1. Helmut 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.
Helmut Berger was born in Bad Ischl, Austria, into a family of hoteliers.
Helmut Berger met the film director Luchino Visconti in 1964.
Helmut Berger gained international prominence as Martin von Essenbeck in Visconti's The Damned.
Helmut Berger then performed the title role in the Oscar Wilde adaption Dorian Gray and a leading role in the Oscar-winning Italian drama film The Garden of the Finzi-Continis.
In Visconti's Ludwig, Helmut Berger portrays Ludwig II of Bavaria from his youth to his dissolute final years.
In 1974, Helmut Berger starred with Burt Lancaster in Visconti's Conversation Piece.
On several occasions Helmut Berger mentioned this film as his favorite.
Helmut Berger then played leading roles in such international productions as Ash Wednesday alongside Elizabeth Taylor and Henry Fonda and The Romantic Englishwoman alongside Michael Caine and Glenda Jackson.
Helmut Berger appeared in Tinto Brass's controversial film Salon Kitty with Ingrid Thulin in 1976.
Helmut Berger was, in 1970, alongside his girlfriend Marisa Berenson, the first man photographed for the cover of Vogue.
Exactly one year after Visconti died, Helmut Berger tried to commit suicide but was found in time to be saved.
In 1980 Helmut Berger was cast by Claude Chabrol as Fantomas before he went to the United States to work in television in the role of Peter De Vilbis in nine episodes of the US prime time soap opera Dynasty, which he said he did only for money.
Helmut Berger later said he was "crying on the way to the set but laughing on the way to the bank".
Helmut Berger continued working in the US on various projects, most notably starring in Code Name: Emerald in 1985.
In 1990, Helmut Berger appeared in The Godfather Part III as corrupt banker Frederick Keinszig.
In 1993, Helmut Berger reprised his role as King Ludwig II in the critically acclaimed film Ludwig 1881.
Helmut Berger then returned to acting in bigger production films.
In 2014, Helmut Berger appeared in Saint Laurent as the older Yves Saint Laurent for which he was "celebrated" at the Cannes Film Festival.
On 22 February 2018, the premiere of Albert Serra's play, Liberte, starring Helmut Berger and Ingrid Caven was performed at the Volksbuhne theatre in Berlin.
Helmut Berger was in relationships with his director and mentor Luchino Visconti and actress Marisa Berenson.
Helmut Berger married Italian writer and model Francesca Guidato on 19 November 1994.
Helmut Berger lived for many years in Rome, but returned to Salzburg in the 2000s to take care of his elderly mother.
Helmut Berger had to leave for health reasons after only two days.
In 2010, Helmut Berger received two Prix Lumieres at the Lumiere Film Festival in Lyon and the "golden key" of the city.
Except for Helmut Berger, there are no interesting women today.