German-born actor and Palm Springs resident Udo Kier, known for his iconic roles in cult classic films and piercing blue eyes on the silver screen, died Sunday at the age of 81, according to a report from Variety.
Variety stated that Kier’s partner, artist Delbert McBride, confirmed the death. No information was available on the cause of death immediately.
Photographer Michael Childers also shared in a Facebook post that his “good friend of 60 years” died at Eisenhower Health.
Kier had a prolific film career, working with a number of iconic directors, from Lars von Trier to Paul Morrissey, and bringing a variety of eye-catching characters to life. Among his more than 200 roles include “Suspiria,” “Flesh for Frankenstein,” “Blood for Dracula,” “My Own Private Idaho” and “Bacurau.” Most recently, he appeared in “The Secret Agent,” which is Brazil’s official entry for best international feature film at the upcoming Academy Awards.
In 2021, Kier received critical acclaim for his role in “Swan Song,” playing an electrifying, retired hairdresser who is asked to style a dead client’s hair and goes on a journey of self-rediscovery in the process. Speaking to The Desert Sun at the time, the actor said he had no plans to wind down his acting career. “I’m not stopping,” he said.
Kier lived in the Palm Springs area for more than a decade. His home, the Albert Frey-designed Francis F. Crocker Library, was always full of artwork and sculptures of all kinds. He said he enjoyed gardening, as well as spending time at his ranch in Morongo Valley. Kier even owned a giant tortoise named Hans.
“I like to water my trees, smell the earth,” Kier said. “I like it very much.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Actor Udo Kier, a Palm Springs resident, dies at 81
Reporting by Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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