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‘Russian fat Leonardo DiCaprio’ sent to fight at Ukraine front after weight gain spoils likeness to A-lister

‘russian-fat-leonardo-dicaprio’-sent-to-fight-at-ukraine-front-after-weight-gain-spoils-likeness-to-a-lister
‘Russian fat Leonardo DiCaprio’ sent to fight at Ukraine front after weight gain spoils likeness to A-lister

He went from Thinception to The Great Fatsby.

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.

A man in a tuxedo who looks a little bit like Leo DiCaprio.

Roman Burtzev, 41, of Moscow, worked as a Leonardo DiCaprio impersonator before gaining too much weight to cut a believable Leo. Social media/east2west news

A chubby middle aged man in an army uniform with a gun

After gaining weight during the pandemic, Burtzev was drafted to fight in Ukraine. Social media/east2west news

Burtzev on set during a film shoot.

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.

Leo DiCaprio at the Oscars red carpet.

Burtzev’s dating site profile pic went viral after his likeness to the Oscar-winner was discovered. Getty Images

The same lookalike, only heavier.

He worked gigs involving several of DiCaprio’s most famous movies, including “The Revenant” and “Titanic.” Social media/east2west news

Burtzev will reportedly receive a salary of $2,100 a month plus a $21,000 bonus for completing training.

Burtzev will reportedly receive a salary of $2,100 a month plus a $21,000 bonus for completing training. Social media/east2west news

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.

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