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Renowned German actor Udo Kier, celebrated for his performances in films such as “Blood for Dracula” and “My Own Private Idaho,” has passed away at the age of 81.
Kier’s passing was confirmed by his partner, Delbert McBride, who informed Variety that the actor died on Sunday morning.
Michael Childers, a long-time friend and photographer, shared on Facebook that the “Blade” star died at Eisenhower Hospital in Palm Springs, California.
The cause of Kier’s death has not yet been disclosed.
“Heartbroken to bid farewell to my dear friend Udo Kier… RIP,” Childers expressed in his post.
During his decades-long career, Kier appeared in more than 250 films across Hollywood and European cinema, according to his IMDb page.
He first gained wide attention in the 1970s for starring in Paul Morrissey’s “Flesh for Frankenstein” (1973) and “Blood for Dracula” (1974), both produced by cultural icon Andy Warhol.
His reputation continued to grow in the European film industry during his work with Rainer Werner Fassbinder in the late 1970s and early 1980s, on films such as “The Stationmaster’s Wife,” “The Third Generation,” and “Lili Marleen.”
Kier also forged a long-running partnership with Danish director Lars von Trier in the late 80s, starting with “Epidemic.” He also appeared in the 1991 film “Europa” before appearing in several episodes of von Trier’s long-running horror-thriller series “The Kingdom.”
The pair would collaborate again on films including “Breaking the Waves,” “Dogville,” and “Melancholia.”
Kier would eventually meet future two-time Oscar nominee Gus Van Sant at the Berlin Film Festival, crediting him with helping him secure his US work permit and SAG card, according to Variety.
His breakthrough in American film came in 1991, when Van Sant cast him in “My Own Private Idaho,” in which he appeared in a supporting role alongside River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.
During the 1990s, he landed several memorable supporting roles in Hollywood box office hits such as “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective,” “Armageddon,” and “Blade.”
Kier was featured in Madonna’s 1992 book “Sex” and later appeared in her videos for “Erotica” and “Deeper and Deeper,” both from her “Erotica” album.
He also appeared in the band Korn’s 2000 music video “Make Me Bad.”
The veteran actor, born Udo Kierspe, was born in a hospital in Cologne, Germany, on Oct. 14, 1944, as Allied forces were bombing it during World War II, Variety reported.
He left for London when he turned 18, where he would meet Fassbinder in a bar.
When asked why he became an actor, Kier told Variety in a 2024 interview that he “liked the attention.”
Kier received numerous accolades during his film career, including a CineMerit Award, the Artistic Achievement Award, the Dublin Film Critics Award, and an Independent Spirit Award nomination.
His final film appearance came in the political thriller “The Secret Agent,” where he played a Jewish Holocaust survivor in the closing years of Brazil’s military dictatorship.
Kier is also slated to appear in an upcoming horror video game, “OD,” produced by Jordan Peele and starring “IT” actress Sophia Lillis, according to his IMDb page.