The penultimate episode of Dark Winds season 4 is dedicated to Udo Kier, but some fans may not know why. Dark Winds season 4, episode 7 ended with a memorial card that read “In memory of Udo Kier.”
Udo Kier, as a newcomer to the cast of Dark Winds, likely falls under this umbrella. Here’s who Udo Kier was and why Dark Winds decided to pay tribute to the world-renowned actor so late in the season.
Udo Kier Played Gunthar Vaggan In Dark Winds Season 4
The main reason Dark Winds season 4, episode 7 is dedicated to Udo Kier is because he was part of the show’s cast. Kier played Gunthar Vaggan, the aging father of Irene (Franka Potente). Gunthar was a former Nazi sturmfuhrer, or officer, in World War II.
By the time of Dark Winds season 4, which takes place in the early 1970s, Gunthar was experiencing some level of dementia and frequently confused his daughter’s identity.
The reason the tribute to Udo Kier came so late in the season is because of Gunthar’s role in the show. In Dark Winds season 4, episode 7, Gunthar died. He wandered out of the bunker he and Irene lived in, likely due to his dementia, and Irene took the opportunity to run him down in her car. That decision let Irene be free of her father, but it also marked Kier’s last appearance on the show.
Udo Kier Died In November 2025 & Dark Winds Was One Of His Final Roles
In the real world, Dark Winds paid tribute to Udo Kier because he passed away. Kier died on November 23, 2025 in Rancho Mirage, California. He was 81 at the time of his death. Kier’s partner, an artist named Delbert McBride, confirmed the news of his death (via Variety).
No cause of death was specified, but the timing of his passing meant that Dark Winds season 4 had already completed filming.
It’s not clear if Udo Kier completed filming of OD prior to his passing or whether his role in the upcoming game will be recast, as filming was delayed due to the Screen Actors Guild strike in 2023.
Dark Winds is now one of Udo Kier’s final acting roles. Kier does, however, have several upcoming projects that are in various stages of post-production. He’s set to play Grand Master in The Ark: An Iron Sky Story, and he also had a yet-unknown starring role in the upcoming Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele video game OD alongside Sophia Lillis and Hunter Schafer.
What Else Udo Kier Acted In (Besides Dark Winds)
Dark Winds may have been one of Udo Kier’s final roles, but it was very far from his only notable project. Kier initially made a name for himself through his partnership with artist Andy Warhol.
He starred in two movies Warhol produced, including Flesh for Frankenstein and Blood for Dracula in the 1970s. Kier then had another big break in 1991, when he starred in My Own Private Idaho. More recently, Kier’s acting career experienced another boost in popularity.
He had supporting roles in films like Downsizing and The Secret Agent. Kier also had notable television roles in shows like Hunters season 2, where he portrayed Adolf Hitler, The Kingdom, and Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin. He also had a notable presence as a video game actor, as he previously appeared in games like Martha is Dead and Call of Duty: WWII.
Though Udo Kier has passed on, his legacy will certainly outlive him. While he played only a supporting role in Dark Winds season 4, it was somewhat indicative of his entire career. Across over 200 roles, Kier consistently chose parts for their artistic value rather than their potential popularity. As a result, Kier was part of some truly moving pieces of art, and Dark Winds is certainly among them.
Credit: ScreenRant
