Udo Kier

Udo Kier
Kier in 2018
Born	Udo Kierspe (1944-10-14) 14 October 1944 (age 80) Cologne, Germany
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1966–present
Website	www.udokier.de

Udo Kierspe (born 14 October 1944), known professionally as Udo Kier, is a German actor. Known primarily as a character actor, he has appeared in more than 220 films in both leading and supporting roles throughout Europe and the Americas. He has collaborated with acclaimed filmmakers such as Lars von Trier, Gus Van Sant, Werner Herzog, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Walerian Borowczyk, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Dario Argento, Tom Shadyac, Charles Matton, Guy Maddin, Alexander Payne, and Paul Morrissey. ^{[1] [2]}

Early life

Kier was born in Cologne near the end of World War II. The hospital where he was born was bombed by the invading Allied forces moments after his birth, and he and his mother had to be dug out of the rubble. ^{[3] [4]} Kier grew up without a father. ^[5] In his youth, he was an altar boy ^[6] and cantor. He moved to London, England, at the age of 18 to learn English. ^[1]

Career

Kier in Flesh for Frankenstein

In 1966, Kier was cast in the lead role for the film Road to St. Tropez. ^{[7] [8]} An early starring role in Andy Warhol's Frankenstein (1973) led to a string of art-house, low-budget, and mainstream horror films, including a number of vampire-themed pictures Die Einsteiger (1985), Blade (1998), Modern Vampires (1998), Shadow of the Vampire (2000), Dracula 3000 and BloodRayne (2005). He has also become famous for his work with cult directors, including Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Walerian Borowczyk, Gus Van Sant, Christoph Schlingensief, and Dario Argento (whose classic Suspiria (1977) he was featured in). He has appeared in almost all of Lars von Trier's films since 1987's Epidemic (with the exceptions of The Idiots , The Boss of it All , Antichrist and The House That Jack Built ).

Kier at the press conference of Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot at Berlinale 2018

His most famous Hollywood roles include his appearance as Ron Camp in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), ^[9] Curly in Barb Wire , as a NASA flight psychologist in Armageddon , ^{[10] [11]} as the villainous Lorenzini in The Adventures of Pinocchio and 1999 sequel The New Adventures of Pinocchio , and as Ralfi in the film Johnny Mnemonic . In 1992, Kier appeared in Madonna's controversial book Sex . He also appeared in the music videos for Madonna's songs "Erotica" and "Deeper and Deeper", both taken from Madonna's 1992 album Erotica . ^[12] Kier also appeared in the music videos for Korn's "Make Me Bad", Eve's "Let Me Blow Ya Mind", and "Die Schöne und das Biest" by defunct German band Rauhfaser.

He has also worked extensively as a voice actor, starring as the psychic Yuri (as well as the voice of the PsiCorps) in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and its expansion, Yuri's Revenge . He also voiced the Music Master in Justice League , Herbert Ziegler in The Batman , Ivan Bahn in Metropia , Professor Pericles in Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated , Mister Toad in Beware the Batman , Warden in Axe Cop , Head Vampire Vampire in Major Lazer , Dylan Beekler's Backpack in Golan the Insatiable and Dr. Peter Straub in Call of Duty: WWII . He recently appeared in the video game trailer for the game OD, revealed at the Games Awards.

A documentary on his life and career entitled ICH-UDO...der Schauspieler Udo Kier (ME –UDO...the actor Udo Kier) was filmed for Arte, the European Franco-German culture channel, and released in 2012. ^[13] In 2013, the documentary won the New York Festival "Finalist Certificate". ^[14] Another documentary entitled Udo Kier - Dracula trash et dandy magnétique was released by Jobst Knigge (Germany, 2024, 52 min.) and broadcast by Arte France in early November 2024 celebrating his 80th birthday.

Personal life

Kier is gay, and has been open about his homosexuality his entire life. "No one ever asked about my sexuality. Maybe it was obvious, but it didn't make any difference because all that mattered was the role I was playing. As long as I did a good job on the part, no one cared about my sexuality." ^[15]

He moved to Palm Springs, California, in 1991. ^{[7] [16] [17]}

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	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
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
	Unter den Palmen	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 [18]
	Tattoos: A Scarred History	Himself	Documentary film
	My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done?	Lee Meyers
2010	Das Leben ist zu lang	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

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1973	Sonderdezernat K1	Harry Gätjens	Episode: "Kassensturz um Mitternacht"
	Joseph Balsamo	Gilbert	3 episodes
1977	The Stationmaster's Wife	Schafftaler	Television film; also assistant director
1980	Berlin Alexanderplatz	Young Man in the Bar	2 episodes
1986	Der Fahnder	Uli Weber	Episode: "Ein König ohne Reich"
	Kir Royal	Holger	Episode: "Adieu Clairef"
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" [18]
	He Sees You When You're Sleeping	Hans Kramer	Television film
2003	Betty - Schon wie der Tod	Georg Wasserberg	Television film
2004	The Batman	Bert	Voice, episode: "Q&A" [18]
	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 [18]
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, 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 [19]

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 Schone 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

References

1. "Interview With An Icon: Udo Kier Discusses His Career And Latest Projects!". Iconvsicon.com. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
2. "Iron Sky: Interview with Udo Kier | Electric Sheep – Features, essays & interviews from the mavericks of the film world". Electricsheepmagazine.co.uk. 21 May 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
3. Role in "Epidemic" and DVD commentary from Lars von Trier
4. Rose, Steve (16 April 2002). "His satanic majesty". The Guardian . Retrieved 15 May 2019.
5. Barlow, Helen (6 March 2019). "Udo Kier on 'M – A City Hunts a Murderer', 'Dragged Across Concrete', and Being a Survivor". Collider.
6. "Udo Kier - von Andy Warhol zu den Space-Nazis".
7. ahillis at (30 July 2011). "GreenCine Daily: INTERVIEW: Udo Kier". Daily.greencine.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
8. Vatnsdal, Caelum (4 January 2011). "Udo Kier | Film". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
9. Wyatt, Mark; LaMarche, Bert. "Udo Kier – Movies". Filmsandtv.com. Archived from the original on 14 June 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
10. "Armageddon Times, Movie Tickets, and Theaters – Zap2it". Zap2it. 1 July 1998. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
11. "Movies We Love: Armageddon". Film School Rejects. 1 April 2011. Archived from the original on 11 April 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
12. Guilbert, Georges-Claude (2002). Madonna as Postmodern Myth. Jefferson: McFarland & Co. p. 69. ISBN   0-7864-1408-1.
13. "Network for European Documentary Professionals". reelisor. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
14. "Piece #1 – ME – UDO / starring Udo Kier / a Western Road Movie". New York Festivals. Archived from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
15. Bromberger, Brian (3 August 2021). "Udo Kier on his 50-year career and 'Swan Song'". The Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
16. Seibold, Witney (2 October 2012). "I Die With Open Eyes: Udo Kier on Iron Sky". CraveOnline. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
17. "Udo Kier | Actor | Hollywood". Palm Springs Life. 13 July 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
18. "Udo Kier (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 4 October 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
19. Starkey, Andrew (8 August 2025). "Microsoft kills another Xbox exclusive but Hideo Kojima's OD is still alive". Metro . Retrieved 8 August 2025. ... apparently still in development... but there's still every chance it could be cancelled at a later date.

Further reading

• Tons May. "The Other Face of Love: Udo Kier's Career in the Erotic Genre" in Jack Stevenson (ed), Fleshpot: Cinema's Sexual Myth Makers and Taboo Breakers. Manchester: Critical Vision/Headpress, 2002, pp. 141–58 and "Udo Speaks: An Interview with Udo Kier" in same volume, pp. 159–62.

External links

• Official website
• Udo Kier at IMDb
• Udo Kier at the German Dubbing Card Index