The most successful Swiss author is 90 years old today. For health reasons, he steps shorter.
Author:
Chantal Mathys
14.04.2025, 16:57
The controversial bestselling author became world famous with theories about extraterrestrials in the early days. Now Erich is withdrawing from Däniken for health reasons. He canceled his lecture tour planned for 2025 – just the moment his first authorized biography was published.
About the first authorized biography of all people, Erich von Däniken has to cancel all of his appearances.
He was “somewhat struck”, says his long-time assistant, manager and companion Ramon Zürcher of the Keystone-Sda news agency.
-75 million books sold
Since the publication of “Memories of the Future” in 1968 Fascinates Erich of Däniken an audience of millions. In almost 50 books, he combines archeology, mythology and science fiction.
Erich von Däniken has supporters around the world, such as here in Baltimore.
Getty Images / Riccardo Savi
His thesis: High cultures such as those of the Mayas or Egyptians were influenced in the construction of their monuments by extraterrestrials. The criticism of science is sharp – but the success of the public gives him right. Over 75 million books are sold, translated into more than 30 languages.
From boarding school to the world star
Erich von Däniken grew up in a strictly Catholic family in Schaffhausen. Even as a student, he questioned religious traditions. As a young hotelier, he published his first book “Memories of the Future” in 1968 and thus hits the nerve of time. The “Spiegel” wrote in 1973 of the “Däniken-Schrisch”, but also of a “world phenomenon”.
In 1995 he moved to Beatenberg in the Bernese Oberland with his wife. In Interlaken, he realized the “Mystery Park”, a theme park around his theories in 2003. But the park has to close again after two and a half years due to financial difficulties.
So far, Erich von Däniken has not seen any UFO himself. He was eagerly waiting for this moment, he said once. He still does it today.
