in 1972 he returned to german cabaret stages and subsequently became one of the most productive and successful representatives of literary cabaret in germany, with more than 200 performances every year. in 1985 his wife died, and hüsch wrote his most successful programme ever: "und sie bewegt mich doch"/"and yet she moves me". in 1988 hüsch left mainz and went to cologne, where he met his second wife christiane. in 1996 hüsch contracted lung cancer, caused by his cigarette smoking, but survived. until the end of 2000, he toured with his farewell programme "wir sehen uns wieder" ("we will meet again") in germany, austria and switzerland. in 2001, a stroke ended his plan to play king lear at the staatstheater dresden. complications resulting from the stroke and cancer confined him to his home in windeck near cologne, where he was nursed by christiane. hanns dieter hüsch died 6 months after his 80th birthday.