BERGER COOKED
Austrian art cinema star Helmut Berger has died aged 78. He was best known for his depraved, androgynous characters, and his association with Luchino Visconti, both professionally and as lovers. In Visconti’s The Damned, about a steel family in the early days of Nazi Germany, Berger left his most lasting impression as craven rapist heir Martin von Essenbeck, who unforgettably performs in drag as Marlene Dietrich. Other Visconti films he featured in included historical drama Ludwig, and Conversation Piece, often viewed as an allegory for Berger’s relationship with Visconti.
Berger attempted suicide after Visconti’s 1976 death, and though he rejumped his career with art films across Europe and a stint on Dynasty, he remained mired in alcoholism and never really recaptured his prior momentum. Even as his acting took a backseat to his personal troubles, his influence remained: Madonna cited him as a major influence, and Tarantino gave him a shout out in Jackie Brown. He was picked by Germans theme team Deutschland verabschiedet sich! and unexpected deaths team A Bunch Of Punts.
Helmut Berger
29 May 1944 – 18 May 2023, aged 78
2 TEAMS (💀💀💀💀💀💀💀 7 POINTS)