Udo Kier, Famous as Red Alert’s Yuri, Dies at 81

The German character actor, well known for portraying eccentric roles in art films, Hollywood B-movies, and video games, died Sunday morning, November 23, 2025, at age 81. His partner, artist Delbert McBride, confirmed the news.

Kier had a long career spanning over 200 films, working with cult directors like Werner Herzog, Paul Morrissey, and Andy Warhol. He also appeared in mainstream hits such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Blade, and Armageddon.

For gamers, Kier was best known as Yuri in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 and its expansion, Yuri’s Revenge. Yuri’s design, with his bald head with a forehead tattoo, psi-gear implant, and piercing stare, was striking. This design, combined with a calm, hypnotic performance, made Yuri both menacing and unforgettable. His charisma shone in cutscenes and gameplay alike, inspiring countless fan creations over the years.

Kier also had other performances in the gaming industry, appearing as Peter Straub in Call of Duty: WWII and Erich in Martha is Dead. He was to perform a role using voice and motion capture in Hideo Kojima’s OD, but due to the voice actor’s strikes in 2024, he was unable to perform all of it. Kier and Kojima still kept in contact, and Kier was excited to continue with his role before his passing on. Kojima, a well known movie lover, lamented his passing, calling him an “icon” of his time, a “great icon”. OD may very well be his final performance.

Whether through films or games, Udo Kier left a lasting mark on fans and audiences alike. He will be remembered fondly.