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Björn Andrésen, Iconic Tadzio in ‘Death in Venice,’ Dies at 70

Cast by Luchino Visconti at 15 as Tadzio, he spent decades wrestling with the “most beautiful boy in the world” label.

Overview

  • His death was announced to Dagens Nyheter by filmmaker Kristian Petri, and the cause was not disclosed.
  • Andrésen rose to international fame in Visconti’s 1971 film, where the director publicly dubbed him “the most beautiful boy in the world.”
  • He later described the attention tied to that image as suffocating and traumatic, saying it constrained his work and identity.
  • Beyond screen roles, he pursued music as a pianist and composer and developed a significant following in Japan.
  • His life and legacy were revisited in the 2021 documentary The Most Beautiful Boy in the World, and he is survived by his daughter, Robine.