed his declining health. On December 11, 2001, his manager Peter Wolf announced that Juhnke would no longer appear in public. In 2003, his wife Susanne, with journalist Beate Wedekind, published her poignant memoirs titled "In good days and in bad days," recounting their life with Harald. By December 2004, it was reported that Juhnke, suffering from dementia, had been hospitalized due to health complications.
Harald Juhnke passed away on April 1, 2005, in Berlin as a result of his illness.
His funeral at the Berlin Memorial Church drew many fans and celebrities. He was laid to rest in an honorary grave at the forest cemetery in Dahlem.
