Udo Kier obit

Udo Kier, German Actor Who Appeared in ‘My Own Private Idaho,’ ‘Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein,’ Dies at 81

 

He was not on the list.

Udo Kier, a German actor and cult icon who collaborated with everyone from Andy Warhol to Lars von Trier to Madonna, died on Sunday morning, according to his partner, artist Delbert McBride. He was 81.

Among the more than 200 films in his expansive body of work, Kier’s breakout collaborations with Warhol are among his most celebrated. Kier starred in the titular roles in both 1973’s “Flesh for Frankenstein” and 1974’s “Blood for Dracula.” Both directed by Paul Morrissey and produced by Warhol, the films are subversive, sultry reimaginings of the classic Hollywood monsters, with Kier bringing a haunting yet comically inept spin on the title characters.

That pair of films made Kier famous, and he spent the next two decades working through Europe and collaborating with legendary writer-director Rainer Werner Fassbinder on films like “The Stationmaster’s Wife,” “The Third Generation” and “Lili Marleen.” Then, at the Berlin Film Festival, Kier met future two-time Oscar-nominated director Gus Van Sant, who Kier credits with securing him an American work permit and a SAG card.

In 1991, Van Sant widely introduced Kier to American audiences with his coming-of-age drama “My Own Private Idaho,” loosely based on Shakespeare’s “Henry IV.” Kier appeared in a supporting role alongside 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” through the ’90s and aughts. Their other film collaborations include “Breaking the Waves,” “Dancer in the Dark,” “Dogville,” “Melancholia” and “Nymphomaniac: Vol. II.”

The 1990s also saw Kier in several supporting roles in major Hollywood productions, such as “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” “Armageddon” and “Blade.” He also appeared in Madonna’s book “Sex” in 1992, and made appearances in her music videos for “Erotica” and “Deeper and Deeper” from her album “Erotica.”

Most recently, Kier appeared in Kleber Mendonça Filho’s awards darling “The Secret Agent.” The film earned star Wagner Moura the honor for best actor at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Born Udo Kierspe in Cologne, Germany, in a hospital that was being bombed by Allied Forces, he moved to London at 18 after meeting Fassbinder in a bar.

“I liked the attention, so I became an actor,” he told Variety‘s Peter Debruge in a 2024 interview. After working between Europe and the U.S. for many decades, Kier settled in Los Angeles and Palm Springs, where he lived in a former mid-century library and cultivated interests in art, architecture and collecting. He was a fixture at the Palm Springs Film Festival, where he warmly received accolades from fans.

 

Filmography

Film

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1966    Road to Saint Tropez  Boy     Short film

1968    Shameless        Alexander Pohlmann 

1969    La stagione dei sensi   Luca   

1970    Mark of the Devil       Count Christian von Meruh   

1971    Oi Erotomaneis           Tonis Theodorou        

Provocation     Angelos          

Anilikes amartoles                  

1972    The Salzburg Connection       Anton 

1973    Flesh for Frankenstein             Baron von Frankenstein         

Pan      Pilgrim of Death        

1974    Blood for Dracula       Count Dracula

1975    The Last Word Raimund         

Story of O       René   

1976    Exposé Paul Martin     

Goldflocken    Franzl 

Spermula         Werner

1977    Suspiria           Dr. Frank Mandel        Uncredited

Belcanto oder Darf eine Nutte schluchzen?    Poulailler        

1978    The Fifth Commandment        Peter Dümmel

1979    The Third Generation  Edgar Gast     

Hungarian Rhapsody  Poór    

1980    Narcissus and Psyche  Laci Tóth        

Lulu     Jack the Ripper          

1981    Docteur Jekyll et les femmes  Dr. Henry Jekyll         

Lola     Waiter  Uncredited; also production designer

Lili Marleen    Drewitz          

1983    The Island of the Bloody Plantation   Hermano        

The Roaring Fifties     Fromm

Pankow '95     Johann Wolfgang Amadeus Zart        

1984    Hur und heilig Friedhelm       

Moscow on the Hudson          Gay Man on Street      Uncredited cameo

1985    The Invincible Argon 

Seduction: The Cruel Woman Gregor

Die Einsteiger  Graf Frackstein           

1986    Egomania – Insel ohne Hoffnung       Baron Tante Teufel     

1987    Epidemic         Himself           

1988    Another Way: D-Kikan-Joho  Hansman        

Mother's Mask Herr Seidler    

1989    100 Jahre Adolf Hitler – Die letzte Stunde im Führerbunker Adolf Hitler    

1990    Das deutsche Kettensägenmassaker    Jonny   Also assistant director

1991    My Own Private Idaho           Hans   

Europa Lawrence Hartmann   

1992    Terror 2000 – Intensivstation Deutschland     Jablo   

1993    Josh and S.A.M.         Salon Manager           

For Love or Money     Mr. Himmelman         

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues  Commercial Director 

Three Shake-a-Leg Steps to Heaven  Edouard Müllendorf   

1994    Ace Ventura: Pet Detective     Ron Camp      

Rotwang muß weg!     Arthur Eigenrauch     

1995    Schmetterling im Dunkeln      Himself            Documentary short film

A Trick of Light          Max Skladanowsky    

Johnny Mnemonic       Ralfi   

Ausgestorben  York Cortex     Short film

Over My Dead Body  Killer  

Paradise Framed          Himself           

Extinct York Cortex     Short film

Dog Daze        Erich von Stroheim     Short film

1996    United Trash    UNO-General Werner Brenner          

Barb Wire        Curly  

Breaking the Waves    Sadistic Sailor

Lea      Block  

The Adventures of Pinocchio  Lorenzini        

1997    The End of Violence   Zoltan Kovacs

Betty    Vincent Lord  

Prince Valiant  Sligon 

Die 120 Tage von Bottrop       Udo Kier        

1998    Armageddon   Psychologist   

There's No Fish Food in Heaven        Rocky 

Blade   Gitano Dragonetti      

Life in the Fast Lane   Rocky 

Stingers                      

Schuldig                     

Immaculate Springs    Hans   

1999    End of Days    Dr. Abel          

History Is Made at Night        Ivan Bliniak    

Besat   Vincent           

The Debtors               

Under the Palms          Ludwig           

The New Adventures of Pinocchio     Madame Flambeau / Lorenzini          

2000    Citizens of Perpetual Indulgence                   

Shadow of the Vampire           Albin Grau     

Dancer in the Dark      Dr. Porkorny  

Red Letters      George Kessler           

Just One Night            Walter Lert     

Doomsdayer    Max Gast        

Simon Says     Stuart Moss    

2001    Critical Mass   Samson           

Invincible        Count Helldorf           

Double Deception       Vincent           

Die Gottesanbeterin                

Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 The Guardian 

All the Queen's Men   General Landssdorf    

Revelation       Grand Master 

2002    Auf Herz und Nieren  Doc    

Broken Cookies          None   Director

FeardotCom    Polidori           

Mrs Meitlemeihr          Hitler / Mrs. Meitlemeihr        Short film

Pigs Will Fly   Onkel Max     

2003    10 Schritte       Himself            Short film

Dogville          The Man in the Coat  

Love Object    Radley

Gate to Heaven           Joachim Nowak         

2004    Celluloid Horror         Himself            Documentary film

Paranoia 1.0    Derrick           

Jargo    Jargos Vater    

Sawtooth         Reverend Cain

Modigliani       Max Jacob      

Evil Eyes         George

Dracula 3000  Captain Varna

Surviving Christmas    Heinrich         

2005    Children of Wax          P.        

Headspace       Rev. Karl Hartman     

One More Round        Lance Wallace

Wit's End         The Stranger   

Manderlay       Mr. Kirspe      

BloodRayne    Regal Monk   

2006    Pray for Morning        Edouard Leopold Edu

Holly   Klaus  

Crusade in Jeans         Dr. Lawerence

2007    Children of Wax          P         

2007    Fall Down Dead          Picasso Killer / Aaron Garvey            Also associate producer

Grindhouse      Franz Hess      Segment: "Werewolf Women of the SS"

Halloween       Morgan Walker          

Tell      Hermann Gessler       

The Mother of Tears   Father Johannes         

Pars: Operation Cherry           Klaus Kayman

2008    Far Cry            Dr. Lucas Krieger       

1½ Knights – In Search of the Ravishing Princess Herzelinde          Luipold Trumpf          

2009    Lulu and Jimi  Schultz           

House of Boys Madame         

Soul Kitchen   Herr Jung       

Metropia          Ivan Bahn        Voice role[21]

Tattoos: A Scarred History      Himself            Documentary film

My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?        Lee Meyers    

2010    Life Is Too Long         Tabatabai        

2011    Die Blutgräfin            

Keyhole           Dr. Lemke      

Graf Karpatovicz and the Blonde Bite           Graf Karpatovicz         Short film

The Sky Has Four Corners     Graf Karpatovicz        

Gorunmeyen   Bartok

Melancholia     Wedding Planner        

The Theatre Bizarre    Peg Poett        

UFO in Her Eyes        Steve Frost     

The Berlin Project       Guru   

2012    Iron Sky          Wolfgang Kortzfleisch           

Unlocking Passages    The Actor        Short film

2013    Night of the Templar   Father Paul     

Heather's Dream         Doctor Short film

The Girl behind the White Picket Fence        The Shaman / The Doctor      

Nymphomaniac           The Waiter      

2014    Arteholic         Himself            Documentary film

Beethoven's Treasure Tail       The Real Fritz Bruchschnauser          

The Editor       Dr. Casini       

2015    Coconut Hero  Mr. Morrow (Therapist)         

Get Well Soon: It's Love         Man     Short film

Johnny Walker Fyodor Voice role

Shanzo (Teaser)           Jago     Short film

The 1000 Eyes of Dr. Maddin Himself            Documentary film

The Forbidden Room  Count Yugh / The Butler / The Dead Father / Guard / Pharmacist    

Zero     The Lord of the World           

2016    Courier X        Nathan Vogel  

Seances           Actor   Short film

Brother            Frank Solek    

2017    Downsizing     Joris Konrad   

Hitler's Hollywood      Narrator (USA version)           Voice role, documentary film

Brawl in Cell Block 99           Placid Man     

2018    American Animals      Mr. Van Der Hoek      

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot         George

Daughter of Mine        Bruno 

Ulysses: A Dark Odyssey       Alcyde

Puppet Master: The Littlest Reich      André Toulon 

Dragged Across Concrete       Friedrich         

The Mountain  Frederick        

2019    American Exit Anton 

Iron Sky: The Coming Race   Wolfgang Kortzfleisch           

Holy Beasts     Henry 

Bacurau           Michael          

The Painted Bird         Miller  

The Barefoot Emperor            Dr. Otto Kroll 

Skin Walker     Claus  

2020    Last Moment of Clarity           Ivan    

2021    Haymaker        Furst   

The Blazing World      Lained

Swan Song      Pat Pitsenbarger          

Chompy & The Girls  Chompy          Voice role

13 Tracks to Frighten Agatha Black   Opening Narration      Voice role

2022    A E I O U: A Quick Alphabet of Love            Michel

Bad Painter      O        

My Neighbor Adolf    Mr. Herzog     

2025    By Design       Aldo Fabbri    

The Secret Agent        Hans    Final film role (before his death)

Television

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1973    Sonderdezernat K1     Harry Gätjens  Episode: "Kassensturz um Mitternacht"

Joseph Balsamo          Gilbert 3 episodes

Olifant Olifant / Edwin           Television film

1976    Erinnerung an die Leidenschaft                      Television film

1977    The Stationmaster's Wife        Schafftaler       Television film; also assistant director

1979    Victor  Popstar            Television film

1980    Berlin Alexanderplatz Young Man in the Bar 2 episodes

1986    Der Fahnder    Uli Weber        Episode: "Ein König ohne Reich"

Am nächsten Morgen kehrte der Minister nicht an seinen Arbeitsplatz zurück         Minister / Kali Television film

Kir Royal        Holger Episode: "Adieu Claire"

1988    Medea Jason   Television film

1992    Tod eines Weltstars      Weltstar Udo Kier       Television film

1993    Red Shoe Diaries        Fashion Designer        Episode: "Runaway"

Seaquest DSV Dr. Guy Peche Episode: "Give me Liberté"

Udo Kier - From A to A          Himself            Television film documentary

Jack Reed: Badge of Honor    Giles Marquette           Television film

1994    Doppelter Einsatz        König  Episode: "Feuerzauber"

1994–1997, 2022        The Kingdom  Åge Krüger (human disguise for Satan)

Frederik/Little Brother/Big Brother (the Antichrist)   8 episodes

1996    Tracey Takes On...      Klaus   Episode: "Death"

Nash Bridges   Wolfgang Herzog        Episode: "Aloha Nash"

1996, 1999      The Sentinel    Klaus Zeller     2 episodes

1996, 2009      Tatort   Beethoven / Hans-Rudi Dreher           2 episodes

1998    Viper   Erich Geiger    Episode: "Double Team"

V.I.P.    Viktor Balek    Episode: "What to Do with Vallery When You're Deam"

Modern Vampires        Vincent            Television film

Miss Diamond Buhler Television film

Nina - Vom Kinderzimmer ins Bordell           Bongo Television film

Ice       Dr. Norman Kistler      Television film

1999    Final Run        Reddick, Train Control Supervisor     Television film

2001    Andy Warhol: The Complete Picture  Himself            Television documentary

2002    Justice League Music Master  Voice, episode: "Legends"

He Sees You When You're Sleeping   Hans Kramer   Television film

2003    Betty - Schön wie der Tod      Georg Wasserberg       Television film

2004    The Batman     Bert     Voice, episode: "Q&A"

30 Days Until I'm Famous      Barry Davis     Television film

2005    3 Wild Angels Richard Voss   4 episodes

Masters of Horror       Bellinger          Episode: "Cigarette Burns"

2005–2007      4 Against Z     Zanrelot           41 episodes

2006    Alfredissimo! - Kochen mit Bio         Himself - Cook           Episode: "Spaghetti mit Kokosmilch, Zitronengras und Garnelen/Thunfisch in Sesamkruste"

Polizeiruf 110  Heinrich Zermahlen    Episode: "Mit anderen Augen"

13 Graves        Debro  Television film

2010    Chuck  Otto Van Vogel            Episode: "Chuck Versus the Role Models"

2010–2013      Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated   Professor Pericles, Shadowy Figure   Voices, 17 episodes

2011    Borgia Pope Innocent VIII     3 episodes

2013–2014      Beware the Batman     Mister Toad     Voice, 4 episodes

2014    Hubertusjagd   Himself            Episode: "Los Angeles"

2015    Altes Geld       Rauchensteiner / Rolf / Father            9 episodes

Axe Cop          Warden            Voice, episode: "Heads Will Roll"

Major Lazer    Head Vampire Vampire           Voice, episode: "Vampire Weekend"

Golan the Insatiable    Dylan Beekler's Backpack      Voice, episode: "Pilot"

2017    Funny or Die Presents Admiral Codi  Episode: "Storm: A Star Wars Indie"

2019    M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Morder     Mann im Fuchspelz     6 episodes

2022    Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin          Klaus   2 episodes

2023    Hunters            Adolf Hitler     6 episodes

Video games

Year     Title     Role     Notes

1996    The Adventures of Pinocchio  Lorenzini         Voice role

2000    Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2    Yuri,[22] PsyCorps     Live action inserts

2001    Command & Conquer: Yuri's Revenge          Yuri     Live action inserts

2008    1 1/2 Knights: In Search of the Ravishing Princess Herzelinde         Count Luipold Trumpf            Voice role

2017    Call of Duty: WWII    Dr. Peter Straub           Voice role

2022    Martha is Dead           Erich    Voice role

TBA    OD      TBA    On-again / off-again "in development" since 2022

Music videos

Year     Artist   Song    Role

1992    Madonna         "Erotica"         Partyguest

1992    Madonna         "Deeper and Deeper"  Lover

1996    Goo Goo Dolls            "Naked"          Himself

1997    Supertramp      "You Win, I Lose"       Partyguest

1999    Rauhfaser        "Die Schöne und das Biest"    Der Freier

2000    Korn    "Make Me Bad"          Himself

2001    Eve featuring Gwen Stefani    "Let Me Blow Ya Mind"         Partyguest

2001    RMB   "Deep Down Below"  Dr. Wagner

2012    Terranova        "Prayer"          Himself - Musician