German Actor Udo Kier Passes Away at 81, Remembered by Hideo Kojima

German actor Udo Kier has passed away at the age of 81. The news was confirmed by Kier's partner Delbert McBride through Variety, marking the end of a career that spanned decades and encompassed hundreds of film and television appearances.

Kier first gained recognition in the 1970s through his work in horror cinema, appearing in films such as Mark of the Devil, Flesh for Frankenstein, and Blood for Dracula. His breakthrough into mainstream Hollywood came with the 1991 film My Own Private Idaho, which opened doors to numerous high-profile projects. Throughout his career, he appeared in films including Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Johnny Mnemonic, and Armageddon, and even made appearances in Madonna music videos, demonstrating his versatility across different entertainment mediums.

In recent years, Kier had been cast in Hideo Kojima's upcoming horror game OD, with new scenes featuring the actor scheduled to be filmed in 2026. Game director Hideo Kojima expressed his grief in a social media post, stating that he was at a loss for words and that the news came far too suddenly. Kojima revealed that due to industry strikes, OD filming had been delayed for an extended period and rescheduled to next year. Despite the delays, Kojima and Kier maintained regular communication through email exchanges. The two met in Milan at the end of September, where Kier expressed how much he was looking forward to the shoot resuming next year.

Kier's contributions to video games extended beyond his work with Kojima. He became well-known among gaming audiences for his portrayal of the iconic Command & Conquer antagonist Yuri in the live-action cutscenes for Red Alert 2 and its expansion pack, Yuri's Revenge. His distinctive voice also brought characters to life in Call of Duty: WWII and Martha is Dead, further establishing his presence in the gaming industry.

With a career spanning hundreds of credits across film, television, and video games, Udo Kier leaves behind a legacy that touched multiple generations of entertainment. His unique presence and memorable performances, from horror classics to blockbuster films to iconic video game roles, ensured his work would be remembered by audiences worldwide.