He had a rough start in life when the hospital where he was born was bombed.
From that grim beginning, he would eventually gain fame for portraying villains, monsters, and creepy characters — ranging from vampires to Nazis.
Now, the iconic actor Udo Kier has passed away at the age of 81.
He passed away in Palm Springs.
Udo Kier, the German actor whose career spanned over five decades and included more than 275 film roles in both Hollywood and European cinema, has died at 81. His partner, Delbert McBride, confirmed to Variety that Kier passed away on Sunday in a hospital in Palm Springs, California. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
Born Udo Kierspe in Cologne, Germany, in 1944, Kier entered the world under dramatic circumstances — the hospital where he was born was bombed just hours after his birth, necessitating a rescue for him and his mother from the debris.
He grew up in postwar Germany facing difficult conditions, later recalling his childhood as “horrible.”
“My father was already married with three children when I was born, and my mother didn’t know. So we grew up poor. We had no hot water until I was 17,” Udo shared with The Guardian in 2002.
Working with Andy Warhol.
Despite these challenges, Kier found a love for performance early on. He relocated to London to learn English and was discovered in a coffee shop, which marked the beginning of his acting journey.
In a 2024 interview with Variety, he remarked, “I liked the attention, so I became an actor.”
His breakout role was in the 1970 horror classic Mark of the Devil, and he quickly became recognized for his portrayals of villains, monsters, and other darkly unforgettable characters — from vampires to Nazis.
Kier’s journey in the film industry was often influenced by serendipity. He famously found himself seated next to director Paul Morrissey on a flight, which resulted in his roles in Flesh for Frankenstein (1973) and Blood for Dracula (1974), both of which were produced by Andy Warhol.
With his striking looks and captivating presence, Udo appeared to be on the path to becoming the teenage heartthrob of the seventies, had he not primarily featured in mild American films appropriate for audiences under 17.
His partnerships with European filmmakers such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Lars von Trier, and Dario Argento solidified his status as a bold and legendary character actor. He starred in several Fassbinder films, including The Stationmaster’s Wife, Lola, The Third Generation, and Lili Marleen, as well as in von Trier’s works like Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Dogville, Melancholia, and Nymphomaniac: Vol. II. Additionally, Kier served as the godfather to von Trier’s child.
Breakthrough in Hollywood
In Hollywood, Kier became a recognizable figure in both major blockbusters and cult classics. He featured in My Own Private Idaho, which opened the door for collaborations with Madonna in her book Sex and various music videos.
Other significant American films he appeared in include Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Johnny Mnemonic, Armageddon, End of Days, Blade, and more recently, Brawl in Cell Block 99, Dragged Across Concrete, and the 2022 comedy Swan Song, where he portrayed a flamboyant retired hairdresser embarking on one last adventure.
Kier’s career also extended into the realm of video games, where he contributed his voice to iconic titles such as Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and Call of Duty: WWII.
Fans of Red Alert will always remember his iconic performance as Yuri. With his captivating presence and adaptable acting skills, Kier truly brought the character to life, leaving a memorable impact.
Renowned for his intense gaze and compelling screen presence, Kier once remarked about his craft: “I enjoy horror films because if you take on minor or guest roles in movies, it’s more effective to be the villain and frighten people than to be the person who works at the post office and returns home to a family. Audiences will recall you more vividly.”
Looking back on his extensive career, Kier humorously noted:
“Out of 100 movies, 100 are terrible, 50 are enjoyable with a glass of wine, and 50 are actually good.”
Proudly gay throughout his life,
Kier moved to Palm Springs, California, in 1991. According to Variety, the German-born actor resided in a transformed mid-century library and had a passion for art, architecture, and collecting.
“If I weren’t an actor, I would choose to be a gardener,” Udo once expressed.
He was a familiar face at the Palm Springs Film Festival, always eager to meet fans and bask in the applause.
Throughout his life, he was openly gay and once shared his thoughts on his sexuality, stating that it never posed a problem in his career:
“No one ever inquired about my sexuality. Perhaps it was apparent, but it didn’t matter because what truly mattered was the role I was portraying. As long as I performed well, no one was concerned about my sexuality.”
Udo Kier’s legacy as a bold and unforgettable actor continues through hundreds of films and the many iconic characters he created. Rest in peace, Udo Kier. You will always be remembered!
