- - Udo Kier, Cult Icon From 'Blade' and 'My Own Private Idaho,' Dies at 81

Devon ForwardNovember 24, 2025 at 4:13 AM

0

Udo Kier, a German character actor who worked with huge names in the entertainment industry on many high-profile projects, including Blade and Melancholia, has died. He was 81.

Kier reportedly died on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 23, with his partner, Delbert McBride, confirming the sad news to Variety. As of writing, there is no word on an official cause of death.

The late actor was born in Cologne, Germany, in 1944. He reportedly moved to London, England, at the age of 18, and he got his start in acting in the 1960s. In an interview with Icon Vs. Icon in 2012, Kier described how he got his first role in a film called Road to Saint Tropez after being randomly invited to join the cast by a stranger.

"When the film came out, I was the new face of cinema and so on...I had never been to acting school. I found it all very interesting, and of course, I liked the attention you get as an actor," Kier explained. "I thought, 'Okay, maybe I will try. If I can live from this profession, I will do it."

Not long after that, Kier began what would become one of many iconic partnerships throughout his acting career, working with Andy Warhol on Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula, which came out in 1973 and 1734, respectively.

Actor Udo Kier attends the "My Own Private Idaho" Beverly Hills Premiere on October 11, 1991 at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

Related: Iconic Italian Singer Ornella Vanoni Dead at 91 — "An Unrepeatable Artistic Heritage"

Over the years, Kier collaborated with other well-known figures, including Gus Van Sant for My Own Private Idaho in the early 1990s, which also starred Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix, and Lars Von Trier on his film Melancholia and others. Kier also starred in Madonna's music video for "Deeper And Deeper."

Other major projects he starred in over the years include Armageddon, Blade, Dogville, American Animals, Hunters, and this year, The Secret Agent. Kier was busy working up until his death, releasing three projects in 2025. He also has a couple of projects in post-production, according to IMDb, which will likely be released posthumously.

Related: Remembering the Celebrities and Legends Who Have Died in 2025

This story was originally reported by Parade on Nov 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”