Udo Kier left behind a legacy in the entertainment business. The late 81-year-old, famous for his performances in 1973’s Flesh for Frankenstein and 1974’s Blood for Dracula, died on November 23, 2025. Renowned for his ambition and lengthy portfolio of work, the late Cologne, Germany, native’s partner, Delbert McBride, confirmed his death.
Below, News47.us is remembering Kier for his life and career. Here are five facts about him.
Kier was actually born with the name Udo Kierspe. He went by “Kier” as a stage name.
PAT ON THE BACK: Long-time supporting actor Udo Kier is getting the best reviews of his career for playing hairdresser Mr Pat in @SwanSongFilm and now he’s only after leading roles. pic.twitter.com/4dmiD4O9LR
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) August 11, 2021
The late Ace Ventura: Pet Detective star was born at the height of World War II in 1944 in Cologne, Germany. Bombings had struck the hospital hours after his mother had given birth to him. They both had to be rescued from the rubble, Kier told The Guardian in 2002.
As an openly gay man, Kier said he never tried to hide his sexuality. During a 2021 interview with The Bay Area Reporter, Kier said “no one ever asked” about his personal life.
“Maybe it was obvious, but it didn’t make any difference because all that mattered was the role I was playing,” he explained. “As long as I did a good job on the part, no one cared about my sexuality.”
