Overview
- Lukas Koch’s sister, Manuela Friedrich, told Bunte.de in April 2026 that the former VIVA and KiKa presenter died in January 2025 at age 44.
- The family has not shared a cause of death, though several reports note he struggled with depression in recent years.
- Koch began at music channel VIVA in 2000, became a KiKa host from 2002 to 2009, later appeared on 3sat and ZDFkultur, and received a 2012 Grimme Prize nomination.
- Former colleagues offered tributes, including Oliver Pocher’s remembrance, manager Fred Bauer’s praise, and Milka Loff Fernandes’s message about his humor and warmth.
- Coverage notes his gradual retreat from public life, and some outlets included suicide-reporting advisories and helpline information.