Udo Kier, the legendary German actor known for playing villains, monsters, and other unforgettable oddities, has died at 81 in Palm Springs. His partner, Delbert McBride, confirmed his passing; no cause was given.
Born Udo Kierspe in Cologne in 1944, he survived a dramatic start — the hospital where he was born was bombed hours after his birth. Raised in poverty in postwar Germany, Kier later described his childhood as “horrible”.
He moved to London as a young man, was discovered in a coffee shop, and soon landed his first roles. His breakout came with the 1970 horror film Mark of the Devil, launching a career built on playing eerie, magnetic characters — from vampires to Nazis.
A chance encounter with director Paul Morrissey led to Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula, produced by Andy Warhol. Kier became a favorite of European auteurs such as Fassbinder, Lars von Trier, and Dario Argento, appearing in films including Lili Marleen, Breaking the Waves, Dogville, and Melancholia. He was godfather to von Trier’s child.
In Hollywood, Kier appeared in My Own Private Idaho, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Blade, Armageddon, and later Brawl in Cell Block 99 and Swan Song. He also voiced memorable characters in video games, including Yuri in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2.
Known for his piercing gaze and love of dark roles, Kier once said audiences remember villains far more than ordinary characters. Reflecting on his prolific output, he joked: “100 movies are bad, 50 you can watch with a glass of wine, and 50 are good.”
Openly gay throughout his life, Kier settled in Palm Springs in 1991, where he enjoyed art, architecture, and gardening. For decades, he remained a beloved, eccentric fixture of both European cinema and Hollywood cult classics.