A Russian computer programmer who rose to short-lived fame for his resemblance to actor Leonardo DiCaprio has been sent to fight in Ukraine because he packed on too many pounds and wasn’t working anymore, according to a report in Russian media.
Roman Burtzev, 41, of Moscow, went viral in 2016 after posting his picture on a dating website, when he was branded with the mixed-compliment moniker, “the Russian fat version of Leonardo DiCaprio” due to his likeness to the Oscar-winner — most obviously his piercing blue eyes.
Burtzev on set during a film shoot. Social media/east2west news
Before long it was catch-me-if-you-can for modeling agencies, who courted the then-33-year-old for photoshoots that called for a Leo lookalike, despite being eight years younger — and nearly 100 pounds heavier — than the “Titanic” star.
Burtzev earned a decent living leaning into the resemblance, eventually ditching his programming job to make a go at impersonating the actor full-time.
Then in 2020, COVID-19 struck, and demand for his Leo looks sank faster than an ocean liner striking an iceberg. Before long, Burtzev had unceremoniously departed from his modeling career.
Broke and living in a small apartment with his parents, the former celeb doppelgänger reportedly gained even more weight, he told The Mirror in a 2021 interview.
With his ballooning girth putting an end to the Leo likeness, Burtzev worked a handful of odd jobs before he was drafted to fight in Ukraine.
He was lured in part by a nearly $21,000 bonus for completing training and a salary of around $2,100 per month, according to Russian news outlet Gazeta.
