Real children, not performers.
Stefan Bockelmann, a renowned German soap opera actor, has expressed support for his children's decisions to pursue careers outside of acting. Bockelmann, who plays a handyman in the RTL series "Alles was zählt" since 2021, has a deep understanding of the challenges and instability that come with an acting career.
In an interview with the German Press Agency, Bockelmann shared his relief that his children did not choose acting as a profession. He highlighted the highly competitive nature of the industry, the lack of job security, and the current scarcity of roles and productions. Bockelmann emphasized that acting may appear easy but is not, especially during times when many actors face frustration due to limited opportunities.
Bockelmann's son has chosen to pursue an apprenticeship as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) installer, a decision that Bockelmann approves of, stating that these professions are "needed". His daughter, a trained pharmacist, is leaning towards retail. Bockelmann expressed fascination with trades, reflecting his personal respect for practical work outside the entertainment industry.
Born in Traben-Trarbach and now living in Erkelenz, Bockelmann has a background in a skilled trade himself. He is a trained construction draftsperson, following in the footsteps of his father, a master tiler. This background has given him a profound appreciation for manual professions, which his children have chosen in areas like HVAC and retail/drugstore work.
Bockelmann gained fame in the RTL series "Unter uns" from 2001 to 2017. Despite his success in acting, he acknowledges that it is not a protected profession. He encourages his children to pursue careers that offer stability and are in demand, such as those in the trades.
Stefan Bockelmann, appreciating the challenges and instability of acting, expressed his fascination with trades as his son embarks on an apprenticeship as a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning installer, and his daughter leans towards retail, both being "needed" professions. Having a background in a skilled trade himself, Bockelmann encourages stable career paths outside the entertainment industry, nudging his children towards home-and-garden and lifestyle-related professions, similar to his own background in construction drafting.
