This famous actor had just a vicious beauty, firmly securing the status of "blonde beast" and "flower of evil." His charm was both magnetic and repulsive. It seemed that he was born to play handsome seducers in the movies. And fate gave him this opportunity, which Helmut Berger did not miss. What was his path to acting fame and recognition? Let's take a closer look at this issue.
Biography Facts
Helmut Berger, whose biography is undoubtedly interesting and remarkable, was born on May 29, 1944 in the small resort town of Bad Ischl, located in Austria. The childhood years of the actor passed in the federal state of Salzburg: there he learned the basics of science at the College of Franciscan Friars. The boy's father was engaged in the hotel business and, logically, Helmut Berger should have continued the family business, but fate decreed otherwise.
From a young age, he dreamed of acting in films. And the mother supported the boy's desire to become an actor.
On the road to glory
After graduating from Salzburg College, young Helmut Berger decides to go to the Austrian capital to study with the local Drama teachersacting schools. So he did, but in Vienna he had to master English in order to get rid of the Austrian accent. However, the young man did not consider this a serious obstacle to becoming a movie star. Then a new round began in Helmut's life, and he sets off to travel around the "Old World", seeing the sights of France, England, Switzerland.
Arriving in Italy
Finally, the young man arrives "in search of a better life" in the Italian city of Perugia.
Here, Helmut Berger is applying to a local university for foreigners to learn Italian. In parallel, the young man earns "his living" by acting in television commercials and posing for local periodicals. Also, Helmut Berger, whose photo has now appeared on the pages of glossy magazines, tries himself as an extra on filming. In 1964, he was invited to play a small role in the film Carousel directed by Roger Vadim.
Fateful meeting
Soon Helmut Berger meets the famous Luchino Visconti. The director was simply struck on the spot by the appearance of a young man. This meeting predetermined the future fate of the novice actor. Visconti begins to bond with the young man, inviting him to parties and giving him luxurious gifts.
Movie roles
Naturally, the young actor began to gain popularity after meeting with the famous director.
Today Helmut's filmographyBerger has more than fifty roles in films, and his debut on the set took place in the film The Witch Burned Alive. The actor from Austria showed a good game in this short story and thus earned the right to be called "the Visconti actor". The director literally idolized his pet. After that, the finest hour of Helmut Berger struck. His popularity became overwhelming. Helmut Berger, whose films began to appear regularly, came under the scrutiny of journalists who compared him with a seductive animal and a blond beast. The viewer was especially impressed by the image of Martin von Essenbeck played by the actor in the film "The Death of the Gods". Hellmuth put on the mask of a molester, a scoundrel and a nightmarish villain for whom nothing is sacred.
Another significant work of Visconti's favorite is the image of King Ludwig II in the film "Ludwig". Here he had to reincarnate as a person with a pure soul, who dreamed of creating a country where everything would be harmonious and beautiful.
At the same time, it should be noted that Helmut Berger is an actor of more than one director. He also starred in such venerable film professionals as: Floristano Vancini, Vittorio De Sica. Helmut Berger held a high standard in the art of acting, so he was recognized as one of the best actors in world-class cinema.
Moral breakdown
Favorite Visconti played his roles brilliantly and filigree, primarily because he felt the support of his director, althoughit was not easy: he was confined to a wheelchair. The death of a strong lover shocked Berger. In 1974, the shooting of the last film in which Luchino and Helmut worked together took place - it was called "Family Portrait in the Interior." The departure of a loved one was a difficult test for the actor - he even tried to commit suicide. The popularity of the actor gradually faded away: he lost the quality of selectivity in roles, he did not care who to play.
I lived harmlessly and paid for it
Don Juan of Aryan appearance, in the past starred in cult directors, began to work in films of the second grade.
He went into all serious trouble: he began to drink a lot of alcohol, spent time in noisy parties, which mainly consisted of representatives of high society. His eccentricity sometimes went beyond all limits. Once, while walking on a cruise ship, he appeared almost completely naked to the guests, which caused the wrath of a we althy tycoon who ordered the society to be rid of such a troublemaker. He began to lead a promiscuous sex life, sharing a bed with celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Romy Schneider, Mick Jagger. The actor regretted that he had more connections with women than with men. He declared to everyone that the rules of morality ceased to exist for him.
This phrase belongs to Berger. In the mid-80s of the last century, the popularity of the actor increased slightly. This was facilitated by the series "Dynasty", released inUSA. In it, Hellmuth played the image of a European macho. In the early 90s, he was entrusted with an episodic role in the famous "Godfather".
However, the viewer did not manage to return the former success.
Private life
Over time, the actor got bored with parties, alcohol and sex. He wanted peace and understanding. In the mid-90s, he had the imprudence to marry actress Francesco Guidato, but he was not happy.
According to the actor, he has a son - the same handsome man and ladies' man, like himself. He has now settled down. He is over sixty years old. The seducer of women has turned into a flabby, elderly man. But Helmut does not lose heart, declaring to everyone that he is quite satisfied with his life. He spends most of his time in Salzburg, but dreams of moving to Rome, where he spent his best years. The mask of a decadent eccentric who boldly declares that he adheres to a non-traditional sexual orientation proved to be suitable for Berger.
