German actor Udo Kier, known for his decades-long career spanning European art-house cinema and American studio productions, died at 81 in Palm Springs, California, his partner Delbert McBride announced Saturday.
Kier, born in Cologne in 1944 during the final months of World War II, often described his dramatic entry into the world. According to family lore, the maternity ward was bombed shortly after his birth, and he and his mother survived only because her bed was pushed into a sheltered corner of the room. The memory, he said in a 2023 interview with ynet, shaped him for life.
Over a career stretching more than half a century, Kier became a cult figure, celebrated for his distinctive blue-eyed stare, unmistakable German accent and willingness to take on daring and unconventional roles. He worked with some of Europe’s most acclaimed filmmakers, including Lars von Trier, Wim Wenders, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Werner Herzog and Alexander Payne. He also collaborated with Israeli directors Guy Moshe and Leon Prudovsky.
Kier’s early career took off after he moved to London as a teenager and began appearing in provocative roles. He made his screen debut in 1966 in “The Road to St. Tropez” and gained international notoriety through Andy Warhol–associated productions such as “Flesh for Frankenstein” (1973) and “Blood for Dracula” (1974). He later became closely linked with low-budget horror films, such as Dario Argento’s “Suspiria” (1977), “Paranoia 1.0” (2004), and the “Grindhouse” project (2007). His filmography ultimately grew to more than 200 titles.
Alongside his genre work, Kier enjoyed a respected place in European cinema. Fassbinder cast him in major works including “Berlin Alexanderplatz” and “Lili Marleen,” and von Trier made him part of his recurring ensemble in films ranging from “Breaking the Waves” to “Dancer in the Dark,” “Dogville,” “Melancholia” and “Nymphomaniac.”
Kier also appeared frequently in American productions, from independent films to mainstream hits. His credits include “My Own Private Idaho,” “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues,” “Armageddon,” “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” and “Blade,” as well as numerous television roles. He voiced characters in animated films and video games, including the Command & Conquer and Call of Duty franchises.
The actor also maintained a presence in the music world, appearing in music videos by Madonna — after participating in her 1992 photo book Sex — as well as Gwen Stefani, Eve and Korn.
Kier, who was openly gay for much of his career, became an LGBTQ icon and headlined the 2021 musical drama “Swan Song,” playing an aging drag performer returning home for one final show.
In recent years, he continued to work steadily, including a key role in the Brazilian thriller “Bacurau” and a performance in “Agent of Happiness,” which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this year. He also took leading roles in Israeli productions, including Moshe’s 2006 drama “Holly” and Prudovsky’s 2022 film “My Neighbor Adolf,” in which he played a man suspected of being Adolf Hitler — a role he reprised in Amazon Prime’s “Hunters.”
“Someone has to play Hitler to show how evil he was,” Kier said in a ynet interview. He noted that he had asked Jewish friends in the film industry if they felt it was appropriate, and they supported his decision. “Why shouldn’t I, as an actor, play him or a Nazi character?” he said.