Heinz Hoenig: New life for Robert Verhoven in Forbidden Love

Heinz Hoenig: New life for Robert Verhoven in Forbidden Love

When it comes to German actors, Heinz Hoenig is one of the most remarkable of his generation. With over 140 film and television productions, he has secured a permanent place in the German entertainment landscape. His big breakthrough came in 1981 with the role of radio mate Hinrich in the legendary war drama “Das Boot”. Schlager.de reports that Hoenig not only impresses with his acting skills, but also with his diverse roles over the years. From working with Dieter Wedel to appearing in “The King of St. Pauli” to his leading role in the ARD telenovela “Verbotene Liebe”, he has proven himself to be a true professional.

In the telenovela, in which he appeared from November 2020 to January 2021, Hoenig portrayed the patriarch and fashion czar Robert Verhoven. What was surprising for him was that he had never immersed himself in the world of “Forbidden Love” before his role and only became aware of the huge number of over 4,500 episodes. His fascination with describing episodes led him to become a “gamer,” as he puts it himself. FILM.TV's podcast "FUFIS" offers interesting insights into his experiences during filming, and the host even noted that Hoenig could pass as a voice double for Dieter Bohlen.

“Forbidden Love – Next Generation”

But that's not all, because Hoenig is also active in the sequel to the legendary telenovela. In “Forbidden Love – Next Generation” he will once again take on the role of Robert Verhoven and will give the audience an insight into the exciting world of fashion. Loud TV feature film The character Verhoven runs an international fashion company with an iron hand. His eldest son, Alexander, played by Frederik Götz, is deputy CEO and becomes entangled in a romantic relationship with a single fashion management student, Josefin. This leads to an exciting web of secrets and complications as the youngest child, Paul, looks for his own path and finds happiness in life in a “forbidden love”. The new episodes can be seen weekly in 45-minute episodes on TVNOW.

A look into Hoenig's life

Heinz Hoenig was born in Harlingerode am Harz and had a colorful professional career before he began his career in acting. He initially trained as a metalworker, worked as a silversmith, carpenter and even as a street worker before moving to the USA in 1972 to take acting lessons at John Allen's Theater of All Possibilities. His heart and soul flows into every role he plays, which is also reflected in the numerous awards he has received for his collaboration with director Dieter Wedel, including the Bavarian Television Prize and the Adolf Grimme Prize.

But Hoenig's life wasn't always easy. After serious health setbacks, including a hospital stay in 2024 when he was temporarily in an induced coma, he showed his strength and determination. His family even organized donations to cover medical costs as he did not have health insurance at the time. Despite all this, he remains an integral part of the German cultural scene, and his ambition appears to be unbroken. The actor now lives in Blankenburg (Harz) and remains, it seems, a jack of all trades in the German entertainment world. Wikipedia also provides a comprehensive overview of his career.