Rainer Holbe was a significant figure in German media, known for his early work in private television, talk shows, and paranormal programs.

He returned to Frankfurt permanently in 2003 and was also an author of science fiction and family life books, with his novel 'Niemand stirbt für immer' published in 1997.

Later in his career, Holbe shifted focus to topics related to family and personal life, publishing works like 'Wir neuen Großväter – Der schönste Job der Welt'.

Holbe, born in 1940 in Komotau, passed away at the age of 85 in Frankfurt on August 15, 2025, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering television presenter and journalist.

His career in the 1990s was marred by controversy when a paranormal show associated with him was accused of antisemitism, though he claimed he only quoted ghost stories.

Holbe was connected to notable media figures such as Karl Gerold, Hubert Burda, Helmut Markwort, and Frank Elstner, and had a brief stint with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in the 1980s.

He was a prominent figure in German television during the 1970s and 1980s, especially as the host of ZDF's 'Starparade' from 1968 to 1980, which featured international stars like Abba, Neil Diamond, and Frank Sinatra.

'Starparade' was one of ZDF's highest-rated shows, broadcast in black and white, with James Last's orchestra participating in nearly all episodes.

Holbe's career spanned various media, including early work in student journalism, radio, and significant television roles, notably in the 1970s.

He received the Grimme-Preis for his RTL talk show 'Die Woche' and was among the first to report live from Berlin during the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Holbe hosted paranormal-themed programs like 'Unglaubliche Geschichten' and 'Phantastische Phänomene', exploring supernatural phenomena with scientific explanations, and authored books promoting harmony with nature and consciousness.

In the 1980s, Holbe was a pioneer in private television in Germany, working with RTL and helping to launch breakfast television in 1987, shaping the country's TV landscape.