Out gay character actor Udo Kier died yesterday at the age of 81 in a Palm Springs, California hospital. He appeared in over 280 films, became known for playing various horror and villain roles (particularly vampires and Nazis). But he also appeared in works associated with pop singer Madonnas early 1990s Erotica era, as well as roles in numerous international and gay-themed films. His cause of death has not yet been publicly released. He is survived by his partner, Delbert McBrideBorn in Cologne, Germany in October 1944, Kier moved to London, England at age 18 and worked between the U.S. and Europe throughout his lifetime, despite moving to Palm Springs in 1991. Related Jewel Thais-Williams, beloved activist and influential Black queer nightclub founder, has died He began acting in film in 1966, and two of his earliest film roles were in two films advertised as Andy Warhols Frankenstein (1973) and Andy Warhols Dracula (1974), though the gay pop artist had barely any involvement in either films creation.From 1977 to 1981, he appeared in four films directed by iconic bisexual German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, with whom he briefly slept. While attending the showing of Fassbinders films at the Berlin Film Festival, Kier met gay director Gus Van Sant and subsequently appeared in Sants gay sex worker drama My Own Private Idaho (1991). Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Kier appeared in the sexually-themed music videos for two songs on Madonnas 1992 album Erotica, including the video for the titular song Erotica and the music video for Deeper and Deeper. That same year,Kier also appeared inMadonnas groundbreaking bookSex, which included softcore pornography, queer sexual content, and BDSM fetish imagery.Kier later appeared in the sapphic comedic drama Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993), the gay cultural documentary Citizens of Perpetual Indulgence (2000), the European queer hustler drama House of Boys (2009), and gay director Todd Stephens Swan Song (2021). He also appeared in 50 TV shows and voice acted for seven video games.Look. No one ever asked about my sexuality, Kier said in a 2021 interview. Maybe it was obvious, but it didnt make any difference because all that mattered was the role I was playing. As long as I did a good job on the part, no one cared about my sexuality.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.