Björn Andrésen

Swedish actor and musician Björn Andrésen died October 25, 2025, at the age of 70.

Born January 26, 1955, in Stockholm, Andrésen rose to international prominence as a teenager when director Luchino Visconti cast him as Tadzio in the 1971 adaptation of "Death in Venice." Visconti dubbed him "the most beautiful boy in the world," a label that followed Andrésen throughout his life.

Andrésen's early experience of fame was intense and fraught: he later described being taken to a nightclub by Visconti when he was 16 and feeling "like an exotic animal in a cage."

Following the success of "Death in Venice," Andrésen enjoyed brief international celebrity, including pop-star status in Japan. There, his image inspired manga artists, who began drawing blond young men with delicate features known as "bishounen," or "beautiful youth."

Later, Andrésen returned to Sweden to focus on music and acting. He appeared in more than 30 Swedish films and television series. Contemporary audiences may know him best for his memorable appearance in the 2019 folk-horror film "Midsommar," playing an old man who jumps to his death.

Andrésen married Swedish poet Susanna Román in 1983; the marriage ended in 1987. The couple had two children, one of whom died of sudden infant death syndrome at nine months. His later years included candid acknowledgement of depression and alcoholism, often linked to the burden of his early fame.

Andrésen's legacy is a complex one. He left an indelible image in cinema history as a young actor whose beauty and presence became iconic. However, he spoke frankly about the costs of early exploitation and the pressure of a label he did not choose. He later devoted himself to music and theatre and spoke honestly about his personal struggles.

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images)