Veteran German actor Udo Kier, known for his prolific career spanning over three decades and 275 film appearances, has passed away at the age of 81. The news was confirmed by his partner Delbert McBride to Variety.
Kier's acting journey began in post-war Germany, where he faced poverty and hardship from a young age. To make ends meet, he worked in factories and later befriended renowned filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder, who became an influential figure in Kier's life. His breakthrough role came with the 1970 horror film "Mark of the Devil," setting him on the path to stardom.
Throughout his career, Kier frequently played iconic roles that cemented his status as a versatile and recognizable actor in European cinema and Hollywood. Some notable collaborations include Lars von Trier, Gus Van Sant, and Fassbinder's works. He also appeared in music videos for prominent artists such as Madonna, Supertramp, and Eve.
Kier's diverse body of work showcases his ability to excel in various genres, from horror to comedy. His memorable performances have earned him recognition, including the claim that "100 movies are bad, 50 movies you can see with a glass of wine, and 50 movies are good."
One of Kier's most significant roles was as Frankenstein in Paul Morrissey's "Flesh for Frankenstein" (1973), followed by his portrayal of Dracula in "Blood for Dracula." His collaborations with Fassbinder resulted in critically acclaimed films such as "The Stationmaster's Wife," "Lola," and "Berlin Alexanderplatz."
In recent years, Kier continued to work on a wide range of projects, including the 2022 comedy "Swan Song," where he played a haughty retired hairdresser. His final film was the 2023 thriller "The Secret Agent," in which he portrayed a Jewish Holocaust survivor caught in the Brazilian military dictatorship.
Kier's legacy as an actor and his numerous collaborations will be remembered for generations to come, leaving behind a vast and diverse cinematic landscape that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Kier's acting journey began in post-war Germany, where he faced poverty and hardship from a young age. To make ends meet, he worked in factories and later befriended renowned filmmaker Rainer Werner Fassbinder, who became an influential figure in Kier's life. His breakthrough role came with the 1970 horror film "Mark of the Devil," setting him on the path to stardom.
Throughout his career, Kier frequently played iconic roles that cemented his status as a versatile and recognizable actor in European cinema and Hollywood. Some notable collaborations include Lars von Trier, Gus Van Sant, and Fassbinder's works. He also appeared in music videos for prominent artists such as Madonna, Supertramp, and Eve.
Kier's diverse body of work showcases his ability to excel in various genres, from horror to comedy. His memorable performances have earned him recognition, including the claim that "100 movies are bad, 50 movies you can see with a glass of wine, and 50 movies are good."
One of Kier's most significant roles was as Frankenstein in Paul Morrissey's "Flesh for Frankenstein" (1973), followed by his portrayal of Dracula in "Blood for Dracula." His collaborations with Fassbinder resulted in critically acclaimed films such as "The Stationmaster's Wife," "Lola," and "Berlin Alexanderplatz."
In recent years, Kier continued to work on a wide range of projects, including the 2022 comedy "Swan Song," where he played a haughty retired hairdresser. His final film was the 2023 thriller "The Secret Agent," in which he portrayed a Jewish Holocaust survivor caught in the Brazilian military dictatorship.
Kier's legacy as an actor and his numerous collaborations will be remembered for generations to come, leaving behind a vast and diverse cinematic landscape that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
He was like a one-man European film festival or something... I mean, impressive. Still, 275 films is like, crazy. Wonder what his agent would've said if he retired at 50... 
"The name of the game is not to win by killing your opponent, but to outplay him." - Benito Mussolini
he was like 81 
but his acting career spanned over 3 decades!!! 
and she loves him for sure 
he played so many iconic roles like Dracula 
and Frankenstein 
and he was friends with Fassbinder which is like totally legendary 
i also saw the funny video of him doing a music video with Madonna 
his legacy will live on in our hearts 
I just heard about Udo Kier passing away at 81 and I'm feeling kinda nostalgic for the old-school European cinema he was a part of 
It's crazy to think he made it to three decades in the industry - that's dedication, you know? 
Anyway, it's always sad when someone from your favorite era passes away, but I'm sure we'll still be watching his films for years to come 
he started off with so much struggle but made it big with rainer werner fassbinder, i mean what a partnership 
and then he went on to do so many iconic roles, from horror to comedy. his collaborations with lars von trier and gus van sant were always super interesting 
. he had this incredible range as an actor and was able to make anything work, even a movie about a hairdresser at 80 lol 
. anyway, it's sad to see him go but his legacy is gonna live on forever 
and can you believe he did music vids for Madonna and Supertramp?! 
.
what's next, 1000 film appearances? 
but seriously, who else can say they've worked with Lars von Trier and Fassbinder on multiple projects? that's like getting a PhD in cinema or something 
but he left us with so many iconic roles u can't forget 
and comedy 
Another talented actor gone too soon... 81 is still kinda young to leave this world. I was thinking of checking out some of his old movies on Netflix or something, but now I'm gonna have to go through his filmography online 
. Don't know where to start, he's done so much work! But I do wanna see him in "Flesh for Frankenstein" ASAP 
what a legend! i mean, the guy was in like 275 films lol he's got more credits than some of us have had hot dinners 
his career spanned over three decades and he worked with so many iconic directors and artists... it's insane how prolific he was. and can u believe he played frankenstein and dracula? classic roles that'll never get old 
His filmography is insane, I mean 275 movies?! That's like, whoa... 
He had this crazy ability to switch between genres so effortlessly, from horror to comedy, it's like he was a chameleon on screen. And his collaborations with Lars von Trier and Gus Van Sant? Legendary! 
Interesting
Udo Kier was so talented 
they were a genius duo 
His collaborations with Lars von Trier, Gus Van Sant, and Madonna 
were just amazing 
it's sad he's gone but his legacy lives on 
... I mean who else can say they played in 275 films?!? 
he had such an incredible career 
and his collaborations with Fassbinder were truly legendary