The cult film world is mourning the recent death of German actor Udo Kier, known for his unsettling villain roles and a career spanning over 200 titles. The actor passed away this Sunday at the age of 81 in a hospital in Palm Springs, California, according to the Variety publication. The sad news was confirmed by his partner, artist Delbert McBride, to the US media outlet that had access to the Argentine News Agency. Kier leaves a legacy of nearly six decades in cult cinema, where he worked across various genres, from horror to Hollywood comedy, establishing him as one of the most memorable actors. His rise to fame came in the '70s when Andy Warhol, in his role as a producer, chose him to star in two of the most provocative films of that era, directed by Paul Morrissey: 'Flesh for Frankenstein' (1973) and 'Blood for Dracula' (1974). After his breakthrough in the established film world as an eccentric villain, the actor spent the next two decades working in Europe as a collaborator. Among his projects, he collaborated with two-time Oscar-nominated Danish director Lars von Trier on essential films such as 'Breaking the Waves', 'Dogville', and 'Melancholia'. He also worked with masters like Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Gus Van Sant, who gave him his first major role in the United States with 'My Own Private Idaho'.
