The happiest laugh of the German Schlager has fallen silent forever.
Entertainer legend Tony Marshall died Thursday evening surrounded by his family. 13 days earlier he had celebrated his 85th birthday in a bar in Baden-Baden.
His ex-manager Herbert Nold (82) to BILD: “Tony was very weak, but in good spirits and once again tuned in to his hits for us. There was still sparkle in his voice. Finally, Tony sang ‘My Way’. It sounded like a goodbye to me.”
Tony Marshall (right) on his 66th birthday with his then manager Herbert Nold
Tony Marshall has known for a long time that his time has come. He had heart problems, a stroke, survived Corona twice and suffered from the nervous disease polyneuropathy. Because of his damaged kidneys, he had to have dialysis three times a week.
I accompanied Tony Marshall as a BILD reporter for 25 years and became his friend in the last part of his life. He often called me while sitting on the bench behind his house, cigar in hand, chatting. His infectious laugh is still ringing in my ears.
Family man: Tony Marshall 1980 with wife Gabriele, baby Stella and sons Pascal and Marc (r.)
My favorite anecdote: Tony used to always have a black pilot case with him. What nobody knew: he was full to the brim with bottles of his favorite Baden red wine. Whenever Tony felt like it, he would treat himself to a glass. Probably one of the reasons why he was always in a party mood. At parties together, he usually held out until the end.
Tony Marshall loved good red wine and enjoyed plenty of it throughout his life
Tony used to say: “Red wine is one of the best gifts for old boys.” And he enjoyed the grape juice into old age, even if he finally only sipped the wine.
Because of his many illnesses, death was also a relief for Tony Marshall.
His ex-manager Nold, who knew him for 54 years, reveals: “Tony often couldn’t sleep at night because he was in so much pain because of his polyneuropathy. They felt, he said, like being pounded non-stop on his legs with stinging nettles.”
I never heard Tony Marshall complain about his ailments. On the contrary. I had the feeling that he would laugh at death, which he said he had cheated on several occasions.
When we last met in Berlin, I asked Tony if he was afraid of the end. Tony laughed and said, “When death comes, it comes. I’ve sent him away a few times. But at some point he will probably take me with him.”
Sad that this day has come.
