Peruvian actor Diego Bertie died early this morning at the age 54. According to press reports, the actor fell from the 14th floor of a his department building in the Miraflores residential district in Lima, and was taken to a hospital, where he died shortly after. A popular actor in television and theater, he also had a solid film career, starring in some national and international productions and working with filmmakers such as Francisco Lombardi, Jorge Alí Triana, Paolo Agazzi, and Augusto Tamayo San Román.
Born on November 2, 1967 in Lima, of British and Italian descend, Bertie started his artistic career in a local rock group, followed by his participation in musical theater, and working in soap operas in the late eighties. In 1990, he made his film debut in the post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie Ultra Warrior by Augusto Tamayo San Román and Kevin Tent, followed by the American action movie Full Fathom Five by Carl Franklin.
In 1993, he starred in the role of Alfredo in the Peruvian drama Report on Death / Reportaje a la muerte by Danny Gavidia, which was selected as the South American country candidate for Best Foreign Language Film for the Oscars. Based on a real life event, the film tells the story of a TV reporter and her cameraman who become the focus of a media show when they are caught in the middle of a prison riot.
In 1994, Bertie starred in Francisco Lombardi’s Without Compassion / Sin compasión, which premiered at Cannes Un Certain Regard competition, and was also submitted by Peru as its official Oscar candidate. Based on Dostoyevsky's novel Crime and Punishment, the film follows Ramón, a lonely laws student that lives in a rented room and thinks he has committed the perfect crime, but can't stand the consequences. For his performance as Ramón, Bertie received the Best Actor Award at the Havana Film Festival.
Without Compassion by Francisco Lombardi
Bertie worked with Lombardi again in the 1996 drama Under the Skin / Bajo la piel, which won the Silver Shell Award for Best Director at the San Sebastian Film Festival and the Best Screenplay Award at the Havana Film Festival, and was nominated for Best Ibero-American Film in Spain’s Goya Awards. Also based on Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, the film follows policeman Percy Corso as he investigates the recent murders of several young people. With the help of Marina, a forensic pathologist, and a professor, the police officer must face his fears and put an end to this case.
In 2001, Bertie starred in the period drama The Good Bastard / El bien esquivo by Augusto Tamayo San Román. Set in 1618, the film tells the story of Jerónimo de Ávila, a former Spanish soldier (played by Bertie) who embarks on a quest to prove his heritage. The film was nominated for Best Ibero-American film in Mexico’s Ariel Awards.
Other film credits by Bertie include Todos somos estrellas (1994) by Felipe Degregori; Muerto de amor by Edgardo Guerra (2002); the Bolivian film The Robbery / El atraco (2004) by Paolo Agazzi; The Andes Don't Believe in God / Los Andes no creen en Dios (2007) by Antonio Eguino; This Smells Bad / Esto huele mal (2007) by Jorge Alí Triana; and Crossing a Shadow / Una sombra al frente (2007) by Augusto Tamayo San Román.
