BERLIN – Austrian-born actor Helmut Berger, a European film star of the 1960s and 1970s who rose to fame through roles in films directed by Italian director Luchino Visconti, died on Thursday, his agent said. He was 78.
Berger died “peacefully but unexpectedly” early Thursday in his hometown of Salzburg, agent Helmut Werner wrote on his management company’s website.
Berger was born on May 29, 1944 in Bad Ischl, Austria. In 1964 he worked as a film extra in Rome before being discovered by Visconti, who later became his partner and got him his first role in 1966. He played prominent roles in Visconti’s The Damned, Ludwig and Conversation Piece.
Berger’s performances also included appearances in Vittorio De Sica’s The Garden of the Finzi-Continis, Massimo Dallamano’s Dorian Gray, and later in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather III.
After a series of health problems, Berger announced the end of his acting career in November 2019.
Berger’s agent said that he “has lived his life to the fullest of his motto ‘La Dolce Vita’.” He quoted Berger many years ago as saying, “I’ve lived three lives and in four languages!” I regret it not!”
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In this version, the agent’s last name has been corrected to Werner.
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