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A year without Richard Lugner: The moving documentary tonight!
On August 12, 2025, Vienna-Döbling remembers Richard Lugner, who died a year earlier. The documentary “Goodbye, Mortar!” looks back on his eventful life.
A year without Richard Lugner: The moving documentary tonight!
Richard “Mörtel” Lugner, the Austrian building contractor and entertainer, died on August 12, 2024 at the age of 91 in his villa in Vienna-Döbling. A year after his death, the TV documentary “Adieu, Mörtel! – In memoriam Richard Lugner” will be broadcast on JOYN and ATV today at 8:15 p.m. In this documentary, friends and companions look back on the formative moments of his life and remember his performances, which shaped Austrian social life for decades. According to 5min.at, Lugner was not only known for his construction projects, but also for his influence on local society.
The Viennese native, who was born on October 11, 1932, was celebrated as a “society lion” and gained notoriety through his annual visits to the Vienna Opera Ball and his Lugner City shopping center, which opened in 1990. His life's work, which extends far beyond his business successes, shows his versatility as an entertainer and reality TV actor. The building contractor was married six times and left four children from three marriages. His last wife was Simone Reiländer, whom he married on July 1, 2024, shortly before his sudden death.
An eventful life
Richard Lugner began his career at a Viennese construction company before receiving his master builder's license in 1962 and founding his own company. Over the years he became the market leader in the revitalization of old buildings and had great success with the renovation of important buildings in Vienna, including the Vienna Mosque and the City Temple of the Jewish Community. Since his return to the public eye after a series of health setbacks, including heart valve surgery, he remained active until his death, appearing at various events such as Oktoberfest and the start of the carnival in Lugner City.
Lugner was already struggling with health challenges before his wedding. A cracked lumbar vertebra and heart surgery in July 2024 were just some of the problems he had to deal with. Despite these difficulties, he managed to spend his last months actively with a fitness and health program on Lake Wörthersee, which also included a Franz Xaver Mayr cure.
Farewell and legacy
The funeral service for the popular entrepreneur took place on August 31, 2024 in Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral, followed by his burial near his hometown at the Grinzinger Cemetery. ORF III broadcast the ceremony live and offered a memorial hour for Lugner, who for many was more than just a businessman. His personality and influence on society will not be forgotten. As ORF also reports, his life and his numerous anecdotes will continue to be kept alive in the coming weeks.
Whether in his role as a building contractor or as a charismatic entertainer, Lugner leaves behind a great legacy that will always be remembered by both the entrepreneurs and the people who knew him. His involvement in politics and various appearances on television are evidence of a man who lived life to the fullest. Overall, Richard Lugner was a colorful personality who enriched Vienna for decades and whose influence will be felt long after his death.