Udo Kier
Biography
Udo Kier was a German actor who appeared in more than 200 films and became known as a character actor, frequently cast as eccentric or deviant figures. He was born in Cologne and moved to London at 19 to study acting. His feature debut came in the West German crime film Schamlos in 1968. His breakthrough was playing the title parts in Paul Morrissey's horror films Flesh for Frankenstein (1973) and Blood for Dracula (1974), and he became a fixture of horror and art house cinema. He appeared in Dario Argento's Suspiria (1977), worked often with Lars von Trier starting with Epidemic (1987), and acted for directors including Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Gus Van Sant. Hollywood roles included Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994), Johnny Mnemonic (1995), The Adventures of Pinocchio (1996) and Blade (1998). He was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Swan Song (2021). He died in 2025.
81years old at death
- Born Cologne
- Died Rancho Mirage
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Udo Kierspe (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 77
- Career span
- 54 years1970 to 2024
Genres
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A change of course
Kier met Rainer Werner Fassbinder at age 16 and became friends with him, then later worked with him on several films.
First role
Kier's first film role came at 21, in Road to Saint Tropez, a short made in 1966 by the British director Michael Sarne.
Early training
At 19, Kier moved to London, where he studied acting and English. While there, he supported himself by working as a waiter.
Beyond film
In Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and its expansion, Yuri's Revenge, Kier took the role of the psychic Yuri and also supplied the voice of the PsiCorps.
Beyond film
Madonna's 1992 book Sex included photos of Kier, and he was also in the music videos for her songs "Erotica" and "Deeper and Deeper".
Udo Kier movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Lars von Trier directed seven of these films, S. Craig Zahler two and Dario Argento two. Two actors appear in five of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Willem Dafoe's page
Jean-Marc Barr's page
Stellan Skarsgård's page
Michael Paré's page
Michael Peña's page
Mark Margolis's page
All films by Lars von Trier
All films by S. Craig Zahler
All films by Dario Argento
Also three films together3 more actors
- Grace ZabriskieBallad of a Righteous Merchant (2018), My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done (2009) and My Own Private Idaho (1991)
- Hark BohmInvincible (2001), Lili Marleen (1981) and The Third Generation (1979)
- Derek KueterFeardotcom (2002), Shadow of the Vampire (2000) and The New Adventures of Pinocchio (1999)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Udo Kier's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$768 million
38 of the 77 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 77 films: 38 worldwide figure; 7 us gross only; 7 never in cinemas; 25 figure not found.
- 38Worldwide figure
- 7US gross only
- 7Never in cinemas
- 25Figure not found
Top grosser
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 79% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$212M27.6% of the total
- 2$131M17.1% of the total
- 3$107M14.0% of the total
- 4$55M7.2% of the total
- 5$40M5.2% of the total
- 6$23M3.0% of the total
- 7$19M2.5% of the total
- 8$19M2.5% of the total
$162 millionfrom the other 30 films with a worldwide figure, 21% of the total
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.