Udo Kier was a German actor who played peculiar and complicated roles. His career was a long one spanning close to sixty years and he worked in the film industires of many countries. Kier has appeared in over 220 films and this made him one of the most recognizable actors of his time.His career began in the 1960s and he went on to act until his death in 2025 when he was 81. Most of his appearances were in arthouse movies, independent movies and horror.Kier managed to find a faithful audience due to his screen presence and the devotion to any role he played. The filmmakers around Europe and the United States respected his work. The legacy that he left behind is the abundance of movies.Udo Kier's career highlightsKier’s first major break came with his roles in Andy Warhol’s Flesh for Frankenstein in 1973. The movie made him attract attention and created space for him to do more work in experimental and independent films. This initial success brought him closer to working with famous filmmakers.He frequently cooperated with director Lars von Trier. Their collaboration also featured films such as Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Melancholia and Nymphomaniac. These movies kept him busy in the international scene and proved that he was versatile as an actor. He also featured in projects directed by other big directors like Werner Herzog, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Dario Argento and Gus Van Sant.Kier was known for both his European and American projects. He moved freely between low-budget horror movies to award-winning dramas. His was always willing to work in all kinds of roles and styles.Read More: Who is Udo Kier's partner? What we know about Blood for Dracula star's family and personal life amid his death at 81Udo Kier's major roles36th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards - Source: GettyKier appeared in a number of movies in Hollywood which had huge following. He has starred as Ron Camp in the comedy Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Curly in Barb Wire and as a NASA psychologist in Armageddon. He is also remembered by many viewers because of Johnny Mnemonic and The Adventures of Pinnochio. These parts in a way brought him close to the mainstream film audiences.He also got associated with horror and vampire films. His appearances in Blade, Shadow of the Vampire and BloodRayne contributed to his reputation in the genre. His characters were usually dark or mysterious and this set him apart on screen.Kier kept appearing in movies of other countries in the last few years. He has acted as a commander in the Brazilian film Bacurau and as a tailor, Hans in The Secret Agent in 2025. Read More: What was Udo Kier's net worth? Fortune explored as renowned German actor dies at 81