SWR Radio Voice matthias Holtmann Dies at 70
Stuttgart – Longtime Südwestrundfunk (SWR) presenter Matthias Holtmann has died at the age of 70, the broadcaster confirmed Monday. Holtmann, a familiar voice to listeners across Baden-Württemberg and beyond, passed away after a years-long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
holtmann’s death marks the end of an era for SWR radio, leaving a void for devoted listeners who enjoyed his engaging style across decades of programming. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2009, Holtmann continued working until his retirement in 2015, demonstrating resilience and a deep commitment to his craft. his passing is a loss for the regional media landscape and a reminder of the personal stories behind the voices on the airwaves.
Born in Kamen and raised in Recklinghausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Holtmann began his broadcasting career at Süddeutscher Rundfunk (SDR) in 1979 following music studies. He rose through the ranks, eventually leading music programming at SDR3 and later SWR3 after a merger.
Holtmann’s on-screen presence extended to television, where he hosted popular shows including “So what,” “Extraspät,” and “SWR3 – Ring frei.” He also briefly served as the stadium announcer for VfB Stuttgart during the 1999/2000 season.
In 2005, he transitioned to SWR1 Baden-Württemberg, becoming a mainstay with programs like ”Guten abend, Baden-Württemberg” and “Headphones.” He openly discussed his 2009 Parkinson’s diagnosis, acknowledging the challenges in his biography with the statement, “Parkinson’s is bad luck and a big bummer.”
SWR honored Holtmann as a presenter whose work “was always characterized by an excellent sense of program innovation, a high level of creativity, but above all by the desire for direct contact and exchange with the audience.” The broadcaster added, “He loved radio – and we loved him.”
