Udo Kier

Born:October 14, 1944

Place of Birth:Cologne, Germany

Known For:Acting

Biography

Udo Kier, born Udo Kierspe on October 14, 1944, is a versatile German actor whose career spans over 220 films across Europe, Canada, and the Americas. Renowned for his captivating performances, Kier has adeptly portrayed a wide range of characters in both leading and supporting roles. His magnetic presence on screen has captivated audiences and critics alike, establishing him as a highly respected figure in the world of cinema.

Collaborating with some of the most visionary filmmakers of our time, Udo Kier has left an indelible mark on the film industry. Working with directors such as Lars von Trier, Gus van Sant, and Werner Herzog, Kier has showcased his exceptional talent and versatility in bringing complex characters to life. His collaborations with acclaimed filmmakers like Dario Argento, Guy Maddin, and Alexander Payne have further solidified his reputation as a master of his craft.

With a career spanning decades, Udo Kier has demonstrated his remarkable range as an actor, seamlessly transitioning between genres and styles with finesse. Whether portraying enigmatic villains, poignant protagonists, or eccentric personalities, Kier's performances are always imbued with a depth and intensity that resonate with audiences on a profound level. His ability to immerse himself fully in each role he undertakes is a testament to his dedication and passion for the art of acting.

Beyond his on-screen work, Udo Kier's contributions to cinema extend to his collaborations with visionary filmmakers who have pushed the boundaries of storytelling and visual aesthetics. From the surreal worlds crafted by Walerian Borowczyk to the bold narratives of Kleber Mendonça Filho, Kier's involvement in groundbreaking projects has helped redefine the cinematic landscape and inspire future generations of filmmakers.

Udo Kier's distinctive presence and commanding screen presence have made him a sought-after talent in the film industry, earning him a dedicated following of fans worldwide. His ability to infuse each character with nuance, complexity, and emotion has garnered critical acclaim and accolades throughout his illustrious career. Whether portraying larger-than-life personalities or nuanced, introspective roles, Kier's performances never fail to leave a lasting impression on audiences.

As a character actor par excellence, Udo Kier has brought a multitude of memorable characters to life, each imbued with his unique blend of charisma and depth. His collaborations with directors such as Charles Matton, Paul Morrissey, and many others have resulted in a diverse body of work that showcases his versatility and range as an actor. From art-house films to mainstream blockbusters, Kier's ability to adapt to different genres and narratives sets him apart as a true chameleon of the silver screen.

Udo Kier's enduring legacy in the world of cinema is a testament to his unparalleled talent and dedication to his craft. His ability to inhabit characters with authenticity and emotional depth has solidified his status as a cinematic icon whose influence transcends borders and generations. With a career spanning over five decades, Kier continues to captivate audiences with his mesmerizing performances and unwavering commitment to excellence.

In addition to his prolific film career, Udo Kier's contributions to the arts have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, cementing his reputation as a cultural icon. His passion for storytelling and his unwavering dedication to his craft have made him a beloved figure in the world of cinema, inspiring aspiring actors and filmmakers to push the boundaries of creativity and imagination. Udo Kier's impact on the film industry is immeasurable, and his legacy will continue to resonate for years to come.

Images

Filmography

Acting

Blade

Dragonetti

1998

The Daywalker known as "Blade" - a half-vampire, half-mortal man - becomes the protector of humanity against an underground army of vampires.

Armageddon

Psychologist

1998

When an asteroid threatens to collide with Earth, NASA honcho Dan Truman determines the only way to stop it is to drill into its surface and detonate a nuclear bomb. This leads him to renowned driller Harry Stamper, who agrees to helm the dangerous space mission provided he can bring along his own hotshot crew. Among them is the cocksure A.J. who Harry thinks isn't good enough for his daughter, until the mission proves otherwise.

Nymphomaniac: Vol. II

The Waiter

2013

The continuation of Joe's sexually dictated life delves into the darker aspects of her adult life and what led to her being in Seligman's care.

Ace Ventura: Pet Detective

Camp

1994

He's Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Jim Carrey is on the case to find the Miami Dolphins' missing mascot and quarterback Dan Marino. He goes eyeball to eyeball with a man-eating shark, stakes out the Miami Dolphins and woos and wows the ladies. Whether he's undercover, under fire or underwater, he always gets his man… or beast!

Downsizing

Konrad

2017

A kindly occupational therapist undergoes a new procedure to be shrunken to four inches tall so that he and his wife can help save the planet and afford a nice lifestyle at the same time.

Halloween

Morgan Walker

2007

The early years of young Michael Myers and the events leading up to his fateful Halloween night murder rampage in the quiet town of Haddonfield, Illinois.

Suspiria

Dr. Frank Mandel

1977

An American newcomer to a prestigious German ballet academy comes to realize that the school is a front for something sinister amid a series of grisly murders.

Melancholia

Wedding Planner

2011

Justine and Michael are celebrating their marriage at a sumptuous party in the home of her sister Claire, and brother-in-law John. Despite Claire’s best efforts, the wedding is a fiasco, with family tensions mounting and relationships fraying. Meanwhile, a planet called Melancholia is heading directly towards Earth…

The Story of O

René

1975

The beautiful O is taken by her boyfriend, Rene, to a bizarre retreat, where she is trained in bondage and sexual perversion...

Dragged Across Concrete

Friedrich

2019

Two policemen, one an old-timer, the other his volatile younger partner, find themselves suspended when a video of their strong-arm tactics becomes the media's cause du jour. Low on cash and with no other options, these two embittered soldiers descend into the criminal underworld to gain their just due, but instead find far more than they wanted awaiting them in the shadows.

Dogville

The Man in the Coat

2003

When beautiful young Grace arrives in the isolated township of Dogville, the small community agrees to hide her from a gang of ruthless gangsters, and, in return, Grace agrees to do odd jobs for the townspeople.

Brawl in Cell Block 99

The Placid Man

2017

After working as a drug courier and getting into a brutal shootout with police, a former boxer finds himself at the mercy of his enemies as they force him to instigate violent acts that turn the prison he resides in into a battleground.

Johnny Mnemonic

Ralfi

1995

In a dystopian 2021, Johnny is a data trafficker who has an implant that allows him to securely store data too sensitive for regular computer networks. On one delivery run, he accepts a package that not only exceeds the implant's safety limits—and will kill him if the data is not removed in time—but also contains information far more important and valuable than he had ever imagined. On a race against time, he must avoid the assassins sent to kill him and remove the data before it, too, ends his life.

End of Days

Head Priest

1999

On 28 December 1999, the citizens of New York City are getting ready for the turn of the millennium. However, Satan decides to crash the party by coming to the city and searching for his chosen bride — a 20-year-old woman named Christine York. The world will end, and the only hope lies within an atheist named Jericho Cane.

My Own Private Idaho

Hans

1991

In this loose adaptation of Shakespeare's "Henry IV," Mike Waters is a hustler afflicted with narcolepsy. Scott Favor is the rebellious son of a mayor. Together, the two travel from Portland, Oregon to Idaho and finally to the coast of Italy in a quest to find Mike's estranged mother. Along the way they turn tricks for money and drugs, eventually attracting the attention of a wealthy benefactor and sexual deviant.

Iron Sky: The Coming Race

Wolfgang Kortzfleisch / Adolf Hitler

2019

29 years after the events of Iron Sky, the former Nazi Moonbase has become the last refuge of mankind. Earth was devastated by a nuclear war, but buried deep under the wasteland lies a power that could save the last of humanity - or destroy it once and for all. An old enemy leads our heroes on an adventure into the Hollow Earth. To save humanity, they must battle the Vril, an ancient shapeshifting reptilian race, and their army of dinosaurs.

Iron Sky

Wolfgang Kortzfleisch

2012

In the last moments of World War II, a secret Nazi space program evaded destruction by fleeing to the Dark Side of the Moon. During 70 years of utter secrecy, the Nazis construct a gigantic space fortress with a massive armada of flying saucers.

Dancer in the Dark

Dr. Porkorny

2000

Selma, a Czech immigrant on the verge of blindness, struggles to make ends meet for herself and her son, who has inherited the same genetic disorder and will suffer the same fate without an expensive operation. When life gets too difficult, Selma learns to cope through her love of musicals, escaping life's troubles – even if just for a moment – by dreaming up little numbers to the rhythmic beats of her surroundings.

American Animals

Mr. Van Der Hoek

2018

Lexington, Kentucky, 2004. Four young men attempt to execute one of the most audacious art heists in the history of the United States.

The Painted Bird

Miller

2019

After losing his parents, a young Jewish boy wanders Eastern Europe, seeking refuge during World War II.

Breaking the Waves

Sadistic Sailor

1996

In a small and conservative Scottish village, a woman's paralytic husband convinces her to have extramarital intercourse so she can tell him about it and give him a reason for living.

BloodRayne

Regal Monk

2005

In 18th-century Romania, after spending much of her life in a traveling circus, human-vampire hybrid Rayne escapes and plots to take down her father, Kagan, the evil vampire king. When she's discovered by three vampire hunters, she manages to convince them to spare her life and join her cause. But slaying a vampire as powerful as Kagan will be no easy task.

Bacurau

Michael

2019

Bacurau, a small town in the Brazilian sertão, mourns the loss of its matriarch, Carmelita, who lived to be 94. Days later, its inhabitants notice that their community has vanished from most maps.

Surviving Christmas

Heinrich

2004

A wealthy executive, Drew Latham (Ben Affleck) has no close relationships and becomes nostalgic for his childhood home as Christmas approaches. When he visits the house and finds another family living there, he offers the residents, Tom Valco (James Gandolfini) and his wife, Christine (Catherine O'Hara), a large sum of money to pretend they are his parents. Soon Drew tests the couple's patience, and, when their daughter, Alicia (Christina Applegate), arrives, things get increasingly tense.

Far Cry

Dr. Krieger

2008

Jack Carver, a former member of the Special Forces takes the journalist Valerie Cardinal to an Island to visit her uncle Max who is working in a Military complex on the Island. As they arrive Valerie gets captured by the minions of Doctor Krüger. After the destruction of his boat Jack finds out about the true purpose of the Facilities on the Island, which is the creation of genetic soldiers.

Europa

Lawrence Hartmann

1991

A young, idealist American gets a job as a train conductor for the Zentropa railway network in postwar, US-occupied Frankfurt. As various people try to take advantage of him, he soon finds his position politically sensitive, and gets caught up in a whirlpool of conspiracies and Nazi sympathisers.

The Lords of Salem

Witchhunter (uncredited)

2013

Heidi, a radio DJ, is sent a box containing a record - a "gift from the Lords". The sounds within the grooves trigger flashbacks of her town's violent past. Is Heidi going mad, or are the Lords back to take revenge on Salem, Massachusetts?

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues

Commercial Director

1994

A girl born with enormous thumbs in the repressive era of the 1950s learns to turn her quirks into assets.

Manderlay

Mr. Kirspe

2005

In 1933, after leaving Dogville, Grace Margaret Mulligan sees a slave being punished at a cotton farm called Manderlay. Officially, slavery is illegal and Grace stands up against the farmers. She stays with some gangsters in Manderlay and tries to influence the situation. But when harvest time comes, Grace sees the social and economic reality of Manderlay.

Shadow of the Vampire

Albin Grau

2000

Director F.W. Murnau makes a Faustian pact with a vampire to get him to star in his 1922 film "Nosferatu."

Soul Kitchen

Herr Jung

2009

In Hamburg, German-Greek chef Zinos unknowingly disturbs the peace in his locals-only restaurant by hiring a more talented chef.

Production

The House That Jack Built

Thanks

2018

Failed architect, engineer and vicious murderer Jack narrates the details of some of his most elaborately orchestrated crimes, each of them a towering piece of art that defines his life's work as a serial killer for twelve years.