Udo Kier, the German actor and cult cinema icon, has died at the age of 81.
The star’s partner Delbert McBride confirmed his passing, which marks the end of a six-decade career in which he appeared in more than 200 films spanning horror and arthouse cinema.
His most popular and early works include the titular roles in Paul Morrissey’s Warhol-produced cult classics Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula.
Udo’s fame rose in Europe as he worked with the legendary Rainer Werner Fassbinder on films such as The Stationmaster’s Wife, The Third Generation and Lili Marleen.
Later, at the Berlin Film Festival, he met Gus Van Sant, who helped him obtain a U.S. work permit and a SAG card.
In 1991, he broke into American cinema with a supporting role in My Own Private Idaho, alongside River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.
He starred in von Trier’s horror-thriller series The Kingdom in the 1990s and 2000s, and also appeared in Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Dogville, Melancholia and Nymphomaniac: Vol. II.
In the 1990s, Udo also took on roles in Hollywood films including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Armageddon and Blade.
Udo, back in his early life once said, “I liked the attention, so I became an actor.”
