The world of cinema mourns the loss of legendary German actor Udo Kier, who passed away at the age of 81. His partner and artist Delbert McBride confirmed the sad news to Variety on Sunday, November 24, 2025.
A Prolific Career Spanning Decades
Udo Kier enjoyed an extraordinary career that began in 1966 with the German short film Road to Saint Tropez. His filmography includes over 200 films, predominantly in German cinema but also featuring significant Hollywood appearances. His debut feature, Shameless, released in 1968, but his breakthrough came with Michael Armstrong's 1970 period horror film Mark of the Devil.
The actor became synonymous with horror and thriller genres, playing iconic characters that cemented his status in film history. In 1973, he portrayed the titular monster in Paul Morrissey's Flesh for Frankenstein, released as Andy Warhol's Frankenstein in the United States. The following year, he embodied Count Dracula in Morrissey's Blood for Dracula, and in 1981, he took on the role of Dr. Henry Jekyll in Walerian Borowczyk's Docteur Jekyll et les femmes.
Iconic Collaborations and Diverse Roles
Kier's most significant professional relationship began in 1987 when he starred as a fictionalized version of himself in Lars von Trier's Danish medical dark comedy Epidemic. This marked the beginning of what would become his most storied collaboration, with Kier appearing in almost all of von Trier's films, except for The Idiots, The Boss of it All, Antichrist, and The House That Jack Built.
Following his global crossover, Kier expanded his repertoire with notable Hollywood films. He appeared alongside Jim Carrey in Tom Shadyac's 1994 comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and featured in Steve Barron's fantasy franchise The Adventures of Pinocchio. Beyond traditional cinema, Kier left his mark on music videos, most memorably appearing in several songs from Madonna's 1992 album Erotica.
His distinctive deep baritone voice also graced popular animated superhero shows, where he voiced characters including Music Master in Justice League and Herbert Ziggler in The Batman.
A Final Role with Oscar Potential
Kier's final film role was as Hans in Kleber Mendonça Filho's Brazilian neo-noir period political thriller The Secret Agent. The film holds special significance, having premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year and being selected as Brazil's official entry for the Best International Feature category at the upcoming Academy Awards.
The movie had a theatrical release earlier this month, making it one of Kier's last contributions to the cinematic world. His extensive body of work, spanning nearly six decades, ensures his legacy will continue to influence generations of actors and filmmakers worldwide.
