Farewell to Helmut Berger, actor and life partner of Luchino Visconti

Mourning in the world of cinema: Helmut Berger has died at the age of 78, the definite actor the most beautiful man in the world and life partner of Luchino Visconti. Austrian origins, star of European cinema in the 60s and 70s, died “peacefully but still unexpectedly” today, May 18, in Salzburg, his hometown. The news was communicated by his agent, and has already made the rounds on the web. Because Helmut Berger was the protagonist of unforgettable films and also the love and professional relationship with Luchino Visconti has remained in history.

Born May 29 in Bad Ischl, he moved to Italy at a very young age where he worked as a model while studying at the University of Perugia. Her life changed definitively in 1964 with the meeting with Luchino Visconti during the filming of the film Vague stars of Ursa… Between them began an intense love story that will last until the director’s death in 1976. A love kept hidden, especially in the early days, given the prejudices against homosexuality. But a rich professional partnership also began between the director and the one who was immediately noticed for his angelic features. Indeed, under the direction of Visconti, Helmut Berger began his film career with Witches. In 1969 he was already in the Olympus of stars: he reached, in fact, success with The fall of the Gods in which he plays Martin von Essenbeck. They follow Ludwig and then other important works: from The garden of the Finzi-Continis with Victor De Sicawinner of an Oscar, a The infamous column with Nelo Rice. She has also worked with Tinto Brass and in The Godfather Part III by Francis Ford Coppola. In 2019, he announced the end of his acting career.

In reality, however, his happiness had ended years ago. With the death of Luchino Visconti in 1976, Helmut Berger began a period of depression and addictions from alcoholism and drugs that put his life at risk. For many he was a «angel-faced devil»; instead he called himself “widowed at 32».