Helmut Berger

Helmut Berger (German pronunciation: [ˈhɛlmuːt ˈbɛʁɡɐ] (listen); born Helmut Steinberger; 29 May 1944) is an Austrian film and television actor. Berger, who often portrayed narcissistic and sexually ambiguous characters, was one of the best-known stars of the European cinema in the late 1960s and 1970s.

Helmut Berger
Helmut Berger at his home in Rome in 1972
Born
Helmut Steinberger

(1944-05-29) 29 May 1944
Bad Ischl, Austria
CitizenshipAustrian
OccupationActor
Years active1964–2019
Spouse(s)Francesca Guidato (1994–present) (separated)
Partner(s)Luchino Visconti (1964–1976)
Awards
  • Golden Globe (nominated)
  • David di Donatello 1973
  • and others (see article)

Berger is most famous for his work with Luchino Visconti, particularly in his performance as King Ludwig II of Bavaria in Ludwig, for which he received a special David di Donatello award, and his performance in The Damned for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. He appears primarily in European cinema, but has also acted in American productions such as The Godfather Part III as well as a guest appearance on the soap opera, Dynasty.

Early life and education

Berger was born in Bad Ischl, Austria, into a family of hoteliers. After receiving his Matura, Berger initially trained and worked in this field, even though he had no interest in gastronomy or the hospitality industry. At age eighteen, he moved to London, England, where he did odd jobs while taking acting classes.[1] After studying languages at University of Perugia in Italy,[2] Berger moved to Rome, Italy.

Career

Until 1976
Helmut Berger in 1973
Helmut Berger at his home in Rome in 1974

He first met the film director Luchino Visconti in 1964. Visconti gave him his first acting role in the film Le streghe (The Witches, 1967) (in the episode "La Strega Bruciata Viva"), but he gained international prominence as the amoral Martin von Essenbeck in Visconti's The Damned (1969). In that film, in what is perhaps his best-known scene, he pretends to be Marlene Dietrich in the film The Blue Angel (1930). It was followed by the title role in the Oscar Wilde adaption Dorian Gray (1970) and a leading role in the Oscar-winning Italian drama film The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (1970). In Visconti's Ludwig (1972), Berger portrays Ludwig II of Bavaria from his blooming youth to his dissolute final years. Romy Schneider starred alongside him in the film. This performance got him a David di Donatello award and is perhaps his most famous role. In 1974, Berger starred with Burt Lancaster in Visconti's Conversation Piece. The story of Conversation Piece is often considered as an allegory of the personal relationship between Berger and Visconti. On several occasions Berger mentioned this film as his favorite.

In the following he played leading roles in international productions such as Ash Wednesday (1973) alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Henry Fonda. Another film was The Romantic Englishwoman (1975) alongside Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson. He also appeared in Tinto Brass's controversial film, Salon Kitty (film) with Ingrid Thulin in 1976. Well-known photographers including Helmut Newton, Mary Ellen Mark and David Bailey published series of pictures of him. Andy Warhol made polaroids of him and produced serigraphs. Berger was also, in 1970, alongside his then-girlfriend Marisa Berenson, the first man on the cover of Vogue.[3]

After 1976

The death of his partner Luchino Visconti in 1976 plunged him into a personal crisis. Exactly one year after Visconti died, Berger tried to commit suicide but was found in time to be saved.[4] In the following time the abuse of drugs and alcohol shadowed his acting career. In 1980 Berger was cast by Claude Chabrol as Fantômas before he went to America to work in television in the role of Peter De Vilbis in nine episodes (1983–1984) of the American prime time soap opera Dynasty, which he said he did only for money. He would later say he was "crying on the way to the set but laughing on the way to the bank". This was his last appearance in a television series. He continued working in the US on various projects, most notably starring in Code Name: Emerald in 1985. In Europe, he acted the TV-miniseries The Betrothed in 1989.

In 1990, Berger appeared in The Godfather Part III. He later appeared in the music video to Madonna's song "Erotica" in 1992, and also appeared in Madonna's book Sex.[5] In 1993, Berger reprised his role as King Ludwig II. in the critically acclaimed film Ludwig 1881. Throughout the second half of the 1990s, he concentrated mainly on European productions, acting in films directed by Christoph Schlingensief, Yves Boisset and many others.

In 1997, Quentin Tarantino included some archive footage of the film Beast with a Gun in his film Jackie Brown and thanked Berger in the closing credits for his powerful performance.

21st century
Helmut Berger (right) and Alexander Tuschinski on the set of Timeless (2015)

From the early 2000s to 2009, Berger largely withdrew from the acting world, moving to Salzburg to his mother who was in need of care.[6] She died in 2009.[7] Since then, he has acted in bigger film productions again.

2012, Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf Verlag published Helmut Berger – A Life in Pictures, a coffee table book about his life, featuring many previously unreleased photographs of his life and films plus essays in German, English, Italian and French. The book was well received by the press.[8]

In the thriller film Iron Cross (2009) Berger played Shrager, an aging character believed to be an old SS commander responsible for murdering Jews during World War II. In recent years, Berger has starred in two films directed by Peter Kern – Blutsfreundschaft (shown at the 60th Berlin International Film Festival (2010)), and Mörderschwestern (2011). In 2014, Berger appeared in Saint Laurent as old Yves Saint Laurent for which he was "celebrated" at Cannes Film Festival.[9] The short film Art!, in which Berger had a starring role, had its world premiere at Paris Independent Film Festival 2015. Most recently, he stars in the role of "Professor Martin" in the film Timeless by Alexander Tuschinski, due to be released in 2016.

In 2015 Austrian filmmaker Andreas Horvath released a feature-length documentary about Helmut Berger called Helmut Berger, Actor. The film premiered at the Venice Film Festival. In the magazine Artforum American film director John Waters chose Helmut Berger, Actor as the Best Motion Picture of the year 2015.[10] Berger later filled a lawsuit against Horvath.

On February 22, 2018, the premiere of Albert Serra's play, Liberté, starring Helmut Berger and Ingrid Caven was performed at the Volksbühne theater in Berlin. The play is scheduled to be performed throughout 2018. It was the first stage role in Berger's career.[11][12][13] In 2019, another documentary film Helmut Berger, meine Mutter und ich was released, dealing with his personality and an attempted comeback.[14] After suffering several lung infections during the last months, Berger announced his retirement from acting in November 2019 and that he wanted to live his eventide away from the public.[15]

Honours

In 1969, Berger was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role in The Damned, and in 1973, he won a David di Donatello – the Italian equivalent of an Academy Award – for his performance in Ludwig.

In 2007, he received a special Teddy Award at the 57th Berlin International Film Festival (2007) for his overall professional achievements.[16]

In 2010 Berger received two Prix Lumières at the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon and also the "golden key" of the city.

In 2011, he received a Kristián Award, awarded at the Czech film festival Febiofest "for Contributions to World Cinema".[17]

Personal life

Berger is openly bisexual.[18] He was in relationships with his director and mentor Luchino Visconti and actress Marisa Berenson. Berger married Italian writer and model Francesca Guidato on 19 November 1994. They live separately today.[19] Berger lived for many years in Rome, but returned to Salzburg in the 2000s to take care of his elderly mother.[18]

In the late 1960s and 1970s, Berger was seen as the "It Boy of the European Jet set".[20] According to his 1998 autobiography Ich. Die Autobiographie, affairs reportedly included Rudolf Nureyev, Britt Ekland, Ursula Andress, Nathalie Delon, Tab Hunter, Florinda Bolkan, Linda Blair, Marisa Mell, Anita Pallenberg, Marilù Tolo, Jerry Hall, Bianca and Mick Jagger.

Since the 1980s, Berger's private life was also in the news for his struggles with alcohol and sometimes eccentric, controversial television appearances.[21][22][23] In 2013, Berger appeared on Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!, the German version of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. He had to leave for health reasons after only two days.[24]

Reception

Except for Helmut Berger, there are no interesting women today.

— Billy Wilder, referring to Berger's drag performance as Marlene Dietrich's The Blue Angel in The Damned (1969), [25]

Helmut Berger is what I consider a perfect artist – very serious in his craft, intelligent in his thoughts, without any time or patience for "bullshit" or empty phrases that litter many people's everyday lives, conversations and relationships.

— Alexander Tuschinski, article about working with Berger on the film Timeless in 2015.[26]

I think it's androgyny, whether it's David Bowie or Helmut Berger, that has really really influenced my work more than anything.

— Madonna, interviewed by Vince Aletti in 1999.[27]

I think he's wonderful. A man who says what he thinks.

— Nena, interview about filming her music video "Besser geht's nicht".[28]

He's one of those who leave nobody indifferent.

— Spiegel TV, report about Helmut Berger 1997.[29]

Filmography

(director in parentheses; all films except as noted)

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See also

Bibliography
  • Coriando, Paola-Ludovika (March 2006). "La poesia del volto: ritratto di Helmut Berger attore viscontiano". Cineforum. Issue #452.
  • Berger, Helmut, with Heuer, Holde: Ich, Die Autobiographie. Ullstein, Berlin 1998, ISBN 978-3-550-06969-7.
  • Coriando, Paola-Ludovika: Helmut Berger – Ein Leben in Bildern. Schwarzkopf & Schwarzkopf, Berlin 2012, ISBN 978-3-89602-872-3.
  • Berger, Helmut, with Heuer, Holde: Helmut Berger, autoportrait. Seguier, 2015, ISBN 978-2-84049-691-5

References
  1. "Who is Who: Official Website - Biography about Berger (in German)". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  2. "ARD - Mediathek: TV show with Helmut Berger, with biographical information about him studying at University of Perugia". Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  3. "5 favorites: iconic vintage magazine covers". michellephan.com. 10 October 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  4. "Spiegel TV official website: Interview with Helmut Berger from 1997". Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  5. "Corriere delle Serra: Article about Madonna's book (in Italian)". Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  6. "Who Is Who.de - Article from the time when Berger moved to his mother". Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  7. "Welt.de - article about Berger". Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  8. Der Liebling der Götter. Zeit.de, 23 August 2015
  9. "Frankfurter Rundschau: Article about Berger in Cannes (in German)". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
  10. John Waters: Best of 2015: Film https://artforum.com/inprint/issue=201510&id=56221
  11. "Liberté - Programme - Volksbühne Berlin". www.volksbuehne.berlin.
  12. SPIEGEL, Wolfgang Höbel, DER. ""Liberté" an der Volksbühne: Sommernachtssex im dunklen Wald - DER SPIEGEL - Kultur". www.spiegel.de.
  13. Cronk, Jordan. "Filmmaker Albert Serra's Operatic Stage Debut".
  14. "Vom Jetsetter zum Pflegefall". www.tagesspiegel.de.
  15. "Helmut Berger beendet Karriere mit 75 Jahren". www.t-online.de.
  16. Schupp, Karin (17 February 2007). "Teddy Today". Teddy Award. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  17. Staff writer (30 March 2011). "Festival Diary: Wednesday 30th" Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Febiofest. Retrieved 10 April 2011.
  18. "Helmut Berger: "Ich habe alles erlebt"". GALA. 6 November 2012.
  19. "Das merkwürdige Phänomen Helmut Berger". Die Welt. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  21. "Helmut Berger genießt sein Leben ohne Alkohol". 12 March 2018 – via www.welt.de.
  22. "Helmut Berger bepöbelt Gäste in Lanz-Talkshow". www.t-online.de.
  23. "Skandal-Auftritt: Helmut Berger total betrunken bei Gottschalk". 3 April 2010 – via www.welt.de.
  24. SPIEGEL, Peter Hell, DER. "Dschungelcamp: Helmut Berger - Aufstieg und Fall eines Weltstars - DER SPIEGEL - Kultur". www.spiegel.de.
  25. "So kaputt ist der ehemalige Weltstar". Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  26. "Alexander Tuschinski – Article about filming Helmut Berger from August 2015" (PDF). Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  27. Aletti, Vince (12 December 1999). "Ray of light: Madonna and her love affair with the lens" – via www.theguardian.com.
  28. "Abendzeitung München: Article about Nene's new music video, featuring the quote. Original quote in German: "Ich finde ihn herrlich. Der Mann sagt, was er denkt"". Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  29. "Spiegel TV official website. Original quote in German: "Er gehört zu denen die niemanden gleichgültig lassen."". Retrieved 8 August 2015.


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