Former Home and Away star shares previously unseen images of his former co-star – after his tragic sudden death at the age of 45
Home and Away star Tristan Bancks has shared a moving tribute to his friend and former co-star, Dieter Brummer, after the actor’s death at age 45.
Tristan, 46, who played Tug O’Neale on the iconic soap opera, posted a number of previously unseen throwback photos of himself with the young actor in 1996.
Taken at the peak of Dieter’s fame, the images, shared to Instagram on Monday, show him in Sydney and London, sporting bleached hair.
Loss: Home and Away star Tristan Bancks has shared a moving tribute to his friend and former co-star, Dieter Brummer, after the actor’s death at age 45. Pictured together in the ’90s
In his Instagram caption, Tristan looked back at his close friendship with the late actor.
He wrote: ‘A few pics with an old mate who we lost today. The friends you make when you first leave school are friends for life. Dieter was a fun, playful, deep-thinking guy who made life an adventure.
‘To friends of his and family, I feel deeply for you right now. So many people will have anecdotes to share of fun times with Diet.
‘These pics are mostly from London in ’96 and Sydney a little earlier. Feeling devastated tonight, as are many. Take care, mate.’
Looking back: Tristan, 46, who played Tug O’Neale on the iconic soap, posted a number of previously unseen throwback photos of himself with the young actor in 1996. Tristan, who is now a children’s book author, is pictured recently
Tristan appeared on Home and Away between 1992 and 1994 as Peter ‘Tug’ O’Neale.
He then spent time in London presenting television shows on ITV, BBC and Channel Four, before becoming a successful author, shortlisted for the Children’s Book Award at the Queensland Literary Awards for his book Detention.
Best known for playing Shane Parrish on Home and Away in the 1990s, Dieter 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 suicide, according to a report in The Daily Telegraph.
Memories: Taken at the peak of Dieter’s fame, the images, shared to Instagram on Monday, show him in Sydney and London, sporting bleached hair. Tristan wrote: ‘A few pics with an old mate who we lost today. The friends you make when you first leave school are friends for life’
Tristan went on: ‘Dieter was a fun, playful, deep-thinking guy who made life an adventure’
‘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,’ a police spokesperson said.
‘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.’
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.
Tribute: ‘To friends of his and family, I feel deeply for you right now. So many people will have anecdotes to share of fun times with Diet,’ he added
Salad days: ‘These pics are mostly from London in ’96 and Sydney a little earlier. Feeling devastated tonight, as are many. Take care, mate,’ the actor concluded
His other credits included Winners & Losers, Neighbours, Underbelly: The Golden Mile and short-lived soap Crash Palace.
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.
Friends: Dieter and Tristan are pictured at the premiere of Eraser in London
Loss: Best known for playing Shane Parrish on Home and Away in the 1990s, Dieter was found dead at a home in Glenhaven, in Sydney’s north-west, on Saturday afternoon, NSW Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia. Pictured in 2010
‘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.’
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.
Grief: Following the news of his passing, Brummer’s family released a statement saying their world would ‘never be the same’. Pictured in 2003
Star: 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. Pictured in 1995
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.
‘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 turned 45 in May, was notably involved in a Home and Away storyline with co-star Melissa George, who played his on-screen wife Angel Brooks.
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Iconic: Brummer, who turned 45 in May, was notably involved in a Home and Away storyline with co-star Melissa George, who played his on-screen wife Angel Brooks. Pictured together
