Udo Kier's life began with a dramatic flair that would define his career, born in Köln, Germany towards the end of World War II. The hospital where he was born was bombed, burying Kier and his mother in the rubble. Miraculously, both survived, and Kier would later move to London as a young adult to study English.
In London, Kier was discovered by Michael Sarne, who cast him in his first role as a gigolo in "Road To Saint Tropez". This marked the beginning of Kier's acting career, which would soon take a dark turn with his starring role in Michael Armstrong's extremely controversial film "Mark Of The Devil".
Kier's early work included collaborations with renowned directors such as Paul Morrissey, Dario Argento, and Rainer Werner Fassbinder, in films like "Flesh For Frankenstein", "Blood For Dracula", "Suspiria", "The Third Generation", "Lili Marllen", and "Lola".
Years later, Kier entered the American independent cinema scene after meeting Gus Van Sant at the Berlin Film Festival. Van Sant offered Kier the role of Hans, the lamp-singing john in "My Own Private Idaho", alongside Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix. Kier would go on to work with Van Sant again in "Even Cowgirls Get The Blues" and "Don't Worry He Won't Get Far On Foot".
In the 1990s, Kier appeared in a Hollywood of string hits, including "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective", "Johnny Mnemonic", "Barb Wire", "End Of Violence", "For Love Or Money", "Armageddon", "Blade", and "End Of Days".
Kier's collaboration with Lars von Trier is probably his most notable, appearing in most of his films, including "Medea", "Europa", "Breaking The Waves", "Dancer In The Dark", "Dogville", "Manderlay", "Melancholia", "Nymphomaniac (Vol. II)", and "The Kingdom" (Danish TV).
In recent years, Kier has experienced a renaissance of sorts, playing memorable roles in the Activision game "Call Of Duty", numerous television roles in North America and Europe, and in films such as "Iron Sky", "Brawl In Cell Block 99", "Downsizing", "American Animals", "Bacurau", "The Painted Bird", "The Blazing World", and "Swan Song", among many others.
