German Actor Udo Kier Dies at 81

Udo Kier, the German actor celebrated for his piercing gaze and chameleonic screen presence, died on November 23, 2025, in a Palm Springs hospital, his partner Delbert McBride confirmed.

Born Udo Kierspe on October 14, 1944, in Cologne amid the final months of World War II, Kier described his childhood as “horrible,” recalling that he and his mother were “dug out of the rubble” after a bombing.

He left Germany at 18, relocating to London, where he began to build his acting career.

His breakthrough came in the early 1970s through cult horror films such as Paul Morrissey’s Flesh for Frankenstein (1973) and Blood for Dracula (1974), both associated with Andy Warhol, which established Kier’s reputation for bold, monstrous characters. 

He appeared in over 200 films during his career, working with auteurs such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder (Berlin Alexanderplatz, The Third Generation) and Lars von Trier (Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Melancholia, Nymphomaniac).

In 1991, Kier entered Hollywood more prominently when Gus Van Sant cast him in My Own Private Idaho alongside River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.

He later took on roles in mainstream films, including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Armageddon, and Blade.

Beyond film, Kier appeared in music videos for Madonna, Korn, and Eve.

He was also involved in video games as he played the character Yuri in the Command & Conquer series and was attached to Hideo Kojima’s upcoming horror game OD.

Kojima issued a tribute on social media, saying, “I’m at a loss for words. It all happened far too suddenly.”

No cause of death has yet been disclosed.