Died at 81
male
Udo Kierspe (October 14, 1944 – November 23, 2025), known professionally as Udo Kier, was a German actor. Known primarily as a cult character actor who portrayed eccentric and deviant figures, he appeared in more than 220 films in both leading and supporting roles throughout Europe and the Americas. He collaborated with acclaimed filmmakers such as Lars von Trier, Gus Van Sant, Werner Herzog, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Walerian Borowczyk, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Dario Argento, Tom Shadyac, Charles Matton, Guy Maddin, Alexander Payne, and Paul Morrissey.
"Angels & Demons" by Dan Brown follows the Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon as he is summoned to help solve a murder and prevent a catastrophic event within the Vatican. The story begins with the death of a prominent physicist, Leonardo Vetra, who is found murdered at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. His chest is branded with a symbol representing the Illuminati, an ancient secret society. Before his death, Vetra had been working on a highly dangerous antimatter experiment. Robert Langdon is called to CERN to investigate Vetra's murder. He learns that the Illuminati, long thought to be extinct, have resurfaced and are threatening to destroy the Catholic Church with a devastating weapon stolen from CERN: antimatter. Langdon is soon joined by Vittoria Vetra, Leonardo's daughter and a brilliant scientist in her own right. Together, they follow a series of cryptic clues left by Vetra that lead them to Rome, where the papal conclave is about to elect a new pope. As Langdon and Vittoria race against time to unravel the Illuminati's plan, they uncover a conspiracy that involves ancient symbols, secret passages, and a centuries-old vendetta against the Catholic Church. Along the way, they encounter danger at every turn, including assassination attempts and deadly traps set by the Illuminati.
