Veteran Actor Udo Kier Passes Away At 81

Udo Kier, a well-known actor with over 250 film credits, passed away last Sunday, November 23rd. He was also set to appear in the upcoming horror game, OD, created by Hideo Kojima.

Kier died at a hospital in Palm Springs, California, at the age of 81. His partner, Delbert McBride, confirmed the news, which was initially reported by Variety. The specific cause of death has not been made public.

Kier was a prolific actor with a career lasting over sixty years, appearing in more than 250 films and TV shows around the world. He worked with many famous directors, including Lars von Trier, Quentin Tarantino, Dario Argento, and Kleber Mendonça Filho.

He’s known for a diverse range of iconic roles in films like Melancholia, Dogville, Nymphomaniac, Inglourious Basterds, Blade, Suspiria, Bacurau, My Own Private Idaho, Ace Ventura, Armageddon, and even the movie adaptation of the Far Cry video game series by Ubisoft.

Kier Left His Mark on Games, With Kojima Leading the Tributes


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Udo Kier was also a familiar face to gamers, having voiced the character Yuri in several Command & Conquer games in the early 2000s. He was recently cast in OD, the upcoming and enigmatic horror game from Hideo Kojima.

Hideo Kojima was shocked to hear the news and shared a touching message online, including a brief tribute to the German actor.

Kojima shared his sadness about the passing of Udo, calling him a true icon of his generation and saying there will never be another like him. He finished with a heartfelt ‘Rest in peace, Udo. I will never forget you.’

Kojima shared the sad news that Kier hadn’t yet filmed his scenes for the project, as production wasn’t scheduled to begin until next year. He explained that the recent strike caused significant delays, forcing them to postpone filming. Kojima added that Kier had been very enthusiastic about the project, telling him in September how much he was looking forward to starting again next year, making the news even more shocking.

You can read Kojima’s full homage right below:

Currently planned for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, the release date for OD is still to be announced. The game aims to deliver a terrifying horror experience and is being created by Hideo Kojima, working alongside renowned producer Jordan Peele. The cast includes Sophia Lillis, known for her role in ‘It’, and Hunter Schafer from ‘Euphoria’.

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2025-11-24 15:39