Veteran Actor Udo Kier, known for Roles in ‘Command & Conquer‘ and Upcoming Kojima Game ’OD,’ Dies at 81
Udo Kier, a prolific German actor with a career spanning decades and encompassing iconic roles in film, television, and video games, has died at the age of 81. News of his passing broke November 24, 2025, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the entertainment industry.Kier was perhaps best known to gamers as the voice and likeness of Yuri, the scheming psychic commander in the beloved real-time strategy game Command & Conquer: Red Alert.
Kier’s death casts a shadow over the highly anticipated horror game OD, a collaboration between Hideo Kojima and producer Jordan Peele, where he was set to appear. he had participated in initial face scan work for the project, as revealed in a teaser trailer, but his future involvement is now uncertain. The loss is particularly poignant for Kojima, who shared a close working relationship with the actor and publicly mourned his passing.
Born in Cologne, Germany, in 1944, Kier amassed over 300 film and television credits, frequently collaborating with directors like Paul Verhoeven and Lars von Trier. His distinctive appearance and captivating performances made him a favorite among cult film enthusiasts. more recently, he lent his voice to roles in Call of Duty: WWII (2017) and Martha is Dead (2022).
Hideo Kojima took to social media to express his shock and grief, stating, “I’m at a loss for words. It all happened far too suddenly. As of the strike, we weren’t able to shoot OD for a long time, and we were forced to reschedule to next year. Even during that time, Udo and I exchanged emails frequently. We stayed in close contact. When we met in Milan at the end of September, he told me how much he was looking forward to the shoot starting up again next year. He was full of energy then too, making me laugh with his usual ‘Udo-isms.'”
Kojima continued, “I still can’t believe this. Udo wasn’t just an actor. He was truly an ‘icon’ of his time. We’ve lost a great ‘icon.’ There will never be another like him. Udo, rest in peace. I will never forget you.”
Kojima also shared a photograph of himself with Kier taken in Milan in September 2025. The future of Kier’s role in OD, currently in development for Microsoft, remains unclear.
