Hollywood and European cinema have lost one of their most striking faces.
Veteran German actor Udo Kier, famous for his intense eyes and unforgettable film presence, has died at age 81.
His partner, Delbert McBride, confirmed he passed away on Sunday morning in a Palm Springs hospital.
The Udo Kier death has surprised fans and filmmakers across the world.
No cause of death was revealed, according to reports, which has added to the shock surrounding the news.
However, tributes have continued to pour in for the actor who shaped decades of film history.
Kier appeared in more than 275 films, which made him one of the most recognisable faces in global cinema.
Moreover, he worked with top names like Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Gus Van Sant and Lars von Trier.
He starred in movies, series, music videos and even video games, often taking on bold and eerie roles.
His life began with dramatic events.
He was born in Germany in 1944, and only hours after his birth, the hospital was bombed.
He was rescued from the ruins and later raised in post-war poverty.
In addition, he worked in a factory before fate pushed him toward an acting career.
His breakthrough came in 1970 with Mark of the Devil.
Furthermore, chance encounters shaped much of his career.
Sitting beside director Paul Morrissey on a flight earned him roles in Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula.
Meanwhile, his friendship with Fassbinder opened doors to several classics, including Lola and Berlin Alexanderplatz.
Kier later became a long-time collaborator with Lars von Trier. The director cast him in titles like Melancholia, Nymphomaniac, Breaking the Waves and Dancer in the Dark.
Kier even became the godfather of Von Trier’s son, which showed how strong their bond was.
Hollywood welcomed him in the 90s.
He appeared in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Johnny Mnemonic, Armageddon, End of Days and Blade.
Madonna cast him in her book Sex and later in her music videos after seeing him in My Own Private Idaho.
Kier remained active in the final years of his life.
He starred in Brawl in Cell Block 99, Dragged Across Concrete, and the 2022 comedy Swan Song.
In that film, he played a flamboyant retired hairdresser making a dramatic late-life comeback.
Reflecting on his long career, Kier once joked:
“100 movies are bad, 50 movies you can watch with a glass of wine, and 50 movies are good.”
His final film is The Secret Agent, where he plays a Jewish Holocaust survivor.
He is also set to appear posthumously in OD, a horror video game project by Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele.
Therefore, even after his passing, his work will continue to reach new audiences.
