Wolfgang Becker: The “Good Bye, Lenin!” director is dead

The German film world has lost one of its most renowned directors: Wolfgang Becker died unexpectedly on December 12, 2024 after a serious illness. His family reported this to his film production company, X Films, which spread the news of his death. The filmmaker was 70 years old and leaves behind his wife Susanne and daughter Rike.

“Good bye, Wolfgang! You unique friend and companion. We will miss your love, strength and creativity forever,” his long-time companions Stefan Arndt (63), Dani Levy (67) and Tom Tykwer (59) paid tribute to him in a joint statement .

Born in Hemer, Westphalia, in 1954, Becker initially studied German, history and American studies at the Free University of Berlin before moving to the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin. His graduation film “Butterflies” (1987) already won important awards, including the Student Academy Award and the Golden Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival.

Becker celebrated his greatest success in 2003 with the tragicomedy “Good Bye, Lenin!” with Daniel Brühl (46) in the leading role, which attracted over six million viewers to the cinemas. The film about a family during the fall of the Berlin Wall was sold in over 60 countries and received numerous awards, including nine German Film Awards, six European Film Awards and a César and a Goya for the best foreign film.

In 1994, Becker was one of the founding members of the production company X Films Creative Pool, which he founded together with Tom Tykwer, Dani Levy and Stefan Arndt. In addition to his directing work, he was also involved in training young filmmakers and taught at various film schools.

Shortly before his death, Becker was able to finish filming his last film, “The Hero from Friedrichstrasse Station.” The family asks that their privacy be respected.