German actor Udo Kier, renowned for his piercing eyes and memorable performances as villains across European and Hollywood cinema, has died at age 81. His partner, artist Delbert McBride, confirmed he passed away Sunday morning at a hospital in Palm Springs, California. No cause of death was disclosed.
The veteran performer appeared in more than 250 films throughout a career spanning nearly six decades, collaborating with acclaimed directors including Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Lars von Trier, Gus Van Sant, and Andy Warhol. From vampires to Nazi officers to eccentric characters in mainstream Hollywood productions, his presence remained unmistakable in every role.
Kier was born Udo Kierspe in Cologne, Germany, on October 14, 1944, during World War II. Hours after his birth, the hospital came under Allied bombing and was buried in rubble. Both he and his mother survived after being dug out, beginning a life that would prove as dramatic as many of his screen roles.
Growing up in postwar poverty without a father, the young Kier worked in a factory as a teenager before moving to London to study English. His career began by chance when British director Michael Sarne discovered him and cast him in Road to Saint Tropez. That opportunity led to his breakthrough performance in the controversial 1970 horror film Mark of the Devil.
More serendipitous encounters shaped his trajectory. Sitting next to director Paul Morrissey on a flight resulted in starring roles in Flesh for Frankenstein (1973) and Blood for Dracula (1974), two films produced by Warhol that transformed Kier into a cult icon. His portrayal of Dracula brought him international recognition and established his reputation for playing unsettling characters.
His friendship with Fassbinder produced multiple collaborations, including roles in Lola, The Stationmasters Wife, and the epic 15 hour miniseries Berlin Alexanderplatz, which depicted life in interwar Berlin. These partnerships cemented his status as one of European cinema’s most compelling character actors.
Meeting Van Sant at the Berlin Film Festival opened doors to American cinema. Van Sant secured him a work permit and Screen Actors Guild card, then cast him in the 1991 drama My Own Private Idaho alongside River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves. The role introduced Kier to mainstream American audiences and caught the attention of Madonna, who cast him in her controversial 1992 book Sex and featured him in music videos for Erotica and Deeper and Deeper.
His longest creative partnership came with von Trier, beginning with Epidemic in 1987. Kier appeared in Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Melancholia, Nymphomaniac, and multiple episodes of The Kingdom series. The Danish director became so close to Kier that the actor served as godfather to von Trier’s son.
Hollywood embraced him throughout the 1990s and beyond. He delivered memorable turns in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Johnny Mnemonic, Armageddon, End of Days, and Blade. Directors recognized his ability to elevate any production with just minutes of screen time, often stealing scenes with his distinctive voice and commanding presence.
Kier worked prolifically into his final years. Recent performances included Brawl in Cell Block 99, Dragged Across Concrete, and the 2022 comedy Swan Song, where he played a flamboyant retired hairdresser making one last dramatic comeback. That role earned him an Independent Spirit Award nomination and widespread critical acclaim.
His final completed film is The Secret Agent, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, where he portrayed a Jewish Holocaust survivor. The film premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where star Wagner Moura won best actor honors. Kier will also appear posthumously in OD, an upcoming horror video game created by Hideo Kojima in collaboration with filmmaker Jordan Peele.
Following news of his death, Kojima shared a tribute online. The director revealed they exchanged emails frequently during production delays caused by industry strikes, and that Kier remained enthusiastic about resuming filming scheduled for next year. Kojima described meeting Kier in Milan in late September, where the actor displayed his characteristic energy and humor, making the sudden loss even more shocking.
In later life, Kier settled in Palm Springs, where he cultivated interests in art and architecture. He lived in a converted mid century library with his dog Liza, named after Liza Minnelli, and a giant tortoise named Hans. The actor became a fixture at the Palm Springs Film Festival, warmly receiving recognition from devoted fans.
Reflecting on his vast body of work in interviews, Kier maintained a sense of humor about his prolific output. He never received formal acting training, telling Slant magazine in 2021 that he wanted to be remembered as someone lucky enough to receive wonderful opportunities in film.
Throughout his career, the actor brought fearless eccentricity and electric screen presence to every project. Whether portraying monsters, muses, or memorable supporting characters, his contribution to both arthouse and commercial cinema proved irreplaceable. Directors from multiple generations sought his talents, recognizing that even small roles became unforgettable when Kier inhabited them.
The film industry mourns the loss of a true original whose distinctive look, raspy voice, and willingness to embrace unconventional roles made him cinema’s secret weapon for nearly sixty years.