Comedian Otto Waalkes honored with a Lifetime Achievement TV Award for his career contributions
In a grand TV gala held in Cologne on September 10, 2025, comedian Otto Waalkes was awarded the German Television Award for his lifetime achievement. The event, broadcast by ZDF, marked the first time the award was sponsored by Apple TV+.
Waalkes, a 77-year-old entertainer, has been entertaining generations since the 1970s with his humour. Known for his versatility in comedy, music, acting, directing, voice acting, and art, Waalkes was honoured for his significant influence on humor and comedy in Germany.
Arnim Butzen, TV chief of Deutsche Telekom and chairman of the German Television Award 2025, praised Waalkes as a "blessed comedian" and one of the most versatile entertainers in German television history. Butzen presented the award to Waalkes, who expressed his surprise and profound gratitude for the honour.
Waalkes, who has appeared in various productions in recent years, including "LOL - Last One Laughing" on Amazon Prime Video in 2024, jokingly referenced a debate from 2023 where his old TV shows were labeled with warning notices. Despite watching less TV, Waalkes enjoys comedy, documentaries, and sports broadcasts.
The German Television Award is a prestigious event supported by ARD, RTL, Sat.1, ZDF, and Deutsche Telekom, with streaming providers Disney+, Netflix, and Prime Video as partners. The leadership of the award changes annually. This year, the German Television Award was held for the first time by MagentaTV.
Waalkes' TV show, which aired about once a year, became a hit, with the third edition achieving a viewing share of 44%. In "LOL - Last One Laughing", Waalkes was practically worshipped by his younger colleagues. A North German local phenomenon, his TV show became a national event.
The offering of Deutsche Telekom works together with ZDF for the implementation of the German Television Award. The award ceremony was a celebration of Waalkes' lifelong contributions to German television, and his acceptance speech was met with applause and cheers from the audience.
