Udo Kier passed away on 23 November 2025. He turned 81 a month before. Kier played in many films, but I mostly remind him for his double role in Lars von Trier’s “Riget” series.
When a great actor passes away, I try to find a movie featuring that actor, preferably one that I did not yet know. I found “Swan Song” in which Kier played the main role, while he is usually more in the background.
Based on a real story, Kier plays Pat Pitsenbarger a flamboyant hair dresser in a rural town in the USA. We find him old and weak in a retirement home. When a former client of him passes away, the will specified Pitsenbarger for the hair dressing. Pitsenbarger initially refuses, but later decides to take the walk to the funerary hall.
Apparently Petsenbarger lived in the same town his entire life, also towards the end. Walking back into town, he relives memories. His deceased partner, the gay bar where he used to perform, the place where his house used to be, etc. Quite like in “Lucky” we see an actor at the end of his days, playing a character going towards his end with drama, memories and humour.
Kier proves to be an exellent actor whose face can show any emotion. “Swan Song” was beautiful yet heavy.
