Helmut Berger

Helmut Berger (born May 29th 1944 as Helmut Steinberger in Bad Ischl, Austria) is an Austrian actor.

Related Topics:
May 29th - 1944 - Bad Ischl - Austria - Actor

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Berger was born into a family of hoteliers. Although he had no interest in gastronomy or the hospitality industry, he initially trained and worked in this area. At the age of 18, he moved to London, where he did odd jobs whilst simultaneously taking acting classes. After studying languages in Perugia, Berger moved to Rome.

Related Topics:
London - Perugia - Rome

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In 1964, he first met Luchino Visconti, whose life partner he later became. Visconti gave him his first acting role in the movie Le Streghe (1967) (in the episode La Strega Bruciata Viva), but he attained international fame playing Martin von Essenbeck in Visconti's The Damned (1969). In this film, in what is perhaps his best known scene, he mimics the role of Lola, as played by Marlene Dietrich in Der blaue Engel. However, the role of Ludwig II of Bavaria in Visconti's Ludwig can be considered the pinnacle of his acting career; he portrays the monarch from his blooming youth to his dissolute final years, in the process revealing a nervous and paranoid lord of decay drawn from his own weaknesses and psychological depths.

Related Topics:
1964 - Luchino Visconti - Le Streghe - 1967 - The Damned - 1969 - Marlene Dietrich - Der blaue Engel - Ludwig II of Bavaria - Ludwig

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Visconti's death in 1976 plunged Berger into a deep personal and financial crisis. Visconti's will, in which Berger was apparently named as heir, could not be found. A former friend and companion of Visconti, the director Franco Zeffirelli, has subsequently castigated Berger publically, accusing him of exploiting his mentor. In addition to a suicide attempt on the first anniversary of Visconti's death, Berger has had alcohol and drug-related problems.

Related Topics:
1976 - Franco Zeffirelli

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As well as appearances in B movies and smaller prestige pictures, Berger consequently also worked in television, notably Dynasty, but since Visconti no director has ever been able to activate Berger's potential again.

Related Topics:
B movies - Dynasty

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Berger, with his dissipated lifestyle and openly acknowledged bisexuality, has always been a welcome guest on talk shows telling for example of erotic adventures with Marisa Berenson, whom he supposedly wished to marry, and Mick Jagger).

Related Topics:
Bisexuality - Talk shows - Marisa Berenson - Mick Jagger

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In 2004, to the great interest of the Austrian media, Berger moved from Rome to Salzburg to live with his mother, but denied runours of financial difficulties, explaining he was merely looking for a new apartment in Rome. He also declared he had sworn off all drugs.

Related Topics:
2004 - Rome - Salzburg

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