Former Home And Away star Dieter Brummer – who played heartthrob Shane Parrish in the ’90s – has died age 45.
Family friend Steve Comey confirmed the sad news on Facebook after the actor was found dead in Glenhaven, in Sydney’s north-west, on Saturday afternoon.
“Heartbreaking news,” he wrote.
“We have lost a free spirit. Vale Dieter Brummer. Way too young. Way too soon. My sincerest, deepest condolences to his beautiful sister Karlene and all of Dieters family & friends. Keep flying young fella.”
NSW Police also confirmed the news to news.com.au.
“About 1.30pm (Saturday 24 July 2021), officers from The Hills Police Area Command responded to reports of a concern for welfare at a home on Glenhaven Road, Glenhaven.
“The body of a man was located inside the home. His death is not believed to be suspicious. A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.”
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Friends and fans were quick to take to social media to share their condolences and pay tribute to Brummer.
On Twitter, author Nigel Giles wrote: “Vale Dieter Brummer, best known as Shane Parrish on Home and Away.”
Peter Ford added: “Very sad to hear of the death of former TV heart-throb & Logie winner Dieter Brummer at 45 years old.
“Home & 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 & career after can be problematic.”
Very sad to hear of the death of former TV heart-throb & Logie winner Dieter Brummer at 45 years old. Home & Away was a massive hit for him in the 90s. There wereother credits too but when you hit such dizzying heights at a very young age life & career after can be problematic. pic.twitter.com/tz0VlbmbJY
— Peter Ford (@mrpford) July 26, 2021
Brummer starred as the boyfriend of Melissa George’s character, Angel Brooks, on Home And Away from 1992 to 1996, and even nabbed a Silver Logie in both 1995 and 1996 for the role.
Back in 2018, Brummer appeared on Home And Away: Endless Summer, which had been released to celebrate the program’s 30th anniversary.
He claimed that despite being one half of TV’s favourite couples, he and George didn’t get along.
“There was a lot of pressure on us,” George recalled during the special.
“We had to look like the perfect darling couple in public.”
When asked what the two of them were really like off-screen, Brummer indicated their relationship was frosty.
“It wasn’t like anything off-screen,” he said. “It was all on screen.”
In 2014, the former Summer Bay star said he’s “not proud” of starring on Home And Away in a TV Week interview.
“From the clips I’ve seen on YouTube, it’s hard not to cringe,” he told the publication.
“You get typecast. It’s hard for producers or casting agents not to remember. I’m still ‘that bloke from Home And Away’ 20 years later.
“Sometimes you sit back and think, ‘I wonder what it would’ve been like if I didn’t get that job at 15?’”
Brummer went on to star in various TV dramas including the Underbelly: series, Rescue Special Ops, Winners and Losers and Neighbours.
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