The artistic relationship between Madonna and German actor Udo Kier is a unique and brief episode in pop culture. It was not an extensive collaboration in numbers, but rather a symbolic encounter that connected the world of global pop with cult cinema and underground aesthetics.
The Context of the 1990s
At the beginning of the 1990s, Madonna was in the midst of a bold reinvention. After the success of Like a Prayer, she chose to explore riskier territories connected to eroticism, club culture, and contemporary art. During the same period, Udo Kier had already become an iconic face of experimental cinema, with a career defined by collaborations with Andy Warhol, Paul Morrissey, and Lars von Trier. His unsettling yet sophisticated presence made him the perfect ally for Madonna’s most provocative projects.
Madonna and Udo Kier met in New York at a gathering organized by photographer Steven Meisel. Kier was invited to discuss his involvement in a secret project that turned out to be Madonna’s controversial SEX book. During their first conversation, Madonna told Kier she had enjoyed his performance in the film My Own Private Idaho (1991), and quickly asked him to play her “decadent husband” in the project.
Music Videos That Defined an Era
The first big collab came in 1992 with the music video for Deeper and Deeper, from the Erotica album. In that clip, Madonna built a whole vibe inspired by Andy Warhol and New York’s nightlife, and Kier played a character that added even more of that artsy, decadent feel. That same year, he also showed up in the Erotica video, locking in his spot as part of Madonna’s bold visual universe.
Udo Kier at Erotica video, the making of Sex Book
The SEX Book and the Shared Aesthetic
That same year, 1992, Madonna released the controversial SEX book, a 128‑page photobook featuring images by Steven Meisel and art direction by Fabien Baron. Kier took part in this project, appearing in several photographs that explored themes of sadomasochism, fetishism, and provocation, all woven into a visual narrative designed to challenge cultural taboos.
Kier’s presence strengthened the connection between the singer and cult cinema, adding a touch of sophistication and transgression. Its release sparked a global scandal, but it also cemented Madonna’s status as an artist capable of transforming sexuality into cultural discourse.
A Shared Legacy
Udo Kier passed away on November 23, 2025, at the age of 81, in Palm Springs, California, leaving behind more than two hundred films and an indelible mark on alternative cinema. His brief presence in Madonna’s universe is still remembered by fans who admire him as a key figure in shaping the artist’s visual aesthetic.
Madonna and Udo Kier Deeper and Deeper video
More recently, Kier attended one of Madonna’s concerts from her Celebration Tour in Palm Springs on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, which turned out to be the last time they were close to each other. The story of Madonna and Udo Kier is about the meeting of two seemingly opposite worlds: mainstream pop and underground cinema.
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