By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-10-22 07:03:47 | Updated at 2024-10-22 09:37:37
3 hours ago
A Russian man who gained fame as a Leonardo DiCaprio impersonator and saw his career slump due to weight gain has been forced to enlist to fight on the front lines as a soldier in Ukraine.
Roman Burtsev, 41, a Moscow-based former programmer, unexpectedly gained online fame due to his striking resemblance to Hollywood star DiCaprio, particularly his piercing blue eyes.
In 2016, the then 33-year-old Burtsev registered on a dating site hoping to find love and start a family, but he unexpectedly attracted the attention of many advertising agencies interested in capitalising on his “modelling talent”.
After he saw his dating profile picture go viral on social media, Burtsev was shocked to find people discussing how much he resembled Leonardo DiCaprio.
Eight years younger than the film star and more than 100 pounds heavier, he was dubbed the “Russian fat version of Leonardo DiCaprio,” and his photos were featured in tabloids across Europe and America.
Burtsev embraced the opportunity and began receiving many offers for photoshoots and other commercial activities.
In one notable imitation, he recreated classic scenes from The Revenant, which won DiCaprio an Oscar, by venturing into the snowy wilderness to mimic the actor’s intense performance.
