Udo Kier, the German actor who appeared in everything from arthouse films to Hollywood blockbusters, has died at the age of 81, according to reports
Udo Kier has died aged 81(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Udo Kier, the renowned German actor with a career spanning from underground art films to Hollywood blockbusters to Call of Duty, has passed away at 81, as reported by Variety. Famed for his striking appearance, unique voice, and effortless genre-hopping, Kier crafted one of the most distinctive filmographies in contemporary cinema.
Born amidst a bombing raid in Cologne in 1944, Kier’s birth story is a chilling tale he once shared during a phone interview, recounting how his mother protected him amidst the debris. Kier’s journey into the film industry was anything but predictable. A chance encounter with director Paul Morrissey on an aeroplane led to roles in Flesh for Frankenstein (1973) and Blood for Dracula (1974), both produced by Andy Warhol.
These flamboyant and eccentric performances became defining moments in his early career, reports the Mirror.
Kier was known for his effortless genre-hopping(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
He spent the next two decades working through Europe and collaborating with legendary writer-director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, reports Variety, on films such as “The Stationmaster’s Wife,” “The Third Generation” and “Lili Marleen.”
In 1991, director Gus Van Sant introduced Kier to American audiences with his coming-of-age drama “My Own Private Idaho,” based on Shakespeare’s “Henry IV”, in which Kier supported stars River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.
Around the same time, Kier began his lifelong collaboration with von Trier. Starting in the late ’80s with “Epidemic,” Kier appeared in the 1991 film “Europa” before appearing in several episodes of von Trier’s long-running horror-thriller series “The Kingdom”. Their other film collabs include “Breaking the Waves,” “Dancer in the Dark,” “Dogville,” “Melancholia” and “Nymphomaniac: Vol. II.”
Kier was also known for playing several parts in the gaming world – notably Dr. Peter Staub in Call of Duty: WWII, reports Insider Gaming.
Kier appeared in several other video game adaptations, including Far Cry and BloodRayne. He also played the role of Yuri in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and Yuri’s Revenge, and Erich in Martha is Dead.
Kier starred in more than200 films, starting his career in 1966 on the TV show Road to Saint Tropez.
His frequent collaborations with iconic artist Andy Warhol and the vampire film genre made him a familiar face for fans. In the 90s, Kier appeared in films like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Blade, and Johnny Mnemonic.
He featured in Madonna’s book “Sex” in 1992, and appeared in her music videos for “Erotica” and “Deeper and Deeper” from her album “Erotica.”
Kier’s partner, Delbert McBride, confirmed the news of his death to Variety. No information has yet been released about the cause of his death.
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