Madonna and Dawn French lead the tributes to ‘cult’ character actor Udo Kier who starred in more than 220 films

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Madonna and Dawn French have led the tributes to German actor Udo Kier after his death aged 81.

The actor, with a career spanning over 220 films, was famous for his roles in Paul Morrissey’s Flesh for Frankenstein (1973) and Blood for Dracula (1974), both of which were produced by Andy Warhol.

In addition to his many films, Udo also starred in Madonna’s music videos for “Erotica” and “Deeper and Deeper,” both released in 1992.

Madonna posted a clip on her Instagram Stories from her “Deeper and Deeper” music video, showing her leaning her head on Udo’s shoulder.

Alongside the clip, she wrote: ‘Goodbye dear Udo. There will never be another like you!’ 

Dawn French, who had also worked with Udo, paid tribute to him with her own post.

I was so saddened to hear about Udo’s passing. I remember hearing stories about how incredible he was to work with – apparently, back in 1996, while filming ‘Adventures of Pinocchio,’ he truly filled the room with his energy and talent. He sounds like he was a wonderful person, and he’ll be deeply missed.

Filmmaker Bruce LaBruce fondly remembered Udo Kier, recalling a lively interview they shared on stage in Toronto. They both enjoyed Chardonnay and Jägermeister while Kier playfully teased LaBruce. Kier passed away at the age of 81.

Udo was an incredibly dedicated and prolific actor, collaborating with a diverse range of renowned directors including Paul Morrissey, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, and Lars von Trier.

According to Variety, Udo met director Gus Van Sant at the Berlin Film Festival and said Van Sant helped him get a U.S. work permit and a union membership card (SAG).

He became known for his role in the 1991 film My Own Private Idaho, where he acted with River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves.

Kier and Lars von Trier first worked together in the late 1980s on the horror-comedy film, Epidemic.

He continued his career with roles in the 1991 psychological drama Europa, and later appeared in several episodes of the horror-thriller series The Kingdom, which ran throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s.

They collaborated on several films, including Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Dogville starring Nicole Kidman, Melancholia with Kirsten Dunst, and Nymphomaniac: Vol. II from 2013.

Kier has also appeared in films like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Armageddon, and Blade, and was featured in Madonna’s 1992 book, Sex.

Oh my god, he was even in Madonna’s videos! Like, Erotica and Deeper and Deeper?! I’ve watched those a million times, and now knowing he was there… it just makes everything even more amazing. Seriously, those videos are iconic, and he was a part of that world! I can’t even!

The actor continued working until this year, with a role in Kleber Mendonça Filho’s film, The Secret Agent. The film’s star, Wagner Moura, received the Best Actor award at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Udo Kierspe, a well-known performer, was born in Cologne, Germany, on October 14, 1944.

At age 18 he moved to London after meeting future collaborator Fassbinder in a bar.

He recently shared with Variety that he chose acting because he enjoyed being the center of attention. Looking back on his life, he explained, ‘I liked the attention, so I became an actor.’

He spent years working and traveling between Europe and the United States, but ultimately settled down in Los Angeles and Palm Springs.

He lived in a renovated mid-century library and developed passions for art, architecture, and collecting.

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2025-11-25 13:34