in memoriam
Ach. Make this year go away, folks. We've lost so much talent in 2025 ...
I caught the press announcement yesterday regarding the passing of celebrated actor Udo Kier, so I wanted to get up an In Memoriam today. Again, his was a presence known and felt by so many -- some of which relates to the world of genre entertainment -- but the truth is he was probably known far and wide for a diverse catalogue of incredible performances. Drama. Comedy. Thrillers. You name it, and I think Kier probably did it at some point as his resume was fast approaching three hundred different screen roles. Wow. That's astonishing.
And ... I read a few reactions from people in the business who attested to the fact that -- though he might've played heavies here and there -- he was a very nice fellow.
As for his forays into the realms of the Fantastic?
Well, with so many appearances on screens big and small, it's going to be a bit difficult to try to capture it all. I'll try to mention a few of the more notable finds.
According to IMDB.com, it looks like Kier got his 'feet wet' in genre pursuits with a big role aboard Mark Of The Devil (1970) for Aquila Film Enterprises. From what I've read, Devil both built and maintains a cult audience largely owed to the feature's rampant depiction of torture. Google.com states that it was one of those releases wherein producers insisted on providing 'vomit bags' to audience upon its first run through theaters.
A few years later -- in 1973 -- Kier took on one of the screen's oft-repeated roles when he suited up to play 'Baron Frankenstein' aboard Flesh For Frankenstein for Braunsberg Productions. The flick is often referred to as Andy Warhol's Frankenstein; but -- as I've come to understand -- Warhol essentially had nothing to do with the picture other than allowing the producers to use his name, perhaps in an attempt to capture some viral advertising of the era. Flesh, too, is a production often cited for its prevalent violence.
The very next year -- in 1974 -- the actor kinda/sorta flipped the coin and took on Horror's other iconic heavyweight: Blood For Dracula saw the man becoming Count Dracula for a new generation of moviegoers. While it may lack the visceral, gruesome punch long attached to Flesh For Frankenstein, it follows in the same vein (snicker snicker) so far as I've read. It's a picture which I wonder is owed a rediscovery, especially now since its central figure has passed on.
As is often the case, there's a vast amount more to these citations, but with a talent like Kier I've often felt it's best to let the record speak for itself. When such personalities age, they're often shoehorned into roles that kinda/sorta take advantage of their earlier screen personaes; and I suppose the same is true for him. Later in his career, Kier probably found himself cast in projects more for his professional gravitas than anything else -- not to suggest that's a bad turn of events in any way -- and, sadly, I think that hampers any actor or actress' opportunity to keep exploring what can be accomplished with the craft. Still, it's easy to see that the guy knew how to deliver whenever asked; and it's a shame we don't see more of the likes of him these days.
Our warmest prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Udo Kier.
May he rest in peace.
-- EZ
I caught the press announcement yesterday regarding the passing of celebrated actor Udo Kier, so I wanted to get up an In Memoriam today. Again, his was a presence known and felt by so many -- some of which relates to the world of genre entertainment -- but the truth is he was probably known far and wide for a diverse catalogue of incredible performances. Drama. Comedy. Thrillers. You name it, and I think Kier probably did it at some point as his resume was fast approaching three hundred different screen roles. Wow. That's astonishing.
And ... I read a few reactions from people in the business who attested to the fact that -- though he might've played heavies here and there -- he was a very nice fellow.
As for his forays into the realms of the Fantastic?
Well, with so many appearances on screens big and small, it's going to be a bit difficult to try to capture it all. I'll try to mention a few of the more notable finds.
According to IMDB.com, it looks like Kier got his 'feet wet' in genre pursuits with a big role aboard Mark Of The Devil (1970) for Aquila Film Enterprises. From what I've read, Devil both built and maintains a cult audience largely owed to the feature's rampant depiction of torture. Google.com states that it was one of those releases wherein producers insisted on providing 'vomit bags' to audience upon its first run through theaters.
A few years later -- in 1973 -- Kier took on one of the screen's oft-repeated roles when he suited up to play 'Baron Frankenstein' aboard Flesh For Frankenstein for Braunsberg Productions. The flick is often referred to as Andy Warhol's Frankenstein; but -- as I've come to understand -- Warhol essentially had nothing to do with the picture other than allowing the producers to use his name, perhaps in an attempt to capture some viral advertising of the era. Flesh, too, is a production often cited for its prevalent violence.
The very next year -- in 1974 -- the actor kinda/sorta flipped the coin and took on Horror's other iconic heavyweight: Blood For Dracula saw the man becoming Count Dracula for a new generation of moviegoers. While it may lack the visceral, gruesome punch long attached to Flesh For Frankenstein, it follows in the same vein (snicker snicker) so far as I've read. It's a picture which I wonder is owed a rediscovery, especially now since its central figure has passed on.
As is often the case, there's a vast amount more to these citations, but with a talent like Kier I've often felt it's best to let the record speak for itself. When such personalities age, they're often shoehorned into roles that kinda/sorta take advantage of their earlier screen personaes; and I suppose the same is true for him. Later in his career, Kier probably found himself cast in projects more for his professional gravitas than anything else -- not to suggest that's a bad turn of events in any way -- and, sadly, I think that hampers any actor or actress' opportunity to keep exploring what can be accomplished with the craft. Still, it's easy to see that the guy knew how to deliver whenever asked; and it's a shame we don't see more of the likes of him these days.
Our warmest prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of Udo Kier.
May he rest in peace.
-- EZ
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