‘My first true love’: Home and Away actress Kristy Wright reveals she was in a secret relationship with co-star Dieter Brummer ‘for years’ – as she pays heartfelt tribute following his death aged 45
Home and Away star Kristy Wright has revealed she was in a secret relationship with late actor Dieter Brummer ‘for years’ from when she was 17 years old.
On Monday, the heartbroken actress, 43, described Dieter as ‘my first true love’ before detailing the pair’s first date in 1996 – just hours after learning of his tragic death at age 45.
Alongside images of the former couple, Kristy – who played Chloe Richards in the soap from 1995 to 1999 – wrote: ‘I fell in love with him very quickly, and fortunately for me he felt the same way.
Secret love: Home and Away star Kristy Wright has revealed she had a secret romance with late actor Dieter Brummer ‘for years’ from when she was 17 years old. Both pictured
‘We were each others safety blankets and we were best friends. Even after we broke up years later, our friendship never died.’
She said their first date was a picnic on Balmoral beach, gushing that the duo spent ‘almost 10 hours discussing everything from the cosmos to our childhoods and our hopes and dreams’.
‘Anyone who knows Dieter knows how much he enjoyed discussion and debating ideas,’ she continued. ‘I was a young girl from the burbs and he was Australia’s heart-throb… but he was so normal! So down to earth… but still so interesting.’
First love: Alongside images of the pair spending time together, Kristy – who played Chloe Richards on the soap from 1995 to 1999 – wrote: ‘I fell in love with him very quickly and fortunately for me he felt the same way’
Romance: She said their first date was a picnic on Balmoral beach, gushing that the duo spent ‘almost 10 hours discussing everything from the cosmos to our childhoods and our hopes and dreams’
The pair had started dating when he was 19, after he finished his four-year stint as Shane Parrish on the soap.
‘He had just finished Home and Away and I had just started and I’m not sure how we did, it but we managed to keep our relationship out of the eyes of the media. Our young love was able to blossom in private,’ she said.
‘He had high expectations of people because he knew that we as a species were capable of so much more. He didn’t suffer fools and he was a proud member of the grammar police.
Hidden romance: The pair had started dating when he was 19, after he finished his four-year stint as Shane Parrish on the soap
Friends: ‘I’m so grateful that we stayed friends and for over 25 years he has been a constant in my life and someone that I could call at any hour. Pictured: Kristy in 2019
‘He loved words. Loved knowing an obscure word that no one else knew. His favourite topic was existentialism. He was deep. Much deeper than most people know.’
She continued: ‘I’m so grateful that we stayed friends and for over 25 years he has been a constant in my life and someone that I could call at any hour.
‘We were that for each other. The world has lost a gift this weekend. A luminous, unique, complex man. A man who deserved more.’
She signed off by saying: ‘I love you, Deet. My deepest condolences go out to your beautiful family. They adored you more than anything in this world and my heart is breaking knowing how much pain they are in right now.
Tribute: ‘He loved words. Loved knowing an obscure word that no one else knew. His favourite topic was existentialism. He was deep. Much deeper than most people know,’ she added
Heartbroken: ‘We were that for each other. The world has lost a gift this weekend. A luminous, unique, complex man. A man who deserved more,’ she added
‘Soar high on Angel’s wings. Watch over us. And see you when we get there.’
Earlier in the day, Kristy had shared a black-and-white image of the pair together which she poignantly captioned: ‘I don’t have any words right now but my heart is screaming and I am numb.
‘Rest In Peace my darling Dieter, my first true love.’
The two-time Logie winner was found dead at a home in Glenhaven, in Sydney’s north-west, on Saturday afternoon, NSW Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia.
His death is not being treated as suspicious and is suspected to be a suicide, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.
Brummer starred on Home and Away from 1992 to 1996, and later had roles in hospital drama Medivac and crime series Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities.
Following the news of his passing, Brummer’s family released a statement saying their world would ‘never be the same’.
‘On behalf of my family, We post this today with a heavy heart,’ the Facebook post began. ‘We lost our handsome, talented, funny, complicated and beloved Dieter on Saturday morning.
Passing: The two-time Logie winner was found dead at a home in Glenhaven, in Sydney’s north-west, on Saturday afternoon, NSW Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia
‘He has left a massive hole in our lives and our world will never be the same. Our thoughts go out to all of you who knew him, loved him, or worked with him over the years.
‘We appreciate you respecting our privacy at this terrible time.’
Friends and fans of Dieter posted to social media sharing their condolences, with the actor’s former co-star Emily Symons, 51, who played Marilyn Chambers on Home and Away, sharing her grief on Instagram.
‘I can’t believe this absolutely tragic news,’ she wrote alongside a photo of the pair together.
‘Dieter was such a lovely, kind, genuine person. I always enjoyed working with him. I will never forget his beautiful smile, he was a much loved member of our Home and Away family. Thinking of his loved ones at this difficult time’.
Tribute: Friends and fans of Dieter posted to social media sharing their condolences, with the actor’s former co-star Emily Symons, 51, who played Marilyn Chambers on Home and Away, sharing her grief on Instagram
Heartbroken: Home and Away actress Debra Lawrance, 64, who played Pippa Ross, wrote on Instagram: ‘Vale our beautiful Dieter Brummer. Such desperately sad news’
‘Please reach out’: Lynne McGranger, who plays Irene Roberts on the soap, Tweeted: ‘So very sad. Please reach out. Ask if people are doing okay. And tell someone if YOU’RE not okay! Yell over the fence, call, message, Facebook, whatever it takes’
Lynne McGranger, who plays Irene Roberts on the soap, Tweeted: ‘So very sad. Please reach out. Ask if people are doing okay. And tell someone if YOU’RE not okay! Yell over the fence, call, message, Facebook, whatever it takes.
‘I’m no expert but surely sharing your fears, anxieties, dark thoughts must help lessen their impact. God bless DB fly high’.
Ray Meagher, who plays Alf Stewart, added: ‘Dieter was a wonderful fresh faced good looking uncomplicated young bloke when he was on H&A over 25 years ago.
‘It’s very sad to hear of his passing at such a young age. Our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time.’
Fellow Home and Away star and family friend Steve Comey, who played Scott Smith, wrote: ‘Heartbreaking news. We have lost a free spirit. Vale Dieter Brummer. Way too young. Way too soon.
‘Take care, mate’: Tristan Bancks, who played Tug O’Neale on Home and Away, shared a series of throwback images of the pair together in 1996. He wrote in his caption on Instagram: ‘To friends of his and family, I feel deeply for you right now’
Tragedy: Reporter Peter Ford Tweeted: ‘Home and Away was a massive hit for him in the 90s. There were other credits too but when you hit such dizzying heights at a very young age life and career after can be problematic’
‘My sincerest, deepest condolences to his beautiful sister Karlene and all of Dieter’s family and friends. Keep flying young fella.’
Home and Away actress Debra Lawrance, 64, who played Pippa Ross, wrote on Instagram: ‘Vale our beautiful Dieter Brummer. Such desperately sad news.
‘Dieter was a golden presence in Home and Away, much loved and very much part of the family. My heart goes out to his family and friends during this painfully difficult time.’
Reporter Peter Ford Tweeted: ‘Very sad to hear of the death of former TV heart-throb and Logie winner Dieter Brummer at 45 years old.
‘Home and Away was a massive hit for him in the 90s. There were other credits too but when you hit such dizzying heights at a very young age life and career after can be problematic.’
According to a report by The Daily Telegraph in November, Brummer started up a window washing business after turning his back on acting.
‘People say that I’m just a window cleaner, in reality it’s substantially more involved than that. Working at heights it’s a relatively specialist trade,’ he told TV Tonight in April 2010.
Brummer said he was able to employ his rock climbing skills in his new profession, and was appreciative of the ‘life experience’ it had given him.
Résumé: Brummer’s other acting credits included Winners & Losers, Neighbours, Underbelly: The Golden Mile and short-lived soap Crash Palace. Pictured here in 2010
‘I just wanted to get a bit of real life experience under my belt, but I’d always intended on coming back to the acting game at some point,’ he added.
Brummer, who joined Home and Away aged 15, was most famous for his storyline with co-star Melissa George, who played his on-screen wife Angel Brooks.
While their characters looked like the perfect couple on the show, their relationship behind the scenes was strained.
Brummer said in 2018. ‘It wasn’t like anything off screen. It was all on screen.’
After leaving Home and Away, George went on to find Hollywood success in films like The Amityville Horror and TV shows Grey’s Anatomy and The Good Wife.
Brummer appeared in a total of 557 episodes of Home and Away, winning Most Popular Actor at the Logie Awards in 1995 and 1996.
His character was eventually written off the soap when Shane died from septicaemia (blood poisoning) in 1996 after stepping on a rusty nail.
In a statement released on Monday, a spokesperson for Channel Seven said: ‘Home and Away and Channel Seven are deeply saddened to hear of Dieter Brummer’s passing.
‘Dieter was a much-loved Home and Away cast member and celebrated by Australian and international audiences for his award-winning portrayal of Shane Parrish.
‘We send our sincere condolences to Dieter’s family and friends during this very difficult time.’
For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14.
Success: Brummer appeared in a total of 557 episodes of Home and Away, winning Most Popular Actor at the Logie Awards in 1995 and 1996
Source: Read Full Article